India

  • Inevitable heading back to Chennai

    Inevitable heading back to Chennai

    Leaving for the airport to return in due time Today I am returning back to Chennai. In the morning, I mainly try to kill time, pack my backpack, and rest on my bed. A little after midday, I go down with my luggage. I have to be at the airport at 2 pm, located 25…

  • Chill out by the sea

    Chill out by the sea

    A last visit to Fort Cochin In the afternoon, I take the ferry to Fort Cochin for the last time. I just want to chill out by the sea near the Chinese fishing nets. When I arrive, Chris – the Belgian who has been living in Kochi for over 4 years – is walking around…

  • Around the synagogue on Fort Kochi

    Around the synagogue on Fort Kochi

    Missing the boat to Fort Kochi In the morning, I first arrange some practical matters related to my return journey. After lunch, I make my way to the ferry as I want to visit the Dutch Palace and the Jewish synagogue on Fort Kochi. The Dutch Palace was in origin another building of the Portuguese…

  • Visiting the historic area of Fort Cochin

    Visiting the historic area of Fort Cochin

    Fast service bus to Kochi After breakfast, I make my way to the bus station on foot. Apparently, Alleppey is accustomed to tourists. A station supervisor asks where I want to go. The next bus to Kochi leaves in about twenty minutes. The man instructs me to wait on the spot. Ten minutes later, there…

  • Boat trip to the backwaters

    Boat trip to the backwaters

    Slow breakfast service So today, a trip to the backwaters are on my program. But first, a hearty breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel; good food, but the service this morning happens at an incredible snail’s pace. If I had known this in advance, I would have ordered my breakfast already when I was…

  • To the west coast of Kerala

    To the west coast of Kerala

    Trying to find a bus to Alleppey on a Sunday Another day of traveling ahead, to Aleppey on the west coast of Kerala. To be on the safe side, I inquire at the information desk of the bus station to check whether there are any direct buses to Alleppey on Sundays. No, it seems, so…

  • Trip to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

    Trip to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

    A satisfactory explanation at the Information Center No need to mention, I will be visiting the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary today, as that is the main attraction here in Kumily. After breakfast – sweet cakes with a glass of tea at a street stall – I start my search. I inquire at the Tourism Police Department…

  • Adventurous bus ride to Kumily

    Adventurous bus ride to Kumily

    Figuring out when the bus leaves to Kumily Yesterday I learned how to avoid the detour to Kochi over Madurai. So in the morning, I enter two more travel agencies to inquire about a bus ride to Kumily, near the Periyar Nature Park. Twice I hear there is only one local bus a day leaving…

  • Coming to rest in Kodaikanal

    Coming to rest in Kodaikanal

    Waiting for the minivan to Kodai The day starts with a sample of Indian time; the minibus to Kodaikanal would arrive at 7.15 am, but I have to wait until a quarter to eight before it comes through. So my intention to go rest in Kodaikanal gets delayed a bit. And even then, we still…

  • Heading to the Gandhi museum

    Heading to the Gandhi museum

    To the Gandhi museum by bus During my last day in Madurai, I want to visit the Tamukkam Palace and the nearby Gandhi museum. According to the travel guide book, you reach them with buses 2, 3, or 4. After breakfast, I study the city plan and head to the bus station. When I arrive…