I got to Ooty in another government bus, which is proving to be the cheapest methods of transportation around India, if you're not traveling longer then 12 hours! Lucky I haven't suffered from travel sickness (touch/knock wood) on any of the stomach churning bus rides along roads which were best designed for 4x4's! I was lucky to have passed a few wild elephant in a national park the bus rode through.

The temperature difference in the evening was noticeable, as all the locals were wrapped up in shawls or jackets, or sporting the colourful woolen balaclavas, and the Indian tourists with their earmuffs! I rock up in my sandals, looking for the cheap hostel in the guide book to spend a couple of nights in. After having walked an hour and being guided to the wrong hostel by locals, I arrived at the budget hostel, which was only a five minute walk from where I spoke to my first helper! Having disturbed the workers from their sleep, I climb into a bunk and into my sleeping bag, which I hadn't had the use for since the north.

Many of the touristy things to do there where not really my cup of chai and more for families with kids, but I made the most of it. I visited the botanical gardens which proved to be the best place to get away from the hustle and bustle, but the 'miracle' of the thread museum was a severe disappointment. Dodobetta point, was nearly an enjoyable trek up for the views over the hills, but was ruined by the over packed tourist vehicles speeding and horning their way past.

The litter is another issue which throughout India has been a spoiler for many of the locations I have visited. The litter free places are noticed and are talked about for their cleanliness amongst travelers! Whereas the popular scenic spots are covered with litter, unable to tell in photos as you are trying to capture the views beyond the mountains of leftovers. Point made.

I've been rating the places I visit with the enjoyment of my meals (thanks to Pops) because the biriyani was one of the best I've had in India!

Having cooled down in the hill station for a couple of days, I was ready for the luxuries of Kerela. A bus journey to Coimbatore including a stop over, then a train to Cochin the next day…

The bus journey, a stop over in a hostel and a train journey sounds simple enough…!

A quote from my friend's facebook page, "India points theory is simple. Point A and point B are both wonderful places. The big problem consists in getting from point A to point B...".

Got to Coimbatore which was a place where everybody just seems to regard as a stopover city. The bus conductors took one look at my big bag and unhelpfully decided they didn't want me on their overcrowded bus and chose to deny the fact their bus was stopping at the train station or railway station! The Rickshaws had predictable overpriced fares, so walked the 5km instead! Waited 30 mins to buy ticket for the next day, couldn't find a room, decided to change ticket for that evening, no sleeper, checked around for room again and found one! With a bag on the door at 6.00am for check out, I decided I'd rather wait at the train station then hang around in the small cell of a room I had spent less than 12 hours in!

An obvious delay knocked two hours into my 5 hour journey. Finally boarding the train, relaxing and reading my book, with a cheeky nap inbetween on the never ending journey, I asked a local the distance left for Cochin. Usually when I jump on a bus or a train, my destination is always the final/last stop. The response was the gesture of pointing at the back of the train! I quickly gathered my belongings and threw myself of the slow moving train without any sandals onto the platform.

Minor injury of a couple of scrapes on my hands, but my pinky took a little knock which ballooned up the next day, nothing Ibuprofen couldn't handle! My helper who jumped off the train to help me up, help buy my ticket and send me in the right direction, was over friendly verging on weird! I find the Indian boys who are over friendly are just wanting a foreign friend, but I can confuse their (innocent) forwardness which makes me question their sexual orientation.

After two and a half hours back up the track I arrived in Cochin, things couldn't get any worse…