Having just endured a dial up connection for the first time in my life, I find myself reluctant to spend much time describing Kumily. This is mainly because I didn't particularly enjoy it and I love where I am now. So I will be brief on the hills and wax lyrical about Havelock (the Andaman Island we're on at the moment). There were two really great things about Kumily, the climate and the homemade chocolate. Being up in the hills and surrounded by tea plantation...

Unfortunately frequent relocation is not concurrent with frequent internet use. Therefore it's rather belatedly that I can tell you about the backwaters and Alleppey. We took the train from Varakala. The main event of the journey was a large Indian woman arriving with her son/nephew and masses of boxes and bags. She happily settled herself down next to us, all but shooing us out of her way. Comfortably seated she started bossing the unlucky young man about. She...

I am so very much happier here than in Mahabalipuram. Kerala is more relaxed, there's more to do and the food is better. In the morning's you can look out into the sea and see dolphins playing. Fundamentally, Varkala is very dramatic. a whole palm shaded town reclining on a cliff's precipice. All that seperates the cliff and the ocean is a gently sloping expanse of sand. Sitting in the cafes or the restaurants the views are of a perpetual turquoise sea, stretchi...

Given the hassle it caused us with travel, and the episodes that resulted from it, I feel I should give Pongal, and our experience of it, an entry unto itself. Pongal is the festival of the sun. It also marks the New Year. And like any good festival, affords the country the chance for a good stretch off work. We first came across it when on the 12th when we were trying to book travel for the 16th and were told that everything from Mahabalipuram to Varkala was bo...

Given the hassle it caused us with travel, and the episodes that resulted from it, I feel I should give Pongal, and our experience of it, an entry unto itself. Pongal is the festival of the sun. It also marks the New Year. And like any good festival, affords the country the chance for a good stretch off work. We first came across it when on the 12th when we were trying to book travel for the 16th and were told that everything from Mahabalipuram to Varkala was bo...