** NOTE We have had no Web Access so have loaded Fort Cochi & Munnar Blogs at same time! - Also check MULTIPLE PHOTO albums and videos! **
We arrived for our 5 days at Munnar Town some 1400m up - after 4hr 30m and 2 comfort breaks (where we bought local 'baked goods to eat!) It was dusty and busy with TukTuks and spotted with Tacky Catholic Churches, as usual. The drive up to Munnar was smooth and fresh from 34 plus to around 25 degrees and a lovely fresh breeze. Well worth the 81 Rp (1 Euro) price each! We grabbed a TukTuk the 5km (15min) or so to Misty Green View Homestay. It was down a dusty road which passed deep into the Tea Plantations. There we met Robin, the local Indian Chef-cum-Housekeeper who greeted us and settled us (as the first visitors) into our cool upstairs room. After a rapid freshen-up we sat on the upper verandah to take in Ginger Tea and the views of the vast green Tea plantation valleys below (see video and the photos - as we were at 1365m!). We took a brief walk up 1km or so to the valley viewpoint and tried some local Chai (sweet masala tea) and a little piece of cake too! We walked back and took dinner at 7pm - lo and behold in addition to couples from the UK and Germany were the Canadian couple we met on the Backwater Tour, to whom we recommended this Homestay! We all sat and chatted and caught up - swapping tales of India and other travels and plans. They mentioned that the infamous Turkish Group had been chastised by Local Indians (again) for stripping off to the speedos and jumping into the water when Elephants were being bathed during the trip up! Enough Said. We retired for a quiet, cool sleep - the first for many a long day.
Next day we walked the 6km each way to Munnar to try and sort out onward travel to Hampi (Check it out on Wiki.....amazing...) This was tricky - but with great assistance from Munnar Travel Info. and Munnar Rail Booking staff we were sorted. We would take a 13hr overnight 'local' bus to Bangaluru (Bangalore) stay 1 night and then train via the Hampi Express to Hospet (nr Hampi) some 10hrs or so - A/C sleeper class. All for around £20 each or less. Sorted we lunched at Silver Tips restaurant - a movie themed hotel which did buffet veg. lunches 199 Rp each (£2.70). What a lunch! We each had soup, salads, main course (I had 2 - Sheryl 1) and I had dessert. Food was hot, spicy and flavoursome - service was exceptional and toilets were the best we have had in India thus far! Job done we walked back in the relative 25 degree cool - grabbing a Chai on the way! (see photos). We also visited the Hydal Park near to the waterway here - which was in full bloom and well kept - great at just 10Rp each. We had 7pm dinner - lovely Indian vegetarian food - with our German friends and 2 new Swedish girls. Unlike us - most folks stay just 1 or 2 nights as part of a car tour package.
Wednesday after breakfast of cardamon tea, coffee, toast, jam, eggs, bananas and pineapple, Sheryl took charge with a walk to Attukkad Water Fall - we didn't know how far it was as the tourist map was not to scale. Whatever - we started at 09:40. We walked in the warm sun to the Viewpoint and on to the bridge, then along a slow downward slope (on the main Munnar road) for some 4km up to Pallivasal. There we saw the signs and saw a waterall in the distance. We also saw a roadside Tea Shop (not what you think!) and had 2 chai each and some fried chili donut and muffin type sweet ball - yummy - for 40Rp (60p)! Down we went through quiet lanes to the eventual waterfall. It wasn't great with little water - but the exercise was awesome. We continued on uphill now through the TATA Tea Plantations (yes they also do Tea in addition to steel, cars, TVs, etc...). It was warmer and I used my inner GPS to pick a way through the lanes and shortcut steps higher through the tea plantations and bushes towards our Homestay. Eventually after 3hr 30m we made it back. Robin was surprised we had done it but we were proud of our accomplishment. When we stepped in who was there but a Norwegian guy who I had been chatting to on the Backwater trip and again to whom we had recommended this place! Small World indeed. Another awesome tasty Indian Dinner from Robin and in the morning a fabulous Indian Breakfast.. what a Star!
Thursday we walked into town and grabbed our amazing value buffet lunch then.. hired a fairly battered silver Honda hire Scooter - I agreed 500Rp (£6.60) for a day and a half. We filled it with 300Rp of petrol and went exploring. We travelled over the S. Munnar dam bridge and took a left down the usual narrow sometimes tarmac lane. We spent around 2 hours exploring the beauty (see photos!) of the tea plantations, the forests, skies, mountains, houses and people. It was warm, blue skies with fluffy cloud and a smooth, cool breeze in our faces. We stopped many times to admire the views. The greens were sharp and mixed hues and textures with a constant wisp of tea scent drifting all around. While driving I even spotted a huge owl hidden in the trees - photo is incredible!! We sauntered back and explored a little around our place which had a road surrounded by forest and 'resorts' or small hotels. Then back for a great Indian veg. dinner then bed.
Friday after an Indian breakfast of Coconut spiced pancakes we set off on the trusty Honda to 'Top Station' some 35km or so up 1850m+ in the hills. The roads here are quieter than in the towns and make driving 'relatively' low-risk and low stress. I had to take it extra easy as only I got a helmet (Indian law)! We passed through Munnar Town which was buzzing then up a narrow climbing lane to TS. The views were, once again, amazing. Rolling hills, tea bushes all about - tea pickers at work, lakes, mountains and blue skies. It was a dream ride again with strong cool winds. We stopped often for photos - some tea and more photos.. We took over 2hrs to get to TS. It was great view, but as often in India, the hype belies the fact that the journey was the real star of the show. We met all our compatriots from Misty Green View there - some travelled by scooter, others by car. We set off and relaxed (with sore bums) taking it all in. We returned to MGV and enjoyed ginger tea and cashews courtesy of Robin, then I rode to Munnar and dropped off the Honda taking a 35min walk back of some 4km or so. Dinner then sleep.
Next day we had late Indian breakfast then relax before our famous buffet lunch - we filled up for our 12hr+ bus ride to Bangalore (Bengaluru) then off to our bus.... leaving 4pm - due Bangalore 06:00-ish... Will tell you more next time!..Enjoy..