Marari Villas

Good Morning gentle reader and welcome to Kerrala, India. Our butler, Shan, has served us breakfast of fresh fruit, Keralan pancake, fruit juice and ginger tea in the privacy of our own beautiful garden. The Express and The Hindu report that President Obama will arrive in Delhi on Sunday (same day as us), that tiger numbers have increased by 30% since 2010 (well done the tigers and keep it up), that someone born into poverty in India has as good a chance of doing well as someone born in similar circumstances in the US and that an estimated 4,274,562 people (we saw quite a few of them as we were driven here from the airport) took part in a mass run to herald the National Games. They also reported that India will overtake China as the worlds fastest growing economy in 2016 and that mango exports to Europe will resume after a ban of a few years. All would appear to be well with the world in India.

They say that it is the journey that matters (X-Factor, etc.) not the destination. I can tell you that is a pile of poo - our journey was hell on wheels and our destination is heavenly (so far). It all started when we left home on Friday 16th to travel to Cumbernauld via Larbert. The A9 had been closed off and on over the previous few days and although open was looking dodgy again. We decided to err on the side of caution and go via Aberdeen. It would take an hour or two longer but we would be sure to get there. Certainly the road was clear of snow but traffic jams in Aberdeen, Dundee and between Stirling and Cumbernauld, a missed turn-off to Larbert and a closed bridge, added an extra 3 hours to the trip. Seven hours to Cumbernauld. Thanks to everyone who posted that they had a beautiful journey up and down the A9 that day.

However, a weekend spent with Michael, Nicola, Megan and Mum soon made us forget our journey. A fine lamb dinner was enjoyed at Douglas and Caroline's.

Our flights on Monday were worse. Due to the late arrival of our plane and a passenger taking ill after we had left the stance, we were an hour and a half late in leaving Glasgow. Still, we should be just about OK for our connection in Dubai. As we were about to begin our descent we were informed that due to a massive storm at the airport we were being put in a holding pattern and would be delayed by a further hour. Now we were not OK for our connection. After 45 minutes we were told there would be an additional half hour delay. All thoughts of making it to India as planned were abandoned. However, as we disembarked we spotted that the India flight was on final boarding and that the gate was in the same terminal. Unfortunately, we ran into a completely unnecessary security check where we entered into a polite but pointed altercation with fellow passengers (we are all in the same boat, don't you know). I won't mention who was doing the shoving. We were held up for 10 minutes before we were off and running again and got to the gate just as the final nun was finishing her pre boarding prayers.

We sat on the plane for a further 45 minutes before it was given permission to join the take off queue. The rain had eased off to torrential as the engines roared and the plane hurled itself into the heart of the storm. It was a bit of a bumpy ride and our thoughts turned to the Air Asia plane recently lost in such a storm. However, we made it. Unfortunately, our bags didn't and now, nearly lunchtime on the following day, there is still no sign of them.

With only the clothes that we stood up in after 22 hours of travel, our personal chef, Rajesh, volunteered to take us to a local clothes shop where we might be able to purchase some swimwear. I bought a pair of fake Indian Billabong shorts (£1.75), the largest in the shop but still a bit tight. The choice for Susan was rather more limited as there was no conventional ladies swimwear but she finally settled on a pair of mens underpants and what would pass in UK as a trainer bra (£1.25 the whole ensemble, gift wrapped). Not so much lift and separate as "Hello Boys".

Grateful to be here, and after some fabulous Keralan food and a good nights sleep, we are much restored and ready to start our Indian adventure.

PS Bags have delivered by our personal driver, lunch has been served and we are off to the beach to be welcomed by our personal beach attendant, Benjamin.