Southern India - 11 February 2012 (1)

En Route to the Kerala Backwaters

We had another 0730 start, after a night full of monkey calls and motorbikes revving up, which was rounded off by a call to prayer.

Hillside Covered in Tea Bushes

We couldn’t see very much when we first set off as the coach windows were all steamed up because it was quite cool outside.  We directed our air-conditioning towards the windows and rubbed them with the curtains and eventually we were able to see out.

Ladies Picking Tea

The hillsides were covered in tea bushes, all cut to the same level which was a convenient height for picking.  We had a photo stop at a very scenic spot where women tea-pickers were busy at work.  I really liked a pretty cottage nearby, which wouldn’t have looked out of place on an English chocolate box.  Then there was another photo stop at a Franciscan monastery and shrine.  I wasn’t interested in the monastery, but tea bushes grew alongside the steps which led up to it.  This gave us a close up view of how the tea picking was done.  Technology had moved on from what I had been taught at school where the women picked the “tender topmost leaves” by hand.  These women had large scissors or shears with a net attached.  They moved along the top of the bush, snipping away until the net was full.  Then they would transfer the leaves from the net to a sack nearby.

Pretty Cottage by Tea Plantations

The roads were very winding, which made some people feel a bit queasy.

Franciscan Monastery & Shrine

The next stop was for tea at the Maria Restaurant in Pullupara.  This was a very scenic spot and we stood on the balcony enjoying the tea.  Lukose was waiter again and he brought some black tea.  This time it was really nice and I emptied my glass quickly.  This time, it was the coffee which disappointed, but the toilet facilities were good.

Lady Picking Tea

After my tea, I sat at the front of the restaurant with Andrew, Mike and Laurie.  We watched as a huge Indian family squeezed into a small Landrover-type vehicle.   There were at least eight adults and four children in the back.  We applauded then they were all in and they waved as they drove off.  It must have been a very tight fit.

We set off soon after and this time, we passed a couple of rubber plantations.  We got stuck in a lot of traffic in Condicherry and headed for lunch at Jay’s Inn once we were through.  This was the first time that I had to have a special meal, because they were serving a fish curry.  I enjoyed my curry and most of the extras, except for the chutney relish.

Indian Pond Heron

After eating, I went outside to look at the adjacent canal.  It was full of water-hyacinth and an Indian Pond Heron was elegantly picking its way across the leaves.  The scene was slightly marred by a blue flip-flop which lying in the water.  Kairan called it a “flip-flop” bird, so I said that in Australia it was called a “Thong Bird”.  They liked that one a lot more, so it changed its name.

It took a while for us to get sorted, not least because of the layout of the toilets.  To get to the ladies, we had to walk through the gents, which meant that we couldn’t go if any men were using the facilities.  At least they were clean.