Out Of The Frying Pan

As the temperature starts to rise above 30C, so we rise up to the relative coolness of another colonial hill station known for it's tea plantations and tranquil setting (making it another Indian holiday hotspot). The bizarre mix of British style architecture and general Indian sprawl of 'concrete box architecture' makes Ooty township somewhat of an oddity. The surrounding countryside is covered with tea plantations, dotted with colourful sari's disappearing and re-appearing as tea leaves are collected and cared for all before a backdrop of gentle mist hanging on the horizon. An organised trek took us through small villages (some with huge satelite dishes.... for the cricket maybe?) and up to several vantage points overlooking the magical landscape.

After a hellish bus ride back down the mountain with it's 30 or so hairpin bends, we've arrived in fort cochin on the Keralan coast. It's another tourist mecca here, with nothing much to do but wander round the uncrowded streets and indulge in the fantastic restaruants that line the alleyways. The temperature difference between here and Ooty is phenominal, it's 35C here during the day and about 28C at night (bring on the air-con!) compared to 24C and a lovely 5C at night in Ooty.... phew! Photo below shows the Chinese fishing nets used to catch our supper, they are lowered into the water by 4 men at a time.... haven't seen them catch anything yet though!