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Bushwhacking with a bike
Part iii of cycling the escape road, Munnar to Kodaikanal Waking up this morning was especially pleasurable after noting our insides had not been removed with tiger claws. We packed rapidly, loaded up our rucksacks and started to hike into the thick forest to try and find the remains of the track we had lost…
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We meet Panthera tigris tigris and other such tales
Part ii of cycling the ‘escape road’ between Munnar and Kodaikanal. (Part i is here) Although our previous days enquires had suggested the village of Vattavada was safe, we still wanted to pass through as early as possible to avoid any potential problems. We woke at sunrise, checked on Bob (he had moved, but was…
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“It is better to apologise after than to ask permission before”
Cycling the ‘escape road’ from Munnar to Kodaikanal. It all started after seeing a faded old sign pointing to ‘Munnar Ropeway Station’. Half covered in vegetation on an old stonewall, it roused our curiosity and we wanted to find out what the ropeway station was/is and whether it was something we could visit or possible…
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Our week in pictures (two weeks ago…)
We are still in India but rapidly running out of time on Sam’s visa… we haven’t had the chance to write much as we have been very busy but will hopefully be able to catch up soon. These were taken during our cycle through the Hampi area, fascinating for both its past history and its…
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Why go to London when you can stay in India?
Here’s a question……….. What is the main reason people visit London? I know you won’t have to think long or hard about this. The answer is blatantly that anyone who visits London goes there to visit Madame Tussaud’s, the wax museum. For years now, Indian people have been saving their hard earned pennies to go…
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India – Kottayam to Muvattapuzha
Indians love an excuse for a festival or party and at the moment there seems to be two overlapping (at least!). The schools are busy celebratin education, and everyone is having a holiday for a week. There’s a Hindu festival on, and busloads of pilgrims are being transferred seemingly from one temple to another in…
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Cruising the backwaters
The Indian Coffee House is an institution we have come to know and love over the last few weeks. It began life in the 1930’s, there were 50 outlets and they were run by the Cess Coffee Company. In the late 1950’s, the company decided to close things down, at which point, everything changed. Encouraged…
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Arriving at the backwaters
Our day didn’t start very well, I tried to take a photo in the morning and found out that somehow my camera lens had developed a fault overnight all on its own. It hadn’t been knocked or received any shock, but the lens barrel seems to have become stuck in one position – fortunately it’s…
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Cycling up Kerala’s coast.
It was flat and only 32 kilometres, but today we broke out of our Varkala bubble and completed our first days cycling in India! Finally we are on the road again, and despite it feeling like we have never cycled before when we set off, it feels good to be doing what we came here…
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Finally leaving Varkala…
Finally, after almost a month in the coastal tourist town of Varkala we are ready to leave and set off on our India adventure! We only intended to stay here for one week, possibly two, but the relaxing atmosphere here reminded us of how much we needed a good rest. Our days have passed in…
Sam and Sheena Cycle 