Living in the Clouds

Kodaikanal is perhaps the most visually stunning place that I have ever visited.  It is about 2050 metres up the moutains of Tamil Nadu.  I arrived yesterday afternoon after 7 hours on the noisy, packed bus and was greeted with the most beautiful fog.

When I got to my hotel room, I could barely seen two feet in front of me because the fog was so thick.  I sat on the balcony for a few minutes, and the fog began moving in and out like the tides of the sea.  It receeded to allow for a view of the landscape, and then moved foward again to engulf the trees and make them invisible.  Every five minutes the view was differnt, as if looking at India through a kaleidescope.

It rained in the afternoon, and the fog cleared, and I realized that my $4 hotel room was nestled into the side of the mountain.  Far below me there is a huge valley and the red, heat scorched earth of the plains.  Above me there is more fog and trees.

It is very cold here though, and I don't have any clothes that are warm enough.  But a welcome break from the 38 degree weather I've been getting used to! There is only hot water from 7 am - 9:30 am, so I have to trek up the side of the mountain to get water to use for a bucket shower.  By the time I get back down to my room its lukewarm, but better than the ice cold water that comes out of the tap!

At night I realized that my room was infested with a family of mice--they came out from under the rugs, through holes in the wall and out of the bathroom.  All at once! Yikes.  Maybe that's why the room was only $4 despite the view? Anyway, I ended up moving and sharing a room with Angela so that we can face the mice together...