New Year - Kerala style

Last dinner in Cochin with everyone. Tracey had a surprise birthday cake
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The journey from Coonoor back down to Cochin will remain one of the most memorable of my life. Whilst the scenery as you start high up in the mountains of Tamil Nadu and work your way down the Western Ghats (literally "steps") down into the lowlands of Kerala and through the backwaters to the port of Cochin is undoubtedly spectacular it was the journey itself that will long in the memory.

As we were travelling with Kiran and Neha's family (two mums, an "uncle" a sister and two friends)  it was decided to do the journey in style and two large jeeps were hired to take us the seven hour distance to Cochin. As described in an earlier blog the roads in India are the epitome of anarchy at the best of times with all of humanity rushing along at full speed trying to avoid each other but at the same time constantly overtaking on the inside, outside, down the middle and any other way they can, doing the journey along narrow winding roads with huge cliff drops on either side becomes traumatising after a while. And even once we had survived the sheer drops and reached the bottom we still had a good four hours of the madness of Indian roads to get through before reaching our final destination. Thankfully our journey was broken up with a very lovely lunch with one of Kiran's "aunties" (don't quite get the Indian family situation) in Coimbatore which gave us a chance to calm the nerves a little over some lovely South Indian food before it was off again.

Our local fishmonger showing what is fresh for the day
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We arrived at our hotel in Cochin a complete bag of nerves and completely shattered. I was expecting to be met by an award party for surviving what must be one of life's toughest tests...but no. Just the nice man to carry our bags (better than nothing I suppose)

This time we were staying in Ernakulam which is the business part of Cochin. Much busier and noisier than Fort Cochin with a lot more going on. We were booked into the Cochin Yacht Club for the New Year's Eve party so we spent the whole of the 31st organising various party requirements for ourselves. For the ladies it was off to the manicure and pedicure place for some "touching up and buffing" whilst Kiran and I took in the bar at the Grand. Then it was off to Seemati, which is one of Cochin's biggest department stores to get some acceptable trousers for me and finally the "bling" shop to get some shiny things for Tracey and Neha to go with the saris they were wearing (yes thats right, Tracey did wear a sari for the party, check out the pics as she looked stunning!)

Kiran and the mums on the water bus to Cochin
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Finally, it was back to the hotel to get spruced up. Tracey, Neha and the other ladies were all dressed in saris and us chaps were in suitable variants of linen trousers and short sleeved shirts. We met for a cheeky pint in the hotel bar (very swanky) and then it was off to the Cochin Yacht Club to party till dawn.

The Yacht Club is situated in a lovely location right on the water in the harbour and there was the usual set up of bar and dance floor. We spent the night chatting and drinking away (some people even danced..)until the great moment when the inevitable count down began and then ...it was 2008!! Eventually we headed back to the hotel and a good nights (what was left of it) sleep.

The epic journey from Coonoor to Cochin (note cars facing each other on same side of the two way road - in India this is normal)
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The next day was, not surprisingly, slow and after a gentle start we all trooped off via the ferry to Fort Cochin for a lazy walk around and lunch. Eventually we headed back to Ernakulam and after a short rest us youngsters decided a drink or two was in order. Unfortunately for us, January 1 sems to be an enforced day of abstention and there was not a single place open to serve beer. Eventually out of sheer desperation we were forced into the hotel's cafe for "soft drinks and hot beverages". Then it was off for our final dinner together where everyone (without my knowledge) organised an early birthday cake for Tracey and the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday to her (which was nice). We all trooped back to the hotel and after lots of goodbyes and hugs and kisses as everyone was heading off in different directions the next day,  it was off to bed.

Neha preparing for 2008 with a pedicure
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We had an early start on the 2nd and it was into a car and off to the airport. After the obligitory sitting around for a few hours we finally boarded the plane and headed in the direction of Sri Lanka...