From Karnataka to Kerala - Madikeri and Kannur

We travelled down to Kannur from a homestay near Madikeri yesterday in an old ambassador car we hired- with driver- for the day. The trip was frightening as the roads here have been badly broken up by the heavy monsoons, at times it felt as if we needed a four-wheel drive - but we made it. The trip was through some very beautiful scenery. The whole area around Madikeri was beautiful - mountainous and green and lush. We stayed at a homestay on a coffee plantation called The Palace Estate, which was really nice. It was very relaxing and peaceful up there and we really had a bit of time to unwind and take things in a bit. We did a huge treck the first day there, about 9 km and very steep uphill the whole way. It took about 4 and a half hours, but the view from the top was amazing and well worth the effort, plus it felt nice just to be outdoors enjoying India without the crowds.

Before the homestay we stayed at Madikeri for two nights - also a nice  little place. It was only small but pretty, and being situated in the mountains it offered some spectacular veiws. It was the beginning of a slower pace for us here which has been most welcome. It seems a little easier to digest what we're experiencing when we have time to sit and be a bit alone.

Now in Kerala I think perhaps the pace will pick up a bit again. Here in Kannur it is stil nice and easy. We are staying in a place with great ocean views, and we wandered down to the beach yesterday for a walk. Scott even went for a swim, which seemed slightly strange considering there were hundres of people on the beach, none of whom had even taken their shoes off let alone ventured near the water. The beach was really stunning though and I saw my first sunset over the ocean - over the Arabian no less!

We will be leaving here at around 4am tomorrow morning by train to Cochin, which we are expecting to be a real highlight. We're still unsure about how long we will stay there, but will be in Kerala now for the rest of our trip, which will be wonderful apart from the fact that beer is very difficult to get here (yes, I'm still unsure why we chose this state!).

So, lots of beaches and fine weather ahead of us!

Pete