Entries about koadaikanal

Day 100: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu 07/01/12

Wake up and Gemma has already gone out. I leave a note on the door saying ‘@ breakfast, love you.’ This is taken off the door by Prakash, my hotel friend, who thinks I am confessing my undying love for him. Turns out Gemma is at breakfast anyway.

We check our emails quickly before I am stuck in a lift on my own in a powercut, which is actually quite scary. Head to Kodaikanal on the bus, where we are accompanied on the back seat by bags, tyres, old men and their market stalls. Another beautiful drive but a semi-responsible driver makes the experience slightly less nerve wracking. The mountains are again beautiful and each area seems slightly different to the last.

Off the bus and stupidly follow a tout to see a ‘500 rupee lake view cottage’. Needless to say it is a shithole. Find a place that is much better and I am even able to negotiate a deal with the owner. Have a great dinner that makes Gemma very happy and both of us very full. Tibetan food is delicious so must remember to try and find a Tibetan restaurant at home. It is absolutely freezing here.

Day 101: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu 08/01/12

After a cold night we wake up and I climb into my sleeping bag for the first time on the trip to warm up a bit. After a hot(ish) shower we head out. After arriving at the hotel yesterday, which was on a quiet, deserted road, we find a huge market literally on our doorstep today. Donning fleeces we go to see what is on offer in the town and head back to the Tibetan restaurant for a warming soup.

Found our way back to the lake, where Gemma and ‘Somash’ (from the ‘EK’) hire a pedalo for three quarters of an hour, with Gemma doing most of the pedalling. We then plod round the market, me with some ‘marshmallows’ (lumpy, rubbery sugar balls) and have a great tea of lasagne and pizza.