@Angusfraser16
INDIA Nov 2022
Nov 23 - Dec 03 2022
@Angusfraser16
No entries have been mapped yet.
Nov 23 2022

I woke up early around 6.30. Checked the Socceroos who played at 3am and we lost to france 4-1. We scored the first goal and so when I was watching the highlights the blood was rushing in hope that we could have won or drawn. Nevertheless a solid effort by the boys.

I cut up some fruit and when the others woke up we ate brekky, showered, changed and made our way to the station for the batu caves.

The train ride was good, despite me almost leaving my phone behind. We made it there and strolled around the caves.

Near the entrance

Entering the caves

Inside the first cave

Walking over to the big sculpture

Animal park on the way to big sculpture. Temple in background

Big sculpture at the entrance to the large stair case

At the top of the staircase

The last staircase in the cave

At the very top!

On our way back, looking over the bath caves village

Where we had just been.

We hopped back on the train and made our way to the petronas towers (KLCC station). Thinking KLCC stands for KL city centre. We had KFC and then walked to the towers.

Petronas towers

Walked through the towers and saw this lake.

We went back to the mall where the train was and had lunch. Learnt that laksa was the national meal of Malaysia - so we had a laksa! Delicious.

Went back to the Robertson where we had left our bags with reception. And made our way to the airport.

Everything was running smoothly - and I even commented this to the others. Little did we all know… when we arrived at the check in counter the lady noticed zanzi’s visa application was wrong. Her passport had the wrong letters (should have started with PB instead of PA). The girl called cochin airport to see if it would still be allowed and we went for a drink and some chipped while we waited.

An anxious and stressed Zanz, charging her phone and talking to her parents.

From what it sounded, there could be a fair chance it would be fine. However a crying Zanz came back and she had been denied. We scrambled on the phone and laptop trying to see if we could get her application adjusted, but the 24/7 helpline was not so helpful, and we had no luck. Zanz accepted her fate and booked a airport hotel and me and Lawson went off to our departure gate.

From then on everything continued well, we landed. Got in a taxi - the closest I will be to being in a runaway vehicle.

Taxi ride to ibis hotel - crazy.

We got to our hotel, showered and went to bed. After an eventful night

@Angusfraser16
Nov 24 2022

We woke up and went downstairs from our room 507 to the reception and dining area. Curry, BOSH. Scrambled eggs, BOSH. Coffee, BOSH.

We went to reception and found out things to do, pretty much it was go to fort kochi. So we got ready and took off.

Your average power pole.

The street that connects to the waterfront walkway, where we walked along to the ferry.

Not the malabar we are familiar with!

Nice man we saw on the walk

Walking along next to the harbour, smelly (very).

We boarded the ferry 6 IR each, spoke to a very friendly bloke who told us to get off the next stop. Also met these two guys who had just finished their spiritual journey 41 days of strict prayer and lifestyle who wore all black.

2 guys on ferry to fort kochi.

Finally we landed at fort kochi where we were approached for a tuk tuk tour almost as soon as we walked out the gate. for 150 IR each. The drivers name was shameer (sounds like shammi). Photos below for tuk tuk tour.

Tuk tuk and driver

Look up this map! Very interesting map of trade routes connecting Europe all the way to china (and via India)

Church by the Portuguese

How the locals wash their clothes

Where locals iron and fold their clothes. Workers use electric irons. One old lady burns coconut in iron to get heat and good smell. They wash the whole islands clothes.

Hindu temple, have to be Hindu to enter

Temples elephant

Two more elephants, only there for two weeks for Hindu celebration period. Then they go back to training facility.

Shameer kept taking us to souvenir stores.

Souvenir store

Same souvenir store as above

Finished tuk tuk tour. Bought elephant shirt, cashews. Lawson bought cologne (oil based).

We finished the tour smelling like Indian cologne. In a lot of stores they sat you down and tried a lot of perfumes on us.

We went for lunch at a seafood restaurant. Fish curry, BOSH. 600mL beer, BOSH.

Fish curry (sea bass)

What we ordered.

We ate and made our way back to the hotel. It was afternoon and the sun had a nice light on the street, which was also much more lively.

We also stopped into a store to buy some local Indian shoes. 650 IR.

Fresh Indian shoes, my foot on left, Lawson on right.

We finished the afternoon with some jobs. We went to lulu mall via M.G road station, getting off at edapally station on the metro. This connected into the mall. We got SIM cards, phone chargers and water and we made our way back to our hotel. It was dark but the streets were still very lively. We went had a quiet dinner and watched the World Cup at dining area.

We are excited to meet zanz tomorrow, she has put in a big day, sorted her visa and organised a flight for the morning to meet us in coimbatore.

@Angusfraser16
Nov 25 2022

Writing from 26/11 in car from parambikulam to mysore (7.5hrs)

Yesterday we woke up, curry for breakfast (bosh), packed bags and hopped in a tuk tuk to the train station (ernakulam junction). Our train departed at 9.10. It was the first i had seen of India outside the chaotic cities. Very green, still hazy, still a lot of rubbish around the tracks. People living next to the track under tarps.

We arrived and headed straight to CAG pride to meet Zanzi, who had completed her \2406.5 hour journey from KL Malaysia (leaving at 5am) to Chennai to Coimbatore. Despite her missing kochi and waking up at 1.30am she was in good spirits. It was great to be back together, we had a laugh about what had happened and then took off to Isha Yoga centre.

Our taxi was pretty small and I managed to snag the seat behind the driver facing backwards (Zanz and Lawson. Opposite). Too big for the seat and that is the exact point. Tough 45 mins but pushed through by talking to our driver about cricket. His favourite Australian player was Matthew Hayden and found Justin langer very beautiful (odd but he liked his eyes and made a big point of it). Fun conversation.

The isha yoga center was awesome. We arrived with not much idea of what to do

@Angusfraser16
Nov 26 2022

Entering from plane to Goa on 28/11

On Saturday we woke up at 4.45am to try and get to the parambikulam national park for 7-8am. We had booked a driver for a price we thought could be around 12500 rupee (55 to 1 AUD). The drive was much slower than we thought, and pretty boring. The towns we were going through were the best part, until the driver run over a dog and then we every town after that me and Lawson were looking ahead to make sure the very unfazed driver didn’t do it again. There were also lots of check points, each costing money (1000-2000) and taking more out of the day.

@Angusfraser16
Nov 27 2022

Writing from plane from goa to mysore 28/11

Yesterday we woke up in mysore at 9.30am, strolled down to the hotel brekky and got in to some tucker. We were well rested after the long day we had before and ready to get into the day.

We finished brekky and went out the front with plans to go to the gardens. However, when we found a Tuktuk driver he told us there was a leopard in the gardens at the moment and there is no foreigners around. So, we decided to go to the zoo. Our driver spoke good English and it was nice to speak to him. There will be more on him later!

The zoo was great, and it was good to see the animals we were hoping to see the day before, particularly the tiger. Semi obsessing over tigers now. The elephants and gaur were also cool. They had some Australian birds and reptiles including crocs there too. Didn’t take many photos but there’s a couple from the very start below.

@Angusfraser16
Nov 28 2022

Writing on plane from goa to New Delhi 30/11.

On Monday I woke up at 3.15 to prepare for my MATS1110 exam that was at 5am. The exam was mostly multiple choice which was great for me as I had done hardly any preparation. Had to spray the dunny mid way through but got through the rest of it okay. The exam was over at 6.45 and I went back to bed to try get more rest before the others woke up.

There was a school next door and there was an Indian guy on a speaker teaching kids right outside my room. So didn’t manage to get back to sleep. The others got up at 8.15ish and we were out the door at 8.45 where we met our friend Julian who had planned for us to go to his house so Zanz could get henna on her hands and forearms

@Angusfraser16
Nov 29 2022

Writing from the plane to Delhi from goa 30-11.

Yesterday I woke up a little bit hung at around 8.30. Tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t, the mattress may as well have been concrete, no cushion at all. Got up at 10 when Zanz knocked on our door. We went out in search for brekky and a coffee on the Main Street of calungute. We found some western food (toasted sandwiches) and had a coffee whilst we planned for the day ahead.

We made our way back at 1230ish and got a taxi to Aguada fort, a fort on the the northern head of the mouth of the estuary. The fort was pretty sick and the Portuguese history was very interesting.. Photos below

@Angusfraser16
Nov 30 2022

Writing from plane jaipur to Hyderabad 03/12.

Today we woke up a little late in goa. We pretty much packed our things and got on our way to the airport (via some site seeing).

The place we were staying at shown below. We had both buildings to ourselves, the one of the left Zanzi stayed in, and got attacked by mozzies. The one on the right was larger and me and Lawson stayed there.

@Angusfraser16
Dec 01 2022

Big day.

@Angusfraser16
Dec 03 2022
@Angusfraser16