There was only one elephant and this I have not seen on the jeep safari. Instead I have seen it on the way to the sanctuary crossing the road behind the car.
The trek after the safari was again very steep and elephant less. Nevertheless the scenery was beautiful! the climb above the rocks and the bat caves at the most far point of were definitely the highlights of the hike.
last night at panamaram Homestay was free as the cottage we have reserved was given to another family!

Today started relaxed and will also end relaxed. There will be not much more than a taxi ride to kozhikode and a over night bus ride in a sleeper bus to Goa!

That is the only picture of yesterdays trek on my phone:

Elephant dung

I wish all fellow readers a happy new year!

Ps: i Got a new camera!

Two days back we have skipped the party as we have been quite tired on the evening of the 25th.
Another few hours of sightseeing in fort kochi The day after.
The rest of the 26 has been spent in searching for the bus to kozhikode which we almost missed when it would not have left 1 hour delayed.
In kozhikode we had to ask a couple of people to find the local bus stand. Once reached the bus to kalpetta in wayanad left immediately – lucky people. Even if it was already half past eleven in the night our host still served some buffet dinner.
yesterday we climbed the chembra peak, the highest peak in Wayanad region. The trek was steep and the scenery divers. Half way up there was a heart shaped lake which we used for a short refreshment on the way down.
We reached the sealed road in the early evening and asked a group of Indian people with their Jeep for a lift down to the place of the rickshaw stand because we ran out of water on the way down. These guys were very helpful and took us back to kalpetta. They invited us for tea and biscuits on the way at the road side.

Today is wildlife sanctuary Jeep safari with the chance to see wild animals. Press thumbs for me!
Followed by a 10 hour trek.

Here are a few pictures of chembra peak:

We boarded the bus to kochi After some “sightseeing” and lunch in munnar. As we reached our Homestay in fort kochi at 8 pm after a long downhill bus ride we decided not to go to the beach on the 24th. Instead we had some nice Christmas pancakes and  an hour long stroll through fort kochi in a warm breeze.
Alex and Jonas had some beer to the pancakes which was served in a tea pot  and tea cups because the restaurant doesn’t have a beer licence.
Today on the 25th morning was used to discover fort kochi by foot. There was this museum with the awesome picture of Krishna where he is cuddling a group of girls and playing a flute with his 8 arms and two feet.and there were huge Fisher nets in the North of fort kochi. Lunch was at kashi art café which are serving supper awesome sandwiches!
In the afternoon we went to awesome cherrai beach…one spot very crowded but only a few hundred meter south an awesome beach with less people.
lets see what the evening brings!

We left the resort in the afternoon with the boat for a short stay at the beach. The water was clean and nice!
The night in the kondai lip was more sleepless than good because I probably ate something wrong during the day.
Anyways the evening before the night was great in the Christmas illuminated yard of the resort.
I spent The next day in the Cab to munnar respectively in the bed in our cottage in munnar mostly sleeping because I felt sick.
the day after was much better. I went on an easy 10 hour trek from 6am to 4 pm which was of only 15 km. our guide made a breakfast on the tip possible.he explained 12 different spices growing in the munnar region  with examples and the history of munnar .the tour ended at our cottage with some late but tasty lunch.
I did some handicraft before I went to bed in our cottage far away from any noise.

Today, at Christmas, we are taking the bus to kochi where we will spend the early night with local Christmas activities before we go to bed in our home stay resort.
Tomorrow will be most probably at the beach!

Here are some pictures:

Kondai lip yard

On the boat to the beach

Christmas Lights in the yard @ kondai lip

Cottage at munnar

Swing at cottage munnar

View from the veranda at cottage munnar

Yesterday we were cruising in the backwaters on our house boat, were relaxing on board had a swim in the Luke warm slightly salty water, bought some freshly caught prawns on a local market and had awesome lunch and dinner on the boat. The crew was awesome and fulfilled every wish we 3 had. The water was quite shallow, sometimes just deep enough to cover the whole body up to the neck. Then the feet were standing on warm soft and muddy ground.

The boat trip ended after rich breakfast at 9 today. Just after we went to a bird sanctuary close by. But we didn’t see many birds. Then Our Cab driver brought us to the kondai lip backwater resort. The resort is reached by a short ride with a  manual boat from the end of the road. We have got our own small cottage with bathroom and 3 beds. Such a peaceful place!
Lets see what the day brings!

Lunch

Another train brought me to allepey last night. It was hard to find dinner at 11 pm in this small village but we found a small snack.
I just boarded the house boat for one day and one night.
Looks beautiful doesn’t it?

We were warmly welcomed with a fresh coconut drink!

It was very hard to leave the train when I reached trivandrum at 1.30 pm because people were pushing inside before people left the train.

Our schedule was:
Indian coffee house opposite of the train station, ganapathy and shri-padmanabhaswamy temple. both temples only from outside. Last sight was the museum close to the second temple. The museum was inside of a huge palace.

Now we are waiting in an I’ve café for the train to allepey at 7.25 pm.

Pics of the day:

PS: Christmas parcel reached home

I reached kanyakumari by 9.30 today. The night in the sleeper bus was very good!
We explored the city by foot. Nothing spectacular but a nice place to hang out.
We found a nice beach after walking west wards along the coast until we passed a fish hunting village. Warm sea and strong current, just right for an awesome afternoon dip!

Tomorrow off to trivandrum!

Pictures of the day:

Lunch box

Time in Bangalore passed very fast and it is time to move on. This time to kanyakumari, the most south city in India.
the 3 if us will stay in a sleeper bus for The 14 hour long journey. Fan, light and power outlet is there but not working.

Dinner was in the hotels restaurant because it had to be most convenient.

Just before dinner we listened to the audio guide of the Bangalore palace.

The day started with a breakfast in the floor. Continental breakfast is only available per room service but the table in the room is too small for a 3 person breakfast and there is only 1 chair as well. Hence we used the seating arrangement in the floor to have breakfast

Now I have got a fancy hair dress. Made by a small hairdresser close to the hotel