maybe it's time for a little update. ok I'm back in Vancouver for the summer and loving it but I forgot to post the pictures from the dune bashing in Dubai so here they are. No at all missing the heat in the UAE and the warming tempratures heading our way with high 30 degree temps has gotten all of us awesome summer moods...

dusty shoes

hi everyone I know it's been a while just been hanging out in Dubai partying and spending time with friends not too much excitement well ok maybe a little. Sven and his flatmate who are both helicopter engineers for the Dubai airwing arranged a helicopter ride for us a couple weeks ago and it was unbelievable, the pictures are a little hazy which gives you some sort of an idea what it's like here sand, sand and more sand. First time for me in a helicopter and was a little apprehensive after last summer's 4 seater plane ride Ok helicopters feel completley different so much more fun and not nearly as scared on this than that little plane. We flew above Dubai checked out all the famous landmarks was pretty amazing. Saw where they are constructing the Palm a huge housing complex built on water and in the shape of a plam tree and next to it the World which is no where to being finished but still a wonder to see. Dubai is one big sandpit construction is unbelievable here and they just keep builing ridiculous massive complexes, the land of excess walk into any mall or hotel and you get the idea.

where to begin

oh my goodness where to begin... The wedding was an amazing experience I had to pinch myself every now and again and remind myself that this was real. Kenya is another very interesting place, Irene and her family and her friends made this trip something to remember. They are all so generous and welcomed all of us with such open arms Bob is a lucky guy to be a part of such a wonderful family. The wedding took place in Nairobi National Park as well as the reception, beautiful park and as all weddings go plenty of drinks to go around for the table from Abu Dhabi! The reception was so much fun I don't think I danced and laughed so much in my entire life. lots of kenyan dancing and singing it was pretty amazing to get a glimpse of some of their traditions. After the reception we ended the night with a dinner at a place called the carnivore crazy restaurant where you can sample all sorts of meat like crocodile and a favourite drink with everyone called the dawa made with lots of ice, vodka, lime and honey and well, you know how weddings are we continued dancing and drinking the night away. Woke up with a beautiful hangover and the next day I was off to Mombassa with Sven and Teery for a couple days .... more on that

Kenya knows how to throw a party

I know I've been out of touch way too long back from kenya and to say the least communicating by email and cell phone was always a challenge. Arrived in Nairobi after two days rest from India and had was greeted at the airport by Bob and members of Irene's extended family and headed to a family friends place to meet and greet some of Irene's family. We arrived at night so didn't see much of the sights but felt excited to be a part of Bob's wedding in kenya. here are a couple pictures I know that's what your after I'll update the diary in a bit just unpacking and taking it easy for a while...

(Wedding site in Nairobi National Park)

(view of nairobi from the national park)

(wedding Day)

( UAE crowd)






after the wedding in Nairobi, headed out to Mombassa with a couple of Bob's friends, Sven and Teery. Toured around the coastal town this picture below is Fort Jesus big tourist attraction pretty cool place. Mombassa was a whole lot warmer than Nairobi and was a nice change for a couple days....

Kovalom

Hi all I made it to the next beach town after I had such a wonderful relaxing time in Varkula it was hard to leave and I feared that Kovalom would not measure up to what Varkula was. Although Kovalom is smaller and different I enjoyed staying the last couple days here just chilled out and relaxed until I departed back to Abu Dhabi. Met a friendly couple from London that showed me a great cheap place to stay and they had hot water! the 2nd place to offer such a luxury. so I took complete advantage of that! The beach wasn't as nice but still a perfect place to be in the sweltering heat and the hawkers roam the beachfront where they were pretty much non existant in Varkula and it seems like the habit for the local men is to cruise up and down the beach checking out the ladies in their bikinis... by the end of my trip I had enough of the gawkers local men asking the standard questions "what is your name where do you come from what is your job" and then when you answer they remain standing there staring at you or sit down right beside you until you get and leave becuase it feels completely uncomfortable that this strange man is practically sharing your towel with you like it's no big deal so the last day or two I spent my time drinking chai and kept my nose in my books at the neighboring beachfront cafes.

Overall I completeley love Kerala "God's owns Country" and only am now starting to get into the groove of this country. I wish I had more time to explore the neighboring states and to venture up north. But thanks to Kerala I have gained a few more feathers on my traveler's wings and feel I can travel anywhere still have a passion to visit the Northern states of India and now have the confidence to get there some day. I was scared doing this country alone but the people of Kerala were so friendly and helpful and always steered me in the right direction when I looked like I could use some us friendly advice everytime I was at a bus station someone was always there to make sure i got on the right bus and where to go once I got off that bus. I just feel so lucky to have had a small glimpse of India and am always amazed at what beauty there is in such an overpopulated place sure the place has it's own distinguished smells and lack of garbage control but get beyond what you see in front of you and take a closer look and you will all me just as amazed as I am and probably will be for a very very long time.

next stop Nairobi, Kenya!! can't wait too see family, friends and a good party I could use a drink after being sober for a month.

Varkula

I have been in a beach town called Varkula and loving every moment here, a true paradise. I don't want to leave! been here for 3 or 4 nights now and it's just so peaceful I have a wonderful view of the ocean from my balcony and I am staying on the other side of the cliff where just a few tourists are and on the north side is where all the action is, my french friend Pierre has been scooting us around on his scooter exploring the less busy beaches the indian boys have no fears as they seem to crawl out of the rocks to have a look! I know everyone is waiting for me to post picutes I will and I have lots to share but waiting until I'm back in abu dhabi when I will have more time to upload. Not sure what my next plan is I think I will be here for another few days and then spend a couple more at another beach town called Kovalom and then fly out on the 10th to make it for Bob's wedding in kenya on the 13th. My most important concern of course is what to wear!! I know the most stressful situation to deal with... Varkula is a temple town and I'm not too far from the main hindu temple and an easy place just to people watch especially today on a sunday the men and women stand in separte lines to go in, music and incense fill the air just a wonder to see...I am still amazed at the people here everyday. I walked down to a little area today just below where i am staying just to get some beach time on my own and literaly out of the rocks comes a young man and sits right beside me says nothing just sitting there... i had to get up and go to where the rest of the tourists are somedays i'm just not in the mood to deal with the difference in our cultures I understand and respect that their culture is different than ours and that they like to look at us tourists lazing around the beach in our bikinis but still it's uncomfortable I suppose i should be used to it by now but is it really something one can get used to?!

(cliff town Varkula)

(north end of the cliff where all the restaraunts and tourist shops are you have to walk up those lovely set of stairs to access the beach)

(just a regular saturday at the beach, kids are always hanging around tourists quite sweet most of the time)

Back to Kochi, Munnar, Kumily, Thekkeday, Kottyam, Aleppey & Kollam

Realizing I haven't updated this thing in a while and have left out so much so after heading up north and taking the wrong train and found myself more north in Kannur waited for the next train and talked with some friendly locals which was nice and passed the 3 hours that I had to wait to catch the next train back to kochi and what felt like eternity it was a long day riding the train made it back to Fort Cochin spent a coule nights back there and stayed at a wonderful homestay with garden views a perfect spot to recupe and then set off to Munnar by bus.. beautiful lush place the place is surrounded by tea plantations I've never seen how tea was grown and utilized and was amazed. Took a drive up to the hill station and had a wonderful day sightseeing with a very friendly rickshaw driver and visited the tea musuem and had a quick lesson on how tea is cultivated. Stopped at all the best photo taking sites on the way up stopped for chai and just had the best time taking in the mountain air and beautiful landscapes. It was cold here in Munnar a welcome change to the sweltering hot of the rest of Kerala I even had hot water at the hotel I was staying at and that in itself was a luxury. Meals were had at stalls that were set up every evening lots of masals (curry dishes) with tons of parotta (similar to a chipatti) I stuffed myself silly.

(Tea plantations surround these hillsides so lush and green just beautiful beautiful)

(at a hill station in Munnar and these friendly students from Trivanthum) wanted a picture always smiling!)

(on the bus on the way up to Munnar)

(workers snipping the leaves of the tea plants)

After Munnar I headed to Thekkeday wildlife sanctuary and stayed in a town called Kumily. A Spice world my goodness every other shop sold carmadon, cinnamon, cloves vanilla etc, had a wonderful time there too almost a favourite so far. I went for a hike one day with a guide and a friendly guy from holland and saw some elephants, bison and a giant squirrel no tigers... then a boat ride that wiped me out but met some friendly travelers Bala and Sureesh and had an entertaining evening sipping indian rum with them and met a couple other travelers from France and a fellow canadian lots of jokes by everyone and lots of laughter.

(a bad picture but hopefully you can see the elephant hanging out while were on a hike through Thekkeday)

(Sureesh and Bala)

(on the ferry to Kollam, the fancy boats that we were not on but these things are floating palaces!)



The next day I set off by bus again to Kottyam and then to Allepey. Felt like a cold coming on so I chilled in Allepey for the night and then took a 8 hour boat ride to Kollam where I am right now was a fun ride through the backwaters all of us on the boat were tourists and it was nice to chat to others about there experiences and vice versa... I wish I could stay longer and exlpore a few other places but nope looks like I am cutting kerala short to make it to Bob's wedding in Kenya will be spending a couple weeks there and excited that it has all worked out for him can't wait to see what kenya is like I would absolutley love to see a giraffe and a zebra and i wonder what the food is like?? excited no doubt and because Irene is from Kenya we will get to see this country as a tourist with a local eye.

(outside of a temple in Allepey)

So I'm here in Kollam for one more night met a girl from California Althea on the boat yesterday and we are sharing a room until we both depart to separate places tomorrow. I'm looking foward to getting to Varkula get some rest and relaxing on the beach and sort out chaning my plane ticket back to AbuDhabi and just laying low there and just chilling for more than a day everything has been on the go so I welcome the easy life the beach is known for! Althea and I went on a small canoe/boat tour with a funny french man Pierre and a woman from Germany Renate and saw more of the backwaters. This was so much better than the ferry boat ride from Allepey. We had a friendly guy steering the boat and we stopped at a coir-making stationed along side of the river and like most women in this country they work hard coir is the rope made from the coconut shell someone was saying they make 50 rupees a day that's like $1.30 CND doing this hard labourous work..amazing and they were all smiles and chattering away to one another it was mentioned somewhere along my travels that a person living and working in india can survive on 50 rupees a day provides the bare essentials... it's an amazing thing to comprehend and understand I have finally started to understand one's quality of life not one person in india that I saw looks unhappy or stressed they all laugh and sing and smile they are happy happy people and living with only the necessities. ok so we get back on the boat and wonder along the backwater munching on cocunut and chatted away the four of us. Was a wonderful time back to our hotel in the afternoon and relaxed as Althea and I were departing the next day her to Kumily and myslef to Varkula.

(cruisin the backwaters)

(coir making rope made out of the coconut shell)

(Althea and Pierre munching on coconut that our tour guide/captain of our boat hacked down for us from the tree)