FIRST TRAIN JOURNEY

Breakfast on time again - same method. !

All packed and ready for next adventure. Early to station just in case, plus want to take picture which will hopefully accompany this blog.

Trains are incredibly long, and our compartment is 1a, so is right at far end. Kanykumari is the end of the line, so it comes in and then a new engine is added at what was the back, and out it goes again. We reckon we walked the first mile of our 350 mile trip just to reach the compartment. It wasn't exactly posh, but clean and swept and a/c, so quite comfortable. We were on our own for the first 250 or so miles, which was nice. A man came round with an urn of coffee, which was nice, and we were equipped with fruit, so we settled in to watch the countryside go by. Wonderful views of the magnificent Western Ghats. Wonderful scenery, rice field, coconut groves, pineapple groves (are pineapples in groves?) and villages of all kinds. Thought the journey would seem long but it didn't.

New experience: lunch came, rice and sauces with veg and fish. No 'implements' so we had to go native and eat with our fingers.- on a moving train too! Actually the trains are very steady, no rattling about like our puny diesels. Dave had already done a fair bit of eating with fingers; fitting in, he called it. Note to our kids, I will retrain him before he influences your children! After a hesitant start, managed very well, no mess at all!

Tea came round in the afternoon, smelt a bit odd, but tried it and found it to be cinnamon tea, hot and delicious.

The guard, very smart in navy blazer and white trousers, stomped up and down throughout the journey to check we were all where we should be. There is a notice stuck on the outside of the compartment with names of the passengers and, yes, ages! Ah well! Stations aren't always clearly signed, so as 5.30pm approached we began to ge a bit anxious, as we had luggage to drag off. The train was running 20 minutes late, so we spent an anxious little while trying to anticipate when to make a move. In the end it was fine, Ernakulum, the station for Cochin, was huge and terrifyingly busy, but at least it was obvious we were there At end of train, so another mile trek back to station, we were somewhere in far countryside. Dark by now. Found taxi, crammed luggage in, confidently said, Ballard 'Bungalow please.' Blank. Repeat. 'Is in Fort Cochin?' Yes. Off we shot into traffic which had to be seen to be believed: rush hour of course. Nightmare ride for hour or so, getting worried as we had said be there about 6pm. Please be a room! Tried to phone, but all lines busy.

Finally got to Fort Cochin, where is hotel? Drove round a bit and miraculously spotted it - driver delighted. Turned in off scruffy street, and it looked lovely and welcoming. Young man on desk looked puzzled. 'You booked?' Oh oh! After a little wait he came back smiling. Paid off taxi - all of 450 rupees, about £9, for all that time. Oh, Rough Guide, why didn't say Fort Cochin is so far from the station? Anyway, we know now, and it looks OK, so we'll see what tomorrow brings.....