01/09
So, my trip has begun- I’m up in the sky
Headed for Cairo, then the madness of Mumbai,
A few glasses of wine and a Peroni beer
Has made me SUPER excited and calmed my fear!
02/09
Our first day in Mumbai was a bit hazy,
Taxi driver was clueless, the roads were crazy,
50 kids on a truck, colourful and queer
And at Leopold’s we had a pillar of beer!
03/09
Scrambled eggs with raisins and nuts was well tipped
Haggled for a pink shirt- it’s already ripped!
Mobbed in Colaba by Indians wanting a pic,
And the dosas at dinner went down pretty quick!
04/09
Today has been a lazy day,
Both of our stomachs are in a bad way,
Our tummies can’t handle all the spice,
Damn Indian food for tasting so nice!
05/09
At Chowpatty Beach, we got soaked by rain
And I haggled for shirts in Colaba again!
Our bus to Goa just left an hour late
With no wipers, low battery- please help us, fate!
06/09
We finally made it- ALIVE!- to Panaji,
And over a lunch of the standard thali and tea
We planned our trip to Kerala,
Then ended the evening in a TINY bar!
07/09
We promised worldwide stamps to Mr Kaisare,
Pat bought himself a harmonica!
We learnt at 3, box-buying is no more-
Bye Goa, we’re headed to Mangalore!
08/09
Tired and confused upon arriving in Mangalore,
We had our first ride in an auto-rickshaw.
Trying to work out the station was intense,
But the Mangalorean seafood cuisine was immense!
09/09
Finally booked a bus out of Mangalore
And booked a train from Kerala to Bangalore!
We saw a lady in a burkha with high heeled shoes,
Then dinner at a restaurant with sweeping views!
10/09
Pat’s ‘crab masala’ was messy to eat,
Cracking open each one was no mean feat!
Today is Eid Mubark- a Muslim holiday
And the day we finally made our way!
11/09
We caught a public bus to hilly Munnar
Through the plantation villages of Kerala,
Although close to the edge from time to time,
It was nevertheless a beautiful climb!
12/09
We had an omelette and toast to start the day,
Then even though the skies looked a little grey,
We walked up the hill to see Munnar from up high,
Where some Indian men gave us their chai!
13/09
Bus back from Munnar- party bus guys flirted,
And a Jehovah’s Witness nearly had Pat converted!
Other bus friends include a man into carpentry,
And we went to a random bar in Alleppey!
14/09
The day started a little dramatically
Before we got on the ferry from Alleppey,
Where school-kids mobbed us and asked for money-
Water buffalo- delicious, and ‘Mafia’, funny!
15/09
We tried ‘toddy’- beer from a coconut
And had yummy food in a villager’s hut!
We canoed around the backwaters in the sun
And teaching ‘Snap’ to an Indian child was fun!
16/09
During an island wander, we made a stop
And met a lovely family at a tea-shop!
We took a ferry back from village life
And the flower necklace that made me a wife!
17/09
Another chilled out, quiet day
About which there’s not much to say,
I started the book ‘Three Cups of Tea’-
Hopefully tomorrow we’ll be free!
18/09
We searched for a houseboat against the clock,
And twice took a scooter to the boat dock,
Though we haggled one down to a cheap price,
The ride, food and beers are all very nice!
19/09
An auto-rickshaw driver named Ali
Took us to a beach near Alleppey-
Pure paradise, and I met a new friend, Neethu-
I just wish that Pat didn’t have the flu!
20/09
We took a walk along the shore
Before relaxing in the hammocks once more.
We sat on the beach to watch the sun set
Then had the most expensive meal yet!
21/09
We were sad to leave beautiful Mariri
To head on the bus to Fort Cochi,
To get there, we caught a cheap ferry
And ate in a local art gallery!
22/09
I saw the Basilica of Fort Cochi,
In the café, we met a writer –to-be,
Our rickshaw driver supported my football side,
Now to Bangalore on our first train ride!
23/09
5am we arrived, tired and in pain,
So we saw ‘Inception’ at the cinema again!
And now, after a dinner of K.F.C,
We’re waiting for the night bus to Hampi!
24/09
Walking into Hampi, we immediately saw
It’s oldest temple, with aesthetic beauty and more-
An elephant kiss, also monkeys and bats,
Then at dusk, we strolled by the peaceful ghats.
25/09
We hired a scooter for the day
To see Hampi’s ruins in a stylish way,
Banana plantations and temples galore
Before leaving in the eve for Bangalore!
26/09
We went to Bangalore’s busy hub-
MG Road- to grab some Western grub,
It’s corporate by day, and neon by night,
And the three-level bookshop was a delight!
27/09
Plane to Kolkata, then the taxi brought smells of spice,
The fruity Bengali kurma was nice,
Hand-pulled rickshaws were a new sight
And the streets really came alive at night!
28/09
Applied for a Chinese visa in Salt Lake City,
And got ripped off by our hotel- what a pity!
Flamez restaurant closed- what’s the matter with us?
But another restaurant gave us lots of fuss.
29/09
When we went for our visas with a ‘demand draft’
It was in the wrong name- aren’t we a bit daft?
Though the stress made me ready to depart,
A bank girl reminded me of India’s heart.
30/09
In Bodhgaya, keen guys showed us the way
To a monastery where we could stay,
A woman put 24 bangles on me,
Mohammad’s Restaurant was modest, the food tasty!
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