Re: Summer 2016 | Page 71

place for souvenir and antique hunters, and even has a Chinese community dating back to the late fourteenth century, evidenced by the Chinese fishing nets lining the entrance to the harbour. Day 28 and after 4 weeks of long hard travelling, I was finally approaching journey’s end, the southern city of Kovalam, in the southern most state of Kerala. Although a week on the beach beckoned, beforehand was an overnight cruise on the Keralan backwaters. The state of Kerala includes a vast network of inland waterways and an equally vast number of houseboats ready to welcome tourists. The houseboats were traditionally built from anjili wood and bamboo, a method which has been used for hundreds of years. Now, rather than being homes for local Keralans, they provide a welcome respite to the weary traveller and an opportunity to lay back and take in the long, shallow palm fringed canals and prolific bird life which is a feature of the area. As prolific however are the mosquitos, which I can say, from personal experience, are immune to all forms of Deet! A comparatively short coach ride on Day 29 saw me arrive at the coastal town and former hippy retreat of Kovalam. Although in recent years it has experienced an influx of tourists, it retains its authenticity and beauty. for its vast and imposing city palace, one of the largest in India. Designed by Henry Irwin and built in 1897, it has been restored to its original splendour and contains stained glass all the way from Glasgow, vast areas of wall painting, ivory inlaid doors and an ornate golden throne. To escape the oppressive heat of the Indian summers, the British Raj would move to the cooler climes and clearer air of the mountains. One of the best known of these “hill stations” is that of Ooti which on Day 24, was my destination. Known as the Queen of the Southern Hill Stations it was a refuge for British officials and tea planters from southern India and at 2,286 metres has a climate similar to that of the UK. At this point, after almost 4 weeks of travelling in India, Ooti was the first place I visited where I could breathe clean fresh air. Surrounded by a variety of woodland, including eucalyptus, conifer and shola, Ooti boasts the Dodabetta peak, the second highest in the Western Ghats, where, on a clear day, it is possible to see the Mysore plateau below. One of the highlights of any visit to Ooti is a trip on the narrow gauge Blue Mountain railways, which takes in a delightful one hour train journey to the nearby village of Conoor. It is not only a source of tourist income but a also a lifeline for locals travelling between the villages that make up this region, particularly those employed on the nearby tea plantations. Day 26 saw a descent through the Niligiri Hills to the beautiful coastal town of Cochin. Situated on India’s “Pepper” coast, it is believed to be the first European settlement in India, rich in history and retaining a relaxed and quiet atmosphere. Made up of various islands, the most interesting was Fort Cochin, which comprised narrow streets and alleyways dating back to the time when the Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama, first landed in 1500 and began trading with the Rajah of Cochin. A must on any visitor’s itinerary, Cochin has a distinctly European feel, having been founded by the Portuguese and subsequently developed by the Dutch. Cochin was the heart of the trade in peppercorns to Europe, is an amazing Day 30 saw my final coach ride (a relatively short 2 hours!) to the undeveloped but equally beautiful resort of Varkala. One of the benefits of being a lawyer working in the travel sector is that occasionally you get to sample first hand your clients’ products! I was therefore able to stay for 5 days with the fantastic Soul & Surf; a Brighton based company, located in Varkala and Sri Lanka. This provided the ideal opportunity to unwind and although surfing proved to be a step too far, the yoga and mediation were just what was needed to sooth a tired aching body. Doing it the way I did, was a great way to scratch the surface of this diverse and spectacular country. Would I return? Yes, probably but not covering quite so much territory next time! And so, what’s next? Having always had an appetite for travel and being unable to wait another 4 years for my next big trip, Zambia beckons! Only for a week this time but this time white water rafting down the mighty Zambesi river for the fantastic charity, Winston’s Wish, will, I am sure, sustain me through the English summer. By Lee Hills 69