Friday 28 March 2014

Travelweek

So so sorry, it's been too long! But the good thing is that I have loads to tell now and I decided to focus more on doing actual good stuff instead of procrastiating all day long, so here you go!

Two weeks back, there was travel week! With a group of 11 girls, we went to Kerala and Goa. The two Indian girls in our group planned everything: hotels, transport,... Because the mom of one of the girls in our travelweek works in the State Bank of India, we got to stay in their 'holiday homes', which means staying in fancy hotels but not paying for it! I like this kind of travelling ;)

We took a train from Mumbai to Kochi, which was once again really nice. Our cosy 'cabins' with six beds, two triple bunk beds, the view,... I can't get over my love for Indian trains! We met two Danish girls in the trainstation, who then stayed with us and it was really nice to get to know some new people. We arrived in Kochi, a city at the seaside, in the night so the only thing we did that day was going out for dinner. The next day, we saw the Chinese fishing nets. These nets were built in the 14th century and are still there (which is pretty impressive because they're made out of wood!) We went to the Dutch palace and the Synagoge, the last one was unfortunately closed, but we did get the chance to wander around in 'Jewtown', which made Yarden from Israel really happy.

Something that really caught my attention is how beautiful Keralan women are!
Kochi

Later that day, we left for Munnar. Munnar is, just like Mahabaleshwar, a hillstation: a place where the British would come in holidays because it was colder up in the hills. We arrived in the evening so only went for dinner. The next day, we first went to the tea plantations with the tea museum. Then we made some time free to visit the town itself, with its churches, mosque (the first one I've visited in my life!) and nice markets. Later we visited a flowergarden and some of us drove elephants for the first time in their lifes.

Some of the girls I was travelling with
Tea plantations, Munnar

Tea plantations, Munnar

Munnar

On the road from Munnar to Thekaddy
*this photo is not photoshopped whatsoever*

Early the next morning, we left for Thekaddy. We visited a national park where we were supposed to see tigers, but that didn't happen after all. Dissapointment all over... We had a lovely dinner in a restaurant of a crazy British lady and did some good shopping. After that, we went to a Kathakali show. Dancers dress up heavily and perform a unique dance style.

Cultural heritage: Keralan Kathakali

We then left for Kumarkon, where we had a boattrip  on the backwaters. Those two hours were really amazing and I had the best nap in my whole life!

The famous backwaters
Kumarkom

After that back to Kochi to catch our train for Goa, where we did nothing but sleeping, eating, lying on the beach and partying at night. Over a hundred MUWCI students finished their travelweek in Goa so it was really cosy! Also nice to chill for two days after a really packed week, we didn't stay anywhere for more than one day!