jennynordmans

We went further down south and found an island called Koh Tao; with a nice white beach and the best snorkeling I've ever experienced. So for the past three days we have been floating around looking at fish and corals in a million colours, and I've learned how to go down several meters under the water. And I've definately decided to take a diving licence soon; shame we didn't have more time here!

Now we're going back to Bangkok for a couple of days and then back to Indialand.

<3<3<3

We've really had both one of the highlights of the trip and one of the worst parts yet in 24 hours. Being in Sri Lanka while Colombo was attacked by the Tamil Tigers was terrifying. The scary part was that we didn't know what was going on to start with, and sitting in the pitch black house hearing the planes flying over our heads wasn't great.

Well we got back to India, Chennai, all safe and sound, and were planning on taking the train to Kolkata the same evening... until we realised the journey would take about 30 hours; and Indian trains are bad enough to be on for one hour.

So since we had seen on the departure board at the airport that a plane was leaving for Bangkok the same evening... we headed back to the airport and got on it!!! It was such an amazing feeling being able to do that; just deciding 'hey, lets go to Thailand...' and then do it! It will definately be something I will always remember.

We got to Bangkok early in the morning, and after finding a place to sleep for a few hours we were ready to do the town. It's such a multicoloured city; it's got so many aspects, it's friendly and very easy to love. It's like a huge Chinatown meets Future City meets street-wook and backpacker-pubs meets the orchid-scented smell of old Thai traditions.

And we found Starbucks! So I'm content for now. There is so much to do here, so many places to go, so many things to buy. I definately have to come back here some time (guaranted we'll come back when we fly back to India in a week, straight to Kolkata, yay!).

Now we're in Chumphon and are soon to be leaving by boat to the island Koh Tao.

Take care lovelies
Jenny

We spent two (and a half) great days in Munnar and it's beautful surroundings. This place reminds somewhat of the alps with the high mountains and rivers. The hills are however covered with green tea plantations that make out a contrast to the clear-blue skies. The air is very clean and much cooler than on lower altitudes. For two days we went around the landscapes by rickshaw and taxi to see the tea factory, the echo point, waterfalls, the highest mountain in south India... and did two really cool things:
1. We rode an elephant! It was so bumpy, and I'm surprised all three of us managed to stay on
2. We went for a trekk in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctury, across the rivers, up and down steep hills in the burning sun, with monkeys swinging in the trees above us until we finally reached our destination; a large waterfall in the woods. We got to swm in the cool water and take a long rest before it was time to head back.

So the following morning we got up half past four to take the bus (the bumpiest so far) further down south to Kottayam (where also the brilliant novel 'the God of Small Things' took place) and rented a houseboat! With this floating home of ours (two rooms, a dining room outside and a loft with a sofa), along with the captain and a chef, we set out on the amazing backwaters of Kerala. This was definately one of the highlights of our trip so far! It was so relaxing to cruise around on the broad rivers between thin rows of palmtrees, rice plantations and small groups of waterliving flowers. We got a beautiful sunset, and were up early in the morning to see the the fog rise from the water. This is definately one of the things I would recommend to anyone going to India, even if it's a little more expensive than a regular backpacker would normally pay.

We are currently on a beach in southern Kerala called Varanasi and are shortly to be leaving for Trivandrum, where we will get to stay with friends to Ludwig's family. Hello home made food, clean sheets and a washing mashine!!

All three of us have managed to read a whole libary since we left Sweden. One of the books I read was called 'the Next Thing on My List', which was basically about someone who had written a list of things they wanted to complete before their 25th birthday. So me and Caroline decided to write our own lists... which was easier said than done! And its hard to be realistic (not what 'm best at). So maybe one of the things has to be ' write a realistic list'. Or, alternatively, ' stop planning everything and writing so many lists'.  Well the work goes on.

Well I have a beach to head to.
Love from India
Jenny

So we spent a few days in Kochi, being the regular tourist and seeing the older parts of the town, markets, galleries, churches... We got to help out ironing at a laundy service! We also got to take a peek into a ginger factory and it smelled amazingly! The coolest bit was almost the so-called Pepper Exchange; a market for pepper, with a daily price just like the stock market. The interiors of the building wasn't totally unlike Wall Street (or what I'd imagine Wall Street to look like), but we were hugely disappointed when we realised that the pepper exchange nowadays goes on online... Indians are so noisy in almost every situation, but here there wasn't even a yell, only the silent tapping of computers...

We found a Pizza Hut! And it was amaaazing to have pizza after three weeks of dahl fry.  We had brownie and ice cream for desert, and Ludwig looked at us as if we were lunatics when me and Caroline suddenly got silent and had a religious moment.

Yesterday we headed to a village called Munnar in the mountains! It is soo beautifl here! Oh but suddenly the time of the computer ran out, so I will have to explain just how amazing next time.

Well much love
Jenny