We spent our last few days in Kathmandu volunteering at an orphanage. This mostly involved singing and dancing to Justin Bieber and pushing kids on swings. We didn’t like it very much.
Whilst ‘volunteering’ we stayed in a volunteer house (complete with our very own rooftop, perfect for sunbathing and laundry) in Dhapasi. For $20US per night our accommodation included breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unfortunately breakfast consisted of Nepal’s famous ‘dahl bhat’ and no surprises, we got sick.
While in the ‘burbs of Dhapasi, we also got invited to a neighborhood picnic by the volunteer coordinator.
After lunch we were once again forced to dance. What is it with these people?!
Our partner in crime, Kelly, assertively declined the torts to dance (and/or ‘make up some games and play them with the adults’) but Ashlee and I, apparently incapable of saying no, were dragged onto the make shift D floor and joined the Nepali dance battle.
Despite the hours of practicing with kids, we were no match for this guy:
Feeling rather defeated and landlocked, on the 14th of May, we boarded our plan to Thrivandrum (via Delhi) which is situated in Kerala, India’s southern most state.
Here’s hoping our departure from Kathmandu (where we were fined $100US for overstaying our visa which was entirely not our fault and then forced to sprint between terminals in Delhi airport chasing ‘lost’ bags) is not an omen for what is next to come in India…
Over the past few days we have made our way from Trivandrum to Fort Cochi by way of a combination of trains and buses. More often than not we are seen running between carriages (I learnt the hard way that it’s best to disembark when the train comes to a complete stop and then make the sprint) and/or darting between traffic in junctions similar to Auckland’s Spaghetti Junction, in the last minute before bus departure.
This happens everyday. In 40 degrees heat and a humidity level that neither my hair nor I feel comfortably quantifying.
First we hit the white sand beach town of Varkala where we enjoyed a day at the beach sunbathing and reading. Even with the dogs fighting under our chairs and the giant crabs, we were both able to get some overdue R&R here.
The next day, by train we made our way to Alleppey and upon the advice of some girls we met, boarded a house boat for the night to explore the backwaters.
We dined like kings on delicious Keralan foods and enjoyed our first Indian sunset. We even saw to the death of one of India’s more poisonous spiders who thought he would set up shop above our bed. Take that – we’re not Buddha!
From Alleppey we caught several buses (thanks to the help of a large extended Indian family on vacation) to a small fishing town called Fort Cochi.
Failing to find the black market liquor supply (alcohol in Fort Cochi is illegal), Ashlee and I felt it best we skip on up to Goa – India’s party state. Why not ‘trance out’ and soak up some rays for a week?
After a 19 hour bus ride speeding through the night, we finally made it.
Turns out, there’s a three day liquor ban in place here because of the election… That ice cold Kingfisher will have to wait.
Perhaps they call that ‘karma’?
Hi Hayley and Ashlee! Absolutely enjoying and living vicariously through your superb blog!! Loved all photos but perhaps really liked the house boat exploring the back waters. I wish I had been there to watch you in the Nepali dance battle. Your writing skills are well honed. Take good care and adventure on!! xoxox Gran Jan