Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Nilgiris
We arrived in Bangalore and took the Shatabdi Express train from the City Station out to Mysore were we were met by a car (and driver Sivan). We went on the Ooty Road past coconut groves and fields of rice and sugarcane plantaions bobbing tgheir silky heads in the breeze. We passed lorries filled high with straw or onions through one village and the next. Stopped for chapaties and malai koftas and tandoori chicken (unusual food in the south) A cow actually did cross the road, very slowly. We could smell the earth, the sun, the elephant dung and the dust. We had a drink from a young coconut cut with a machete.
We spent Christmas in Coonoor where all the ladies wore new saris bright pinks of purples with gold zari borders. We went to church at the Garrison church in Wellington, St. George's, where my mother had been baptized around 1921 and passed the hospital where she was born. We also passed Aravinkadu where my grandfather worked at the Cordite Factory there. Our room was beautiful at Blair Athol, we had a row of peach trees in flower in front of us.
En route up the mountain 36 hairpin bend climb we stopped at IPAN to see the resuce animals. But, not before we spent a night in the jungle and saw a wild elephant and her baby in Bundipur Reserve.
We have been in Ooty now visiting old sites and talking and talking to old friends. A love lunch at Fay's in Coonoor. Selbourne which I remeber from 1957. Lushington Hall had memories,too. Then we have been fighting Delhi Belly for several days. I was down and now Bill. We are recovering and will take the Blue Mtn train down the ghats to Coimbatore tomorrow and fly to Bangalore on the 31st.
love you all. Joy
We spent Christmas in Coonoor where all the ladies wore new saris bright pinks of purples with gold zari borders. We went to church at the Garrison church in Wellington, St. George's, where my mother had been baptized around 1921 and passed the hospital where she was born. We also passed Aravinkadu where my grandfather worked at the Cordite Factory there. Our room was beautiful at Blair Athol, we had a row of peach trees in flower in front of us.
En route up the mountain 36 hairpin bend climb we stopped at IPAN to see the resuce animals. But, not before we spent a night in the jungle and saw a wild elephant and her baby in Bundipur Reserve.
We have been in Ooty now visiting old sites and talking and talking to old friends. A love lunch at Fay's in Coonoor. Selbourne which I remeber from 1957. Lushington Hall had memories,too. Then we have been fighting Delhi Belly for several days. I was down and now Bill. We are recovering and will take the Blue Mtn train down the ghats to Coimbatore tomorrow and fly to Bangalore on the 31st.
love you all. Joy
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