1989/90 - India Overland (Part 3 - Ootacamund - Goa)

Saturday 9 December - Down the mountain to Mudumalai National Park (after we thawed out the diesel). After hanging around by the river waiting for our guide, we had an afternoon tour around park. We saw lots of deer, monkeys, elephants, squirrels and birds.

You unfreeze diesel by lighting a fire under the truck.

A fisherwoman at the national park.

A herd of wild elephants at Mudumalai.

Sunday 10 December - We had a late start as some people went on an elephant ride. The rest of us entertained the kids with an impromptu game of soccer. We then drove to Mysore, parking near the city centre. We walked to the Maharajah's Palace. Very impressive but we were not allowed to take our cameras inside. We camped by the Krishnarajasagara dam at the Brindavan Gardens. I am not sure we were supposed to be camping there but we managed to find a quiet place by the dam's run offs (quiet in this sense meaning no staff interruptions, just lots of water noises.)

The Maharajah of Mysore's palace.

The New Statue Circle.

Monday 11 December - Back into Mysore and a tour of the city, including large temple on top of Chamundi Hill (1000 steps and past a large bull), silk factory, incense factory and a wooden furniture factory. Jacq and I did some shopping in the markets to get food for breakfast and luch for the next day. We spent the vast sum of 31 rupees for quite a pile of vegetables. Nice dinner in restaurant in the city and the profit that I had been making on the bar paid for the drinks.

The summer palace of the Maharaja of Mysore.

Tuesday 12 December - A long drive towards the coast. Very scenic through Coorg Hills on winding roads. We manage to take a wrong turn somewhere and so we had a tricky three point turn with a trailer on a winding road. Camped in rubber plantation.

A road side factory making grindstones.

Wednesday 13 December - Another long drive (about 500 km) up the coast towards Goa. Arrived Colva Beach at about 8:00 pm, so a quick dinner, pitched a tent and crashed.

Coastal Karnataka.

A fishing village amongst the coconut palms.

Thursday 14 December - A leisurely day sunbathing, money changing ($US1 gets 18.60 Rupees), shopping in Colva village. The camp site had no water so we had to use the village well to have a very public bath. BBQ on beach in evening with some totally inedible meat (not sure what it was, possibly goat) and some nice fish.

A Goan fisherman.

Loading up the fishing nets.

Friday 15 December - Another lazy day on the beach and in the village. There is still no water at the camp site so visited the village well again. The locals kids loved throwing water all over us. Dinner local restaurant not very good.

Saturday 16 December - A long drive up the coast towards Bombay. The countryside is very dry once you get away from the coast.

Coastal village.

Villagers in Maharashtra province.
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