india thru my compact

i have so much pictures from my recent trip (India and Dubai) but to encapsulate the entire trip, i must as well post photos from my G10 and coolpix compacts so to not leave them under the rug.


i thought as i was looking thru the photos, they were slices and condensed version of the entire trip ( a few hit and miss here and there).

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My indian album: via my compacts..

we arrived in india, at 3AM. the airport at Thrivananthapuram (old name: Trivandum, easier to pronounce,hehe).

their airport was much smaller than any airport that ive been to ( bar caticlan's).








we were so tired from the flight, that we couldnt care anymore of how we look



as soon as we got out, this was waiting for us.."Mr. Ragen Stevart",lol.





that's Vivek, the groom's brother, and who was also the groom on the second week..

we arrived before the groom in India. we arrived on Sunday morning, while he got there the next day.









their airport was quite busy too at such early in the morning.

we travelled for more than 3 hours from the airport to the lodge where the groom booked for us..

we ate breakfast bread and jam groggily in the lodge , and went to sleep, for 4 hours to get some energy..



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around 5 pm, we decided to roam the town for some good indian grub.



we had some dahl and chappatis




and this was the vegetarian restaurant we went in.




this one's their breakfast special..the "puto" looking one is called idly. they have that for breakfast.


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by the evening, we had food at one of the hotels..






right now, im salivating thinking of the parathas, masala chicken and fish fry's ive had.




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the town we stayed at was Tamil Nadu. Its the very tip point of India so its near the coastline.

Tamil Nadu is known for its sunsets and sunrise. apart from Cape Town, apparently, they have the best sunrise and sunsets as consistenly perfect.

a few blocks from where our lodge was, was the coast, so we went and saw their beachline.





just across these waters is Sri Lanka..we could have hired a boat, and went there, but obviously,we were advised not to.







remember the big tsunami of 2004? this coastal town was hit by it too. hundreds of people died during that tsunami, but it wasnt as mentioned in the news as there werent much tourists there compared to Thailand and the rest of the Tsunami hit countries.



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We also celebrated Phillip's birthday, one of Chelson's mountain climbing friends who attended the wedding at Chelson's/Thilak's house.









we had a cake and all... (phillip said it was his first birthday with a curry as food).



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we toured around (South) India in between weddings.


our first trip was to a town called Cochin.

on the way there, we sampled some great restaurants..




this photo was after sampling a rooftop restaurant that featured mutton lamb curry..i also first tasted Lime Soda here.



we watched the Kathakali show which was an ancient show in Kerala, quite popular for its ancient history and lessons. its similar to the Kabuki (it doesnt feature any female actor, only a male actor could take part and do even female characters), and it was alot of drumming, singing by background voices/instrument,while the actor do acting by pantomime.





the next day was a stop at another town, and a visit to the viceroy's museum..



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and we went to the mountains..

we went to the tea plantation and stayed in a mountain hotel.





we also went to tea museums, sampled some good cardamom tea, and went around the mountain towns.




back in our hotel, thats how haggard we looked. drenched from the rain too.



..

more sightseeeing the next day: tea plantations everywhere










in this trip,we were told to bring garments that will be cool enough for india's hot climate, as well as something to wrap us warm, when we were up the mountains..a schizoprenic advise on clothing for this holiday will end up someone looking like that.:-)





Adrian doesnt feel the cold.




we went to see the Kovalam river and dam





awww..




oops! this wasnt me getting angered by a local..thats me winning over everyone's lousy shot. there was a ten-rupee game, where you get to shoot balloons and you get to use the air rifle. everyone, joined in including our young driver, and played the game, but i came out top by hitting three balloons out of 5 shots. the young driver hit 2 balloons, and elaine shot 1.

everyone cheered. little do they know i have aversion to guns for that matter. i think it sends wrong messages to anyone.




we also ate at the most unusual places (using our hand)..this one was a typical meal in the region..banana leaf, rice, papads, and mini servings of different veggie dishes.

we were having it everyday..i must say, i got used to it in the end..


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after the mountain trip we stayed in a wildlife reserve. the hotel was in the middle of the reserve,









and there was advise not to come out after 6 pm due to tigers might harm us. we were scared, but that did not stop our driver from taking us out of the gates to see a show,lol. and no, i havent seen any tiger.

i did however saw bisson's, deer, antlers, and wild boar.. no tigers in the reserve.

we saw those animals when we we joined a two hour river boat trip on the reserve.




we had to run really fast to catch this boat. they were closing the gates by the time we got in.




the good thing about riverboat trips in India, they always ask everyone to wear a life jacket. no lifejacket, no ride.




those are antlers.





we also fondled and befriended elephants. (more story about the elephant adventure).




and we hired a boathouse, which has three airconditioned bedrooms, and staff.the river boathouse sailed in Vempanad lake, the biggest lake in India, and we had breakfast,lunch, dinner,and breakfast in the place.




it was an experience which capped off the 6 day trip beautifully.


on the way home, our driver for the trip, said he will introduce us to his parents (thats how hospitable they are).


the next day, we went home, and had a relaxing day, to get ready for Vivek's wedding.




thats Binyl and his parents.they were so nice, they fed us tea and cake.

the driver's mum showed us how to wear a saree.





..but we also had a stopover for saree and clothes shopping to wear for his wedding.


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the next day, i shot the wedding.











me, wearing a Punjab outfit for the wedding..





us, trying to dress like the locals.

the whole day was spent at the wedding reception and in the evening, at the evening reception at the groom's house.


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the next day,we flew for Dubai.