3rd Highest Mountain in the World

As we all say goodbye to the truck for a short while we all pile in a jeep and start to make our way up into the mountains. We finally arrive and stop, its here we have breathtaking views overlooking Darjeeling, we will be staying here for the next 2 days.

Darjeeling is situated on a high ridge and surrounded by terraces of rice and tea. As I slowly explore Darjeeling I find myself out of breath it appears the collection of villages linked by steps and lanes so steep that they appear to almost be built on top of each other. As I said the views are fantastic from here looking down on to the rivers below all with Mount Kanchenjunga (3rd Highest Mountain in the World) in background.  We take a pre-dawn excursion to Tiger Hill, where we watch the magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas, definitely worth the early start, lucky for us it was a clear morning and we also got to see a glimpse of  Mount Everest.

The cool climate and slow pace of life here is abrupt but a welcomed contrast to the rest of India. It's just a pleasant place to explore, with monastreries and tea plantations to visit and not to forget the Tibetan craft shops and markets lining the streets to browse through.

Time here comes to an end and tomorrow we are off to make our way to Karmi Farm.

Next stop on the Hippie train

We arrive into Puri late afternoon (in what appears to be one of the Hippie Capitals of India), grab a bite to eat for lunch and then indulge in a shower (after 4 nights without one you would to) and then a small walk around town and before you know it we are sleepy and decide it’s time for early night.

Yawn!!! Early to bed late to rise just the way a holiday should be. I find the closest place that serves banana pancakes for breakfast enjoy them before taking a long stroll to find Jagannath Mindir Temple this is meant to be amazing the problem is Non-Hindus are not allowed in. It was told we could spy from the roof top of the nearby library but of course with my luck the library is closed on Sundays and Yep! I was there on a Sunday. Instead we continue to walk the busy market square nearby in the hope that something awesome would pop out for me to buy. Nope! Nothing! I think it’s for the best; my bag is not big enough.

This afternoon we make the trip to Konark to visit the iconic Sun Temple. Here we have a local guide to tell us all about the structure and the history surrounding it, just so many things would be missed if they weren’t pointed out, like; a woman with Japanese sandals, a giraffe and even a man treating himself for venereal disease! (Yes – some things are best left to be questioned).

Before we go to watch some dancing at the Konark Festival we make a quick stop at the beach to view sand sculptures, some amazing work. Even after all these years of leaving on the beach my sand castle looks nothing like this.

Amazed at how they manage to make such sculptures we jump back in the car and make our way to the busy festival area were we sit down and watch some outstanding, creative, beautiful local dancing at its best.

Wow!!! Is that the time (8.30pm) I thought I was hungry, time to hit the road before the crowds and get back to Puri for some dinner. Tomorrow it will be up early (again!) to ensure we can get to Calcutta before it gets too late and dark.

Orissa Tribal Experience

We set off from Jeypore and spend the next few days and nights exploring the tribal areas of Orissa with our local guide and cook.

We stop in a small town called Koraput and look at the Jagannath Temple here they have a exhibition of gods of the different states of India, also a series of statuettes of Jagannath in various costumes. Umm... Different!

The hinterland of Orissa are mostly tribal areas, it’s been said that its home to more than 60 different tribal communities, all with their own distinct indigenous culture and traditions. Between the truck getting stuck in a hole (and getting out again), dancing the night away with the local tribal members, shopping at the local livestock, food and jewellery markets we just enjoyed this fascinating area and its people up close.

Before we knew it our days of bush camping and interacting with the local tribes was over. We head for Puri, I hear there is a local festival on could be interesting.

Drive, Camp, Drive, Camp, Drive

We leave Tirupathi full of enlightenment and hope, hope that our wish comes true – nope can’t tell you otherwise it won’t come true. We also leave with additional knowledge in that after a full day & night of heavy rain the truck leaks. Argh!!! Seats, luggage, sleeping bags soaked, and to think we need to camp for the next 2 nights.

So we spend the next couple of days overlanding through Andhra Pradesh, towards Orissa State. After wild bush camping for a few nights we finally arrive into the city of Jeypore tonight we have hotel. We have the afternoon to explore the local markets and town of Jeypore. Tomorrow we will start our next adventure, exploring the tribal areas of Orissa.

Temple of Lord Venkateshwara

We awake to our first rain of the holiday, good news is that we will be driving for most of the day and should be nice and dry on the truck. We finally arrive to Tirupathi unload the truck find our rooms and head out for a quick lunch. After lunch we head up the hill to Venkateshwara Temple.


Fun Fact: Devotees flock to Tirumala to Venkateshwara, an avatar of Vishnu. Among the many powers attributed to him is the granting of any wish made before the idol at Tirumala. Many pilgrims donate their hair to the deity – in gratitude for a wish fulfilled.

Ordinary ‘darshan’ requires a wait of anywhere from 2 to 6 hours in the claustrophobic metal cages. We were lucky and purchased ‘Quick darshan’ tickets and got through a little faster. There was still the fun and excitement or should I say we had to brave the gauntlet of the cages, which of course is all part of the fun, kind of .....

Once we make it through the cages into the temple there Venkateshwara sits gloriously on his throne, inspiring bliss and love among his visitors (guess I was an exception). You only have a moment to make a wish and then you are shoved out again. We are then pushed along to collect our delicious ladoo (a sweet made of flour, sugar raisins and nuts). So I collected the sweet but did not eat it, I hope I don’t go to hell (or whatever the Hindi equivalent is), I think I counter acted this by giving my sweet to a local to eat, in doing this I made a new friend for life.

Still raining and not getting any not seeing any sign of the weather letting up, we get back in the car and make our way back to the bottom of the hill, back to the hotel have a warm shower and get dry.

Awesome Adventure #10 - Nepal & India - Part 4

As I hold back the tears and say goodbye to yet another group of people I now face the fact that there is only one month left and we will now be travelling with a small group of 7 people.

So this next leg will take me into tribal areas as well as the cold mountain areas of India. One can only hope I have packed enough warm clothing. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Mahabalipuram

We only have one night in Mahabalipuram but lucky it is only a short drive from Pondicherry and we arrive mid morning. From the hotel we walk to the beach and the Shore Temple an interesting fact about this temple is that it is believed to be the last in a series of buildings that extended along a since submerged coastline; this theory gained belief during the 2004 tsunami, when receding waters revealed the outlines of what may have been sister temples. With the heat continuing to beat down we decided to escape into a cafe for lunch and cool down. Not quite cool enough we walk back to the hotel and jump in the pool for what might be our last opportunity to have a swim before heading back to Australia.

Group meal tonight as this is our last dinner together before we start to say our farewells to our new found friends.