2025 Jan-India Sat 25. Mumbai.

Mumbai by night is a good way to see things. It is easy to get around with the available public transport. This city is 24/7. A truly global living city. Sydney, by comparison, is sleeping by 1am.

Some transportation issues were encountered today. That is to be expected. Just leave ample time in between key sectors as risk mitigation. 

I will need some time to look over my entire journey and see what my final views will be.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-sat-25-mumbai.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Fri 24. Goa.

Goa done and dusted. Got to experience the beaches and Aguada Fort (Lower fort included).

Met some nice local people and got to do some basic activity. It was a nice way to essentially finish off the tour and to have some time to myself.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-fri-24-goa.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Thu 23. Hampi-overnight train.

Hampi is the best place to finish off the southern India tour.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-thu-23-hampi-overnight.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Wed 22. Hampi.

I had a ranting blog writing morning, as we wasted 4hrs in the hotel lobby for check-in. We had arrived too early. Instead of doing something, we just waited in the lobby. It gave me too much time to write a rant for the blog.

However, today turned out great!

We crossed the Tungabhadra River, visited an old village (Anegundi), drove through epic green rice fields, visited the wonderful Tungabhadra Left Canal, and saw the sunset at Anjanadri Betta (Kishkindha). Amazing views from the top. As we headed back to the hotel, we could see the glow of a sugar cane burn.

This turned out to be a great day, after all. 

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-wed-22-hampi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Tue 21. Mysore-overnight train.

*There is something graphic mentioned in today's blog. You have been so advised.*

I had planned to visit the Zoo and also Karanji Lake. Sadly, both attractions were closed for Tuesday. If I had known that these would be closed, I would have changed my plans for the first day. 

I thus decided to walk the streets. The streets were quiet, with the exception of the area near the Devaraja market. A lot of activity is happening here. I was surprised that I missed this yesterday. It was good to get a feel of normal Indian life. I started thinking about the end of my holidays and returning to work.

*

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-tue-21-mysore-overnight.html

Tonight will be another restless sleep on the train. Will wake up in Hampi in the morning. 

I hope something excites me in the next few days.

2025 Jan-India Mon 20. Mysore.

2025 Jan-India Mon 20. Mysore. 

OMG! Someone nearly died today.

I nearly got ridden off the road by a nazi tuk tuk driver! 

The police were as useful as tits-on-a-bull or shit-on-a-stick.

Words were exchanged all around.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-mon-20-mysore.html

2025 Jan-India Sun 19. Madurai-overnight train.

A day of self-exploring. Sadly, there is not much more to see in Madurai.

Sites visited today were:
1) Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace.
2) St. Mary's Cathedral.
3) Neerazhi Mandabam.
4) Vandiyur Lake.

Much like the rest of India, the waters (lake and rivers) are always polluted. I dare not touch. 

Madurai was surprisingly polluted for such a small place. It really shocked me that people treat their city like a rubbish tip. This is the main culture shock that I take away from this holiday.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-sun-19-madurai-overnight.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Sat 18. Madurai.

A private shuttle transfer from Periyar to Madurai. 

Madurai is not really a walking tourist-friendly city. It's just a normal Indian city without a lot of things to see.

I joined the tour group members on the guided Meenakshi Amman Temple visit. It is sad that one can no longer take pictures in the temple (use to be able to take pictures back in 2018, before the fire).

The four main towers were all behind scaffolding. The overall structure with the internal and external towers and pool was nice. The compound contains the "Ayiramkaal Mandapam” or the Hall of Thousand Pillars.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-sat-18-madurai.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Fri 17. Periyar.

This was a partially disappointing day. The morning was disappointing but the evening was good.

In the morning, we headed for the walk to the Periyar Tiger Reserve (the walk should have been the giveaway). I was hoping it was a vehicle tour where the animals would be right next to the vehicle. There was no chance of seeing a tiger or leopard now.
Apparently, we saw the claw marks of tigers and leopards on trees. Yeah, maybe 100yrs ago, these animals were here, but not now.
Nonetheless, it was good to walk around somewhere with greenery and quiet.

In the afternoon, I strolled the few streets of Thekkady. The village/town did not have too much to offer tourists. There was an elephant camp... where tourists can have their pictures taken with elephants or ride them. I did not engage with this (not pay) as you could see the elephants were chained, and this was not in the best interest of the elephants. 

In the evening we watched a martial arts show. This was good, especially the fire show component. 

It was a mixed day. 

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-fri-17-periyar.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Thu 16. Periyar.

A transit day from Kochi to Periyar (5hr). 

As we left, we went up to the lush mountains. Here, there are a lot of rubber trees and tea plantations. Very green. This is probably the image of India I have in my mind - the old Dilma tea TV ads (yes, I know Dilmah was Sri Lankan).

We did a stopover at a spice farm as part of the transit. It was to learn about cinnamon (real vs. fake), vanilla beans (real vs. what you buy).

Periyar is a nice village/town. The weather is cooler than by the coast... Mountains are always better 😉

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-thu-16-periyar.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Wed 15. Kochi.

This morning, I joined the tour group to revisit the daytime  St Francis Church and the Chinese Fishing Nets (see it in 'action'). It was then a short tuk tuk over to the Mattancherry/Dutch Palace to check out the inside.

Nothing too special today. I headed over to Beach Road Beach. 

Southern India is completely different from northern India. From a sightseeing perspective, the South does not have the amazing palaces nor forts. 

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-wed-15-kochi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Tue 14. Kochi.

We caught a 2-hour boat back to Alleppey, and from there, the local bus was 70km to Kochi.

Kochi is a small city that can be easily walked. It is by the seaside, but I would not be swimming in the ocean here. There is a petroleum plant nearby, and the outflow from the rivers makes it rather polluted.

I am getting used to having the afternoon nap to avoid the heat.

I saw the following:
1) Chinese Fishing Nets.
2) St. Francis Church. 
3) Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica. 
4) Jew Town.

Something I have been closely observing has been how people interact with each other. One member on the tour, from New York, USA, has a very particular mannerism. I am wondering if this is something that is common with New Yorkers.

The person would ask a question but not wait for the full response. They would interrupt in the response being provided.
e.g.
Yeah OK yeah.
Right, right, right.
Always interrupting before somebody can respond to the question they asked.

This irks me.

Similarly, the British (some) are trying sickeningly to be overly polite. It doesn't work in India. It causes more confusion. People need to be decisive when making a decision, on say a menu order. It ain't rocket science. 

If I were the waiter in India, I'd just say to them to point at the menu number and no substitutions. No need to ask if you want the curry hot or not... because the customer always agrees with the waiter recommendation (foreign westerner =not hot =mild). End of discussion. 

I am getting irked too many times. 
Is it a sign that I am getting my fill of holidaying? 
Or, is it a sign that there are annoying people on this planet? 
Or is it a New Yorker+British people thing?

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-tue-14-kochi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Mon 13. Kerala Backwaters.

This morning, we caught the local train to Alleppey. We had a quick lunch and then onto a boat to our hotel on the backwaters.

Midday was still stifling, and I decided to nap instead of struggling with the heat. It must be horrendous in summer.

It was a cruisy day.

I needed a lot of catch-up sleep.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-mon-13-kerala-backwaters.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Sun 12. Varkala.

In the late morning, we walked over to the Shri Janardhana Swamy Temple. Most temples are small, relative to what I have been seeing (palaces and forts).

The heat was oppressive. I decided to go back to the hotel for the AC from 1:00pm-3:30pm. When I did leave the hotel, it was overcast. The sting of the heat had been taken away. 

I walked over to the Black Sand Beach and had a great swim. The ocean water temperature was cooler than yesterday. It was much more pleasant to be in the water.

Overall, it was a good day with some activity. We leave for the train station at 5:45am tomorrow.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-sun-12-varkala.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Sat 11. Varkala.

This southern Indian region is so much warmer than the northern region. It was a significant temperature change. The local temp is in the low/mid 30C.

I requested that we stop by the Veli Lake Tourist Village on the way to Varkala. It is only 7km from our starting point of Trivandrum. The main tourist zone was picturesque, but the beach area (carnival zone) was filthy. Rubbish and smell of sewerage. It's so sad to see the difference. That is why I will not touch any internal water sources in India (all polluted).

Varkala gravitates activity by the beach. The Black Sand Beach, Varkala Beach, and Cliff are all close to each other.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-sat-11-varkala.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Fri 10. Trivandrum.

When you have to wake up at 3:30am for a 7am flight, you never end up having a good night's sleep. 

I am still feeling very poor.

It doesn't help that the Indian Ciprofloxacin has not been fully effective. I have taken my third 2x500mg tablets. This time, it was the Peruvian dispensed ones, instead of the Indian generic manufactured. I hope it does the trick. 

I had a short meeting with the new tour group in the evening and did the very short orientation walk. I wish I was in better health as I would have at least hit a couple of tourist sites. We are near the Arabian Sea.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-fri-10-trivandrum.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Thu 9. Delhi.

From 11:30pm to 3pm...long train ride and then to the hotel.

My stomach is feeling better but not perfect. I am happy that I effectively saw Delhi at the start of the trip. It would not have been enjoyable having to rush to see sites when you are not feeling well.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is supposedly a tourist stop. However, you can not go in. Don't waste your time with this 'attraction'.

The tour group members will catch up for one final dinner (one has already flown out). Those who go on to do the southern parts of India have a 7am flight out of Delhi. 

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-thu-9-delhi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Wed 8. Varanasi - Delhi.

I'm starting to get sick again (shivers). Feeling weak and yawning all morning long. I have to be careful that I have not caught any stomach problems. Stomach not feeling iron clad.

Nonetheless, I made it over to the other side of the Ganges River to see the Ramnagar Fort and Ramnagar Ghat.

I decided to end the day early as it would be better to be close to a toilet and relieve myself out before the train ride tonight. Hope the Ciprofloxacin kicks in quick.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-wed-8-varanasi-delhi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Tue 7. Varanasi.

This was a massive day of sightseeing. I have seen everything I wanted in Varanasi. Tired. I will take it easy for tomorrow before we do the overnight train back to Delhi.

The main sites visited today were:
1) Chaukhandi Stupa. 
2) Wat Thai Sarnath Temple and Buddha Statue. 
3) Dhamekh Stupa.
4) Archaeological Museum Sarnath. 
5) Golden Temple. 
6) Mulagandha Kuti Vihar.
7) Shechen Stupa.
8) Namo Ghat. 
9) Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple -Sinking Vishnu Temple.
10) Durga Kund.
11) Shree Durga Mata Mandir.

This northern Indian loop is nearly finished.

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-tue-7-varanasi.html?m=1

2025 Jan-India Mon 6. Varanasi.

As soon as we checked into the hotel, I was off to see the sites. Most sites are by the Ganges River (the ghat is a set of steps down to the water).

Sites visited today:
1) Ganges River. 'Ganga' is proper local pronunciation 
2) Dashashwamedh Ghat.
3) Harishchandra Ghat (cremations).
4) Assi Ghat.
5) Nagwa Ghat (nothing there).
6) Manikarnika Ghat (cremations).
7) Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (just the outside and a little of the exit side).

I really needed to stretch the legs, and there is no better way than to go for a long walk by the river and through the city streets.

The food was great and also cheap.

This place is really happening... but is it a tad is too hectic...or is it just lively?

https://gilianlee.blogspot.com/p/2025-jan-india-mon-6-varanasi.html?m=1