Fishing-4

Everyone's mucking in for the final haul, there was a lot of excitement as a few bigger fish were able to jump the net and escape at the last minute. Now there's a huge crowd around the net as they all try and buy the best.

Fishing-3

After about an hour and a half of pulling from 2 teams of men, the net starts emerging. For about the 1st 50 metres that comes out, I've only seen 3 sardines and a plastic bag. I hope it ends up more fruitful than this.

Fishing-2

Dragging the nets in from the ocean.

Fishing-1

Preparing and mending the nets..

Re-enacting IPL T20 on the beach

The cricket finishes next week, with the onset of the monsoon. I have loved the cricket, but i think Caroline will be pleased to get me back in the evenings!

How to tell..

If you're on a palm lined beach in india or thailand

In Panaji

There must be some elaborate wedding going on.. There are stunt planes overhead, drawing love hearts and spiking arrows through them.

Victoria terminus

Our fav building in Mumbai

Dhavarti slum

The taxi to the airport took up past this part of town. Millions of people live like this in Mumbai

Pista falooda

Bhel puri on Chowpatty beach

Back in Mumbai

Chowpatty beach and marine drive stretching out below

Another train pic

Dropping 2000m from Ooty pine topped mountains to lush jungle

The toy train..

A couple of posts on this theme

At the bottom

After the 4 hr toy train ride from Ooty

Walk in the woods

Part of a long leg ache inducing walk near Ooty

Health and safety at work

Tea factory

Wilt, shred, bake, sieve, boil, drink. All very simple

Delay on the line

On the single track toy train to Ooty

Jackfruit stand

On the road to Connor

Banana leaf meal

Yum! Perhaps the best southern food we've had in india..

Yoga with Manoj

I'm sure i'll be able to do this pose in a fortnight!

At the end..

At the end of this lovely story, Mr Green discovers his beloved is a demon who has seduced all the women in his fathers court, so he chops her tits off!

And the ugly sisters are ready..

Applying Kathakali make-up

Just found..

This copy of one of my aunty Sophie's books in a shop in Fort Cochin x

In Fort Cochin

Reminds us a lot of Luang prabang in laos

Chinese fishing nets, Fort Cochin

Apparently SRK..

Who is absolutely everywhere here, has just launched his wax work at paris's musee grevin.. Global domination is close..

Cardamon pickers

On a lunch break in the hills around Munnar

Vanilla pods

In a spice garden, we tried fresh cardamon pods (has a chocolate taste), and fresh chocolate beans, which tasted like lycees.

Nature walk, Periyar

We saw a wild elephant, a malabar giant squirrel (which was satisfyingly huge, living up to it's name), wild boar and deer, and lots of frogs and butterflies. Then had a great breakfast and Backgammon by a bamboo plantation.

Kalaripayattu

3000 year old martial art, possibly the oldest form of martial arts in the world.. It involves very high jumping, press ups on your finger tips and somersaults through rings of fire!

Tea plantations

En route to Kumily, pineapples, bananas and rubber on the lower slopes and tea and coffee over 1000m

Venice of the east

I think the backwaters have a much better claim to being the venice of the east than Udaipur. There, they were so short of water, the canals had run dry.

Trip to our hotel

This is the last part of our journey to the heritage home we've got a night at. Not sure if you can see, but the panels on the boat are stitched together

Cause of a traffic jam in Alleppey

Loving the view

Sunroof view

Safe cruising!

Backwater bliss

Our houseboat

These trains are LONG!

The milkman makes his rounds

Tending the coconuts

A regular task, and you should always choose your restaurant seat carefully.. I've seen a couple of ripe ones falling next to surprised diners.

Varkala palms..