So it took two tuk-tuks to take-take us to the airport. Well, not exactly, but we did have to summon two of them. The first one never showed, so we sent for a second, and it was fairly prompt, picking us up at our Airbnb in Hyderabad and taking us to the airport. When we … Continue reading Hyderabad to Lucknow by Plane and Train
Part 4 of a Two Day Train Journey Day 1: part 1 | part 2 : Day 2: part 3 And on and on we went, on this seemingly eternal train journey. Through the city of Guntur, distinguished among other things for having the largest chili market in Asia. It's also home to a rich … Continue reading Sabari Express to Hyderabad
Day Two on the Sabari Express (17229) on towards Hyderabad Day 1: part I | part II Trains in India tend to run notoriously behind schedule. And in recent days, a labor strike had thrown a shoe into the works even more. Not only were trains consistently late, but many routes would be cancelled altogether, … Continue reading Waking Up on a Train Chugging across India
Back to Part 1 leaving Kochi All aboard the Sabari Express - Indian Railways #17229 This was to be an overnight trip, from Kochi to Hyderabad, and we were booked in an air-conditioned sleeper car, which was more basic and less private than what Amtrak calls a sleeper, but it was also far less expensive, … Continue reading Independence Day on the Rails, Part 2
July 4th, Independence Day in 2022 was quite unlike any other we've experienced before. Because we heard absolutely no fireworks, being still in India, where it was just another day. First we checked out of our hotel in Kochi, where once again the staff brought tea tour room in the morning. Upon checking out, we … Continue reading An Unforgettable Independence Day: A Train Journey through India’s Vibrant Countryside
On Saturday July 2 we said our goodbyes to the school in Chengannur where we'd been teaching for the past month, including to the caretaker couple and their little boy living next to us. Since we were leaving before lunchtime, the young woman prepared us a lunch to go – including about a dozen fresh … Continue reading A Colorful Journey through Kerala’s Countryside: Chengannur to Kochi
On the one hand, India is quite generous and welcoming toward foreign visitors, granting tourist visas for up to a year -- which was what we obtained, knowing we'd be spending several months there volunteering. On the other hand, the government is a stickler about paperwork, and visitors are expected to be able to provide … Continue reading On a Fool’s Errand to Kochi, India
When the month of June landed, it found us getting ready to leave Abu Dhabi. Shouldering our bags, we walked to the bus terminal from our Airbnb on what was already turning out to be another scorcher of a day. And after waiting about an hour for the bus, we had a 45-minute ride back … Continue reading Advancing to India
world travel with a theatrical flair 