A short drive of only 117km, and a late start.
During the morning we explore the nearest part of the City - by 10.00 the City is coming alive with small shops opening, market traders selling their produce, and cars, taxis, tuc-tucs, buses and trucks competing with people, ox-carts and cows!
We are away by lunchtime, out of the City via the busy Mysore Road and the bypass until we reach a point where we can relax, but not until after a bus that overtook me and cut in, causing me to brake, is seen later with its windscreen shattered on the road after it rear ended a truck. Justice!
We pass from Karnatika into Tamil Nadu and into the Bandipur National Park, tiger and elephant reserve. We drive slowly, stopping to photograph monkeys at the roadside - until one looks as though it is about to leap through the open car window, and we are off smartish!
A little later we see two separate parties of wild elephants, one with up to seven in the group, and both with babies, on the roadside and crossing the road. We slowly stop and photograph them, but one of our colleagues is not so lucky. We hear later that one of the mother elephants is upset by their camera and kicks the car, leaving a dent!
Soon we are into Jungle Hut: the group is in two separate locations: we are close to reception and the restaurant in a canvas sided steel framed building.
For dinner we are taken by jeep to the other site - after dark, there is NO walking outside the hut: indeed, on our return, the night watchman escorts us back to our front door.
As we return to the compound in the jeep, a large herd of spotted deer are grazing all over the compound: we are told that they come into the compound to escape the leopards, but that the leopards have now found a way to get in.
We DO NOT go out of the room until daybreak!
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Sunday November 28th
A 175km drive to Mysore City - with all that driving it is also my sore.....
After a warm up of 20km we are rewarded with the site of a working elephant at a roadside logging station. The Mahout stops the beast working and brings him (her) to us, turning through 360 degrees, before going back to work: the foreman proudly says to us "This is our elephant". Magical.
Only a little further on we - and others - stop to investigate bunting, music and dancing. We go in and are told that this is a celebration for the 50th year of the local school: the celebration will go on 3 days and we are invited to stay for all 3! If you go into a school in the UK they call the police!
We are invited into an ante room and served coffee and donoughts, accompanied by much hand shaking: finally making our excuses, we try to leave, but run the gauntlet of the pupils, many of whom want us to take their photos just so that they can see the results.
After 50km we arrive at The Golden Temple - the Indian State of Karnatika offered a home to all Tibetan refugees, and the Golden Temple is the Indian home of their monks. It is magnificent. In the courtyard we are called over by an Indian family who want to include us in their family photograph - with arms around each other. Again, much hand shaking and we are able to get away.
We took our time for the next 70km aling country roads and through villages, constantly being waved at by the locals.
Soon we are on the highway and the last 50km into Mysore is fast - until we get to the jams at the suburbs. However, through one 30km/h limit, I am overtaken by a bius running at at least 80 km/h!
Finally we are at the Regalis hotel - 5 star and magnificent. Aftyer a wash and brush up we are in a taxi (an Ambassador, although sat in the back this time!) to the wonderful Mysore Palace - illuminated by over 100,000 lightbulbs! And then shopping for the farewell party on the last but one day.
After dinner we are shown a video on the work of the Ashram Charity who are re-locating a number of families from their dangerous Jungle homes to more sustainable klifestyles, a move that will give them a better life and also help conserve wildlife. There is then a magician and fire eater - magic!
After a warm up of 20km we are rewarded with the site of a working elephant at a roadside logging station. The Mahout stops the beast working and brings him (her) to us, turning through 360 degrees, before going back to work: the foreman proudly says to us "This is our elephant". Magical.
Only a little further on we - and others - stop to investigate bunting, music and dancing. We go in and are told that this is a celebration for the 50th year of the local school: the celebration will go on 3 days and we are invited to stay for all 3! If you go into a school in the UK they call the police!
We are invited into an ante room and served coffee and donoughts, accompanied by much hand shaking: finally making our excuses, we try to leave, but run the gauntlet of the pupils, many of whom want us to take their photos just so that they can see the results.
After 50km we arrive at The Golden Temple - the Indian State of Karnatika offered a home to all Tibetan refugees, and the Golden Temple is the Indian home of their monks. It is magnificent. In the courtyard we are called over by an Indian family who want to include us in their family photograph - with arms around each other. Again, much hand shaking and we are able to get away.
We took our time for the next 70km aling country roads and through villages, constantly being waved at by the locals.
Soon we are on the highway and the last 50km into Mysore is fast - until we get to the jams at the suburbs. However, through one 30km/h limit, I am overtaken by a bius running at at least 80 km/h!
Finally we are at the Regalis hotel - 5 star and magnificent. Aftyer a wash and brush up we are in a taxi (an Ambassador, although sat in the back this time!) to the wonderful Mysore Palace - illuminated by over 100,000 lightbulbs! And then shopping for the farewell party on the last but one day.
After dinner we are shown a video on the work of the Ashram Charity who are re-locating a number of families from their dangerous Jungle homes to more sustainable klifestyles, a move that will give them a better life and also help conserve wildlife. There is then a magician and fire eater - magic!
Saturday November 27th
Couldn't get away quick enough from Silent Valley - but we had to wait for everyone else! Despite the unpleasantness of the room, the setting of the resort is magnificent with jungle all around. Awake at 4am, you could hear the jungle come awake with all different sounds, and a cock crowed at 4.45 - despite sunrise not being until 6am.
Our drive today, 230km. Early on we fuelled, as we do every day, being carefuul not to fill completely because diesel would then seep down the crack between boot and side, getting on the luggage. All cars have a black diesel film over the rear offside.
30km in our first chai stop, 20 Ambassadors on both sides of the road in a small village! Many have decorated their cars with garlands, and other bright things, one group having covered their entire car, a baloon duck on the roof (which became an elephant later) and to this was added a toy tiger on the bonnet a few days later. Ours, of course, is pristeen!
The route from here is a mixture of not to be missed left and right turns, many marked by the team, and much concentration is needed by the navigator and driver - the odometer reading on the car is not acurate, adding to the confusion!
60km in and another chai stop, outside a tea plantation. The afternoon driving is equally challenging but we are now relaxing, taking in the sites, and stopping for photos. Barbara asked an old lady if she could photograph her, and the lady insisted on 3 seperate poses, and being rewarded with 5 rupees before we could escape. At other villages, children want their photo taken just so that they can see the result in the camera, and then run away shrieking and giggling: they all smile and say thank you when given a chocolate or sweet.
We arrive at Kadkini Resort late afternoon, long before dark: another Jungle Retreat, but less than a year old, and the cottages are very nice - if a little damp. The whole complex is set around a peaceful lake with ducks. Lovely!
As we park up one of the mechanics points out that I have a broken front indicator glass - not me guv, must have been a stone thrown up by a lorry! Still, I will have to pay for it.
Thursday November 25th
Depart Lotus Resort around 8.30-ish and head along highway NH17 for 30km, probably the worst road so far. Everyone on each others side of road to avoid deep potholes, and very slow - 5-10km/hour. Very trying! After a chai stop we head up narrow gravel zig zags and reach Jog Falls, India's largest waterfall. Spectacular!
Time for lunch, and some of us have vegetable curry in the local restaurant - curry, rice, nan bread and a bottle of water - 70p!
Leaving Jog we stop at a wayside garage to have our tyres inflated - we alone seem to be loosing air, some of them having dropped from 30psi to 14psi - must be the gravel getting through the tread!. Finally we reach Murudashwar, after 250km, most on very bad roads. The hotel residency is by the sea, and we later adjourn to a seaside restaurant and eat alfresco. It's very dark with few street lights - and I walk into a deep puddle consisting of I know not what! At the restaurant, Curry again!!
>
Next to the hotel is a large Temple and tower, built by the hotel owner in thanks for his life, and this is already a tourist attraction in its own right.
Time for lunch, and some of us have vegetable curry in the local restaurant - curry, rice, nan bread and a bottle of water - 70p!Leaving Jog we stop at a wayside garage to have our tyres inflated - we alone seem to be loosing air, some of them having dropped from 30psi to 14psi - must be the gravel getting through the tread!. Finally we reach Murudashwar, after 250km, most on very bad roads. The hotel residency is by the sea, and we later adjourn to a seaside restaurant and eat alfresco. It's very dark with few street lights - and I walk into a deep puddle consisting of I know not what! At the restaurant, Curry again!!
>
Next to the hotel is a large Temple and tower, built by the hotel owner in thanks for his life, and this is already a tourist attraction in its own right.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Friday November 26th
Late postings because of lack of internet connections! Thursday to come!6.30, breakfast and ready for an 8.30 departure - all 20 cars, and back up team of 4-wheel drives, motor bikes and the ambulance starting together for a 250km drive. The first 30 km, despite being on a highway, were terrible, with the road pot holes and rutted, average speed being kept down to about 10 km/h: already one car has lost its sump, although the mechanice were able to quickly replace it! Chai stop and regrouping after 83km and arrive at Nagor Fort at midday. A fascinating set of remains from the 16th century in which we were allowed to roam free and climb to the summit for a marvellous view of the surrounding countryside!Later in the afternoon a number of us got lost for reasons still not understood, we had the mechanics travelling behind us - who are supposed to know the way - and when we went to ask them where we were they still thought we were back at the fort! We retraced steps for a km or two and got in behind a half dozen Ambis going the other way until we were all regrouped a little later down the route.
We travelled further into the rain forest, through busy towns and villages, until the last 30km was driven in the dark - with pot holes, cows in the road, no street lights and trucks without lights! However, following cars all seeemd to be missing headlight dip switches! Exciting times!
Finally we arrived at Silent Valley Resort, a group of past their sale by huts in the jungle. To say that this was basic is an understatement, and they were not at all pleasent to sleep in.
After dinner we all sat around a fire whilst the Doc entertained us on his guitar until at almost 2330, we had no option but to return to the room. Into sleeping bags and try and sleep. Lets not dwell too much on the reasons, but suffice to say that a previous attendee had found a cobra in the room, and one of the medics had told us of a very large spider dropping from the rafters when he was getting dressed!
However, every incentive to get up early and get out of there - but unfortunately we had to wait for everyone else!
We travelled further into the rain forest, through busy towns and villages, until the last 30km was driven in the dark - with pot holes, cows in the road, no street lights and trucks without lights! However, following cars all seeemd to be missing headlight dip switches! Exciting times!
Finally we arrived at Silent Valley Resort, a group of past their sale by huts in the jungle. To say that this was basic is an understatement, and they were not at all pleasent to sleep in.
After dinner we all sat around a fire whilst the Doc entertained us on his guitar until at almost 2330, we had no option but to return to the room. Into sleeping bags and try and sleep. Lets not dwell too much on the reasons, but suffice to say that a previous attendee had found a cobra in the room, and one of the medics had told us of a very large spider dropping from the rafters when he was getting dressed!
However, every incentive to get up early and get out of there - but unfortunately we had to wait for everyone else!
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Wednesday 24th November
Up at 0530, breakfast at 0630. The hotel locked the gates until we had all paid! A briefing was held and we then set off on our journey at 0845. Through busy highways, cross nightmare roundabouts where nobody gives way to anyone else and an unexpected closed road that caused a diversion that sent us all miles out of our way and cause havoc with the navigation. The team rounded us all up and 20 ambassadors parked outside a snack shack for much needed refreshments!
Navigation is getting easier now but discovered a new road hazard as we entered an industrial area. We came across an iron ore plant with up to 100 trucks queuing to get in. I say queuing as some decided they were to impatient to wait and thought overtaking on our side of the road was the thing to do! These were followed by cars and buses who thought it would be good to overtake on our nearside! Total chaos! We finally got out of there and settled in to driving on some country roads before a second Chai stop. After leaving there we we left the highway, under a flooded bridge and onto an unmade road!
We all stopped for the first photo of a working elephant and also sighted a monkey crossing the road. Our route then tok us through a spectacular jungle area before descending to leave Goa state (after encountering the border guards) and on into karnatka to the Lotus Resort. Arrived at 1530, all parked up with our first 175km behind us. Diner and then early to bed for another 0530 start with 256km ahead of us.
Navigation is getting easier now but discovered a new road hazard as we entered an industrial area. We came across an iron ore plant with up to 100 trucks queuing to get in. I say queuing as some decided they were to impatient to wait and thought overtaking on our side of the road was the thing to do! These were followed by cars and buses who thought it would be good to overtake on our nearside! Total chaos! We finally got out of there and settled in to driving on some country roads before a second Chai stop. After leaving there we we left the highway, under a flooded bridge and onto an unmade road!
We all stopped for the first photo of a working elephant and also sighted a monkey crossing the road. Our route then tok us through a spectacular jungle area before descending to leave Goa state (after encountering the border guards) and on into karnatka to the Lotus Resort. Arrived at 1530, all parked up with our first 175km behind us. Diner and then early to bed for another 0530 start with 256km ahead of us.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Tuesday 23rd November
Today we had a briefing in the AM and an explanation of all the rules of the road!!!
If you hit and kill a cow you have to pay £150 to the owner of the cow plus the excess baggage charge to get it back to the UK!!! A horn is essential (on the car, not the cow!!!), other traffic staying on their side of the road is optional!
We were let loose on a 48KM round trip to the local beach as a test drive,getting used to the instructions, a series of junction diagrams and KM readings. I drove out and Barbara drove back (car still in one piece!). The car is.......unusual! When using the handbrake it does not actually hold the car!! And that is how it is designed!
Driving here is all about 2 things, firstly beeping at everything that moves (and that doesn't move). And secondly getting out of the way of anything heading for you, buses trucks ect who have a liberal interpretation of "staying to there side of the road"! Rule of thumb......IF IT IS BIGGER THAN YOU, THEY HAVE RIGHT OF WAY!
This evening was a presentation on charities over dinner. A timely reminder of why were are doing this.
So tomorrow it begins! A 5.30am start on Wednesday morning followed by a drive of 195KM. Wish us luck!
Will update again soon.
If you hit and kill a cow you have to pay £150 to the owner of the cow plus the excess baggage charge to get it back to the UK!!! A horn is essential (on the car, not the cow!!!), other traffic staying on their side of the road is optional!
We were let loose on a 48KM round trip to the local beach as a test drive,getting used to the instructions, a series of junction diagrams and KM readings. I drove out and Barbara drove back (car still in one piece!). The car is.......unusual! When using the handbrake it does not actually hold the car!! And that is how it is designed!
Driving here is all about 2 things, firstly beeping at everything that moves (and that doesn't move). And secondly getting out of the way of anything heading for you, buses trucks ect who have a liberal interpretation of "staying to there side of the road"! Rule of thumb......IF IT IS BIGGER THAN YOU, THEY HAVE RIGHT OF WAY!
This evening was a presentation on charities over dinner. A timely reminder of why were are doing this.
So tomorrow it begins! A 5.30am start on Wednesday morning followed by a drive of 195KM. Wish us luck!
Will update again soon.
Monday 22nd November
This evening the rest of the party arrived after their long flight from the UK. We were introduced to the back up team team this evening, along with the doctors, medics, motorcycle outriders & consular official!!! You name it we have it!
There was a group dinner this evening where we even forced ourselves to be friendly and actually spoke to people!!! We also got to see our cars for the first time, we are car number 22.
There was a group dinner this evening where we even forced ourselves to be friendly and actually spoke to people!!! We also got to see our cars for the first time, we are car number 22.
Monday, 22 November 2010
Friday, 19 November 2010
5 days in!
After a day in the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, we flew to Goa and are now in the Baywatch resort - coincidentally, Pamela Anderson was in India this week to appear in their version of Big Brother! - the weather is hot, hot hot and how we are going to get geared up for early starts and long drives heaven only knows!
On our first night here, after a long walk on the beach, and walking home in the dark, we found, parked outside of the hotel, 10 Karma cars from the previous trip that finnished last Friday. The cars are dirty and still with their previous sponsor names on - so presumably someone will be cleaning and servicing them to get them ready for us.
The main group arrives here on Monday afternoon, and then after briefing, we set off for our ptractice navigational trip (all of 30-odd kilometres!) on Tuesday with the event proper starting on Wednesday.
Having experienced Indian driving as a taxi passenger so far, heaven only knows how we will manage!!!
My netbook has packed in good and proper with wifi access to the internet now impossible, and so I will do my best to make posts via hotel computers and text message via Andrew back home - but will "fill in" where appropriate as soon as we return!
Sorry about that!
On our first night here, after a long walk on the beach, and walking home in the dark, we found, parked outside of the hotel, 10 Karma cars from the previous trip that finnished last Friday. The cars are dirty and still with their previous sponsor names on - so presumably someone will be cleaning and servicing them to get them ready for us.
The main group arrives here on Monday afternoon, and then after briefing, we set off for our ptractice navigational trip (all of 30-odd kilometres!) on Tuesday with the event proper starting on Wednesday.
Having experienced Indian driving as a taxi passenger so far, heaven only knows how we will manage!!!
My netbook has packed in good and proper with wifi access to the internet now impossible, and so I will do my best to make posts via hotel computers and text message via Andrew back home - but will "fill in" where appropriate as soon as we return!
Sorry about that!
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Day 1
Well arrived safely in Mumbai at 03.20am!!!! Hotel is lovely and Barbara may never leave! Weather is a little bit warmer than it is in the UK and a lot drier! Spent the day exploring the city today before we fly to Goa on Thursday.
Having a few internet connection issues so will update as and when we can.
Having a few internet connection issues so will update as and when we can.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Getting Ready
Sunday: everything went wrong today that could have gone wrong but as of 1830 we are now packed and ready: off to Heathrow tomorrow and Mumbai on Tuesday - please visit us after that as we begin to aclimatise to India! We will do our utmost to keep up to date, internet and mobile telephone signal allowing!
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