Jan 30, 2007 Valladolid, Mexico

Ole,

Having a great time yet again. Soaking up the sunshine in the tropical paradise on the Yucatan coast of Mexico. Crystal clear blue waters, breezes, relaxed attitude, lots of american and ´´American´type resorts here. We are loving the sea and the pace.

We spent a week at Sue´s time share and that was great - rather like a cruise - even the towels folded like swans and stuff on the beds every night. Then stretch classes on the beach, aquasize, meditation and so on. Very insulated but nevertheless, a wonderful time.

Then we went to Isla Mujeres which used to be a bit of a hippie haven. A great island with lots of casual restaurants, beautiful fine sand beaches and crystal clear waters. We have been snorkelling. The reef is not in great shape there, however we saw quite a few fish and enjoyed it. People say that there are less fish than some years but hey, I love it and it´s all good.

After a few days there, we started to travel today. Caught a second class bus to a Mexican colonial town and situated ourselves in a nice colonial hotel. Second class buses here are awesome - a little different than Indian standards - much to Clive´s relief.

Tomorrow we will get a bit of culture at some ruins and swim in a cenote (underground river with pools).

Funchal, Madeira

We enjoyed Rome so busy - you line up for the sights or get there early in the morning. The cruise looks great but so far not too good for us. We have travelled so much of the world and then get onto a cruise liner and get sick. Dad and I have had gastorenteritis for the past 6 days. Missed the last 2 ports and not feeling too well today. HOpe that it all improves soon....lots of oldtimers on this cruise 0 we feel that we prefer younger people, I think. and people that are a little more independent. Anyways hopefully the sun will shine. Can you imagine going on a cruise and losing weight! don´t even want a drink « except water!

Turkey

Well, the sun fýnally shone today but not before we experýenced torrentýal downpours whýlst on a motorýzed fake saýlýng boat. We sat for most of 24 hours readýng, talkýng, watchýng lýghtnýng and the downpour that never seemed to stop. The sky was amazýng. It was lýke a tropýcal downpour that had no off swýtch. The boat was not up to such a test. The beds started to get wet and a few other problems contýnued. ...so we and a German couple made our way off the boat. We - or rather the German managed to get us a boat made for about 100 passengers to come and pýck us up - so the 4 of us got back to land. Funny that our boat wasnot movýng as the other boats were. Then we had a taxý pýck us up but not before we walked several hundred meters uphýll because the road had been washed out. A být lýke the stýff ýcýng comýng off the cake - the road was a mýghty uneven surface beneath the asphalt. Small rývers were comýng down the mountaýn. We enjoyed the spectacular sunset ýn the vehýcle as ýt took us to the nearnest town some 20km away - Kas.
Thýs ýs a spectacular small town - cobbled streets, such frýendly people - a haven for the snowbýrds of Germany and England. The locals are so frýendly - they look you straýght ýn the eye and talk so openly and warmly. We found a great hotel - ýt was full tonýght so found another great one down the street.

Had a walk on the Lycýan Way thýs pm. So much fun gettýng there ýn a bus up the hýll, then off ýn the countrysýde we went. It ýs pretty dry and lots of scrub growýng here beneath lots of rocks. When we were comýng back, a Turkýsh fellow drove us back down the hýll. He was accompanýed by Grandma ýn her peasant outfýt. Such genuýne frýendlýness.

We hear that the Turks wýll be on holýday ýn a couple of days as Ramadan ýs endýng.

Well, that brýngs you up to the mýnute ýn the synoptýc versýon. We are off to Fettýye tomorrow for 2 nýghts.

Turkey first impression

Had a great time in England. Managed to catch the musical Billy Eliott before our night at the airport. Arrived in lstanbul yesterday morning and leave tomorrow night on a pre-arranged tour returning to Istanbul on the 26th.
It all seems very modern, relatively wealthy and very international. Ramadan again this year on our travels so though food is available lots of locals are fasting.
Had an interesting time this pm as we picked up a shoe shiner's brush for him. He thanked us and was trying to take us to the market. We went the other way. Then as we were on our way to the market another shoeshiner dropped his brush and we picked it up for him. He wanted to brush our runners then. ....uh, we had figured it out before we fell for it. ..a sales ploy ...if we go back, will there be another one to pick up? As Clive says once is an accident, twice is coincidence and three times is enemy action.
The people here are friendly, one feels very safe, though careful (not too much poverty) here, food is good - kebabs, pizzas, tomatoes, cucumber, olives. Weather is cool and cloudy so far - hoping for sun and warmth as we travel south and inland.
We have booked 4 days on a gulet - small boat cruise along the coast. Should be relaxing - as if we don't do enough of that already.
Managed to eat a fish sandwich on the pier yesterday - wood fire cooked and always very fresh. Catching some history and enjoying the roof top view from our hotel.

Mammalapuran

Thought I would write one more time before our time in India comes to an end next week. It has been a wonderful and colorful time here.
This week we are enjoying being at the seaside - beaches (not very populated), fishermen (with new boats after the tsunami), ruins from the 8th century, stone carvers working, some non-Indian food (and Indian), relative quiet from the noises of India, no traffic to speak of, ambling around and enjoying being, yoga (for me) each day, still the garbage and smells present and sunshine every single day that we have been away!! ...hope that we manage to bring some of this sunshine home with us.
We are going to spend a few days in Chennai - it will remind us of the India that greeted us when we arrived. We would like some time to go into a few shops as we have not done any shopping!!! on our trip.
As we think of leaving we think of all the wonderful experiences that we have had and hopefully we have a little better understanding of India. We first saw congestion, noise, poverty, garbage and it is still there as we come closer to leaving. There is a lot of color, good hotels, historical and religious sites, people, and experiences that affected those impressions but quite a lot of that is still there. We realize that we enjoyed the 'real India' but that we also enjoyed and relaxed at the more touristy areas - a must for anyone that wants to enjoy a long stay in India. For me, I loved being able to participate in so many yoga classes - I may have to return to do some more!

Feb. 1, 2006

It is wonderful to travel but memories are made from the people you meet twisted into the things that you do and see.
Yes, India is sooo full of people and noise!!! We had coffee with a German lady yesterday who has spent the last 5 years helping an outcaste (bottom caste) of people trying to discourage prostitution and thus aids within the family and extended unit. This then means coming up with alternative employment and power for women.....
last week met a women who spent time in Malawi helping women photograph and put their views into pictures. They went from subdued to much more confident and created some images through the programme. Interesting stuff that happens all over the world....

The world is such an interesting place.....

Pondicherry

Emerging from the chaos and hectic less touristy part of a poorer state, we have just arrived in Pondicherry, back on the tourist route. We had a cappucino and baguette today - fresh and excellent!
It was quite a challenge travelling where fewer tourists go - the hotels are good and clean but it is definitely Indian food three times a day - great coffee in the south. I even like the food but it gets a bit much seeing similar stuff three times a day! Curry for breakfast - quite nice - reminds me of 25 years ago in Sri Lanka with 2 babies in tow! We enjoyed the temples but found that there was not much else to see or do - so we used the hotel room as a refuge for a couple of hours each day.
The noise never stops!!! The bus driver definitely converses with a honk at everything on the road - he is the biggest vehicle and makes the loudest and most persistent horn noises. He warns everything in his way that he is coming. In fact, the bus driver has a special little lever that allows him to toot all the time. It is so hard on my ear drums - the drivers must go deaf eventually. Then the rickshaw driver has his specially installed horn as well - its little sound to go with a little vehicle. Size and noise of horns are in direct proportion.
Tamil Nadu, the state that we are in now is poorer than Kerala where we have just come from. You can see it in the housing and rundown nature of everything. Also, English is hardly spoken. Yesterday, I asked the reception at the hotel if he spoke English. He said - yes, so ..I asked why so many people shave their heads and put a yellow powder on their head. He tried to take me to a hair dresser - guess that his English was not as good as he professed. Anyways, apparently shaved heads are for good luck. ...Right now I have a lot of curls on my head - and I still expect to wash and wear after 5 months without a haircut! Clive is going for his third haircut soon!

We expect to slow down and enjoy the amenities here for the next week or so. I shall probably find a yoga class and then we will entertain ourselves between looking for some interesting food to try.