[kullukid]

Just booked a flight to Delhi, landing 4th Jan then heading to D'sala & HP for about a week, before heading to Hardwar for the Kumbh Mela for a few weeks then meeting Mrs KK in Chennai where we'll spend a week visiting Mahabalapuram, Pondicherry, Kanchipuram & Ramana Maharishis Ashram & Arunachala hill in Tiruvanamalai then we fly to Andamans for a week to recover    KK

[iwanttogoback]

i'm not listening, lalalalala    

oh alright, have a blast, but make sure we see the pics!

[jyotirmoy]

Can't wait to see you kullu bhaia...... lunch as usual at my home.

[kullukid]

jyotirmoy, on Aug 19 2009, 05:56 PM, said:

Can't wait to see you kullu bhaia...... lunch as usual at my home.

Namaskarji Jyoti Da, sounds good to me seems like a loooooooong time since I last saw you. There could be a change of plan yet, thinking of heading to Varanasi after Mela then onto Kolcatta for a quick peep before flying to Chennai. KK

[cyberhippie]

Dang I'll miss you again, 1st of March for me and Mrs Cyber, have a blast KK, our paths will meet one day, maybe Jyoti Da has some Laphroiag left over but I doubt it  

Scapa next time Jyoti Da, from the orkneys, their 16 year old has actually sold out, aprt from some online sources and one wee shop in.............
My father introduced this one to me, told me a story about 16 year olds compard to 25 year old Scotch, 25 year old can be 60% proof    

Sounds like a great trip and youré in good hands for Kolkata.

In Mahabs we stayed in a nice place that was cheap and cheerful ()though the place is bursting with accomodation) it was called Vineyak Cottages as I remember, the doorman was a dead ringer for Veerapan.
Nice semi attached cottage in a compound set well back from the main road (though near the bus station I don't remember it bothering us)
Back then 6 years ago 400Rps with cable tv, hot, shower little garden space (full of fire ants)
Funny story from Mahaballi puram............

My mate turned up there after one of his epic bus journeys (he's seriously nutty, Trivandrum to Delhi on governmetn buses, it took him seven days straight)

Anyway he's heading down to the shore temple, when a midget in a two tone green and purple suit and a crutch tries to sell him postcards,

"Nah man after I'm really tired I need to see the ocean and go to bed , tomorrow I promise."

"Please I am small man, buy my postcards sir, on;y 10Rps one"

No really I'll see you tomorrow.

This went on for a few minutes until suddenly the midget's act changed, he weilded his crutch like a pro axe man and asked

"maybe some Jimi Hendrix man""

And went into a gyrating rendition of Purple Haze or something.

Pondy isn't that great I'm afraid, well that's my take on it anyway, though you might want a nice baguette and bottle of french wine, with French cuisine if so, then this is the place. that was a good splurge, Hotbreads is the place for French bread.
Never visited Auroville, thought it probably better not to.
I was on the beach next to their beach club (yeah really) I wasn't.........How can i put it; impressed with their numerous signs in English, Tamil and Devanagari, saying to the plebians please respect our privacy.
And they were all huddle in the middle of this cluster of signs.

Nice beach though well worth a visit, and take a good look I'm sure this stretch is under threat from the Global Warming consequences.

We hired a scooter and headed south to lake something or another, great fun, imagine fast buses, ox carts, bicycles, dogs all on this road and I mean a lot of the above. He he we had a laugh.


By the way did I mention I'm off in November as well    

I month In Gujarat and Mumbai, whoo hoo Champenar here we come.

[kullukid]

cyberhippie, on Aug 19 2009, 07:31 PM, said:

This went on for a few minutes until suddenly the midget's act changed, he weilded his crutch like a pro axe man and asked

"maybe some Jimi Hendrix man""

And went into a gyrating rendition of Purple Haze or something.

Pondy isn't that great I'm afraid,  
Never visited Auroville, thought it probably better not to.


By the way did I mention I'm off in November as well    

Hi CH, I was thinking i'd better talk with you & Conor about The Andamans, there's not much info on the net to be had.
Who needs Hendrix when we have Jyoti Da's rendition of Bob Dylan........The answer is blowing in the wind!!!!
I agree about Pondy & Horrorville! Will probably skip them,but an old India hand once told me I should visit Cuddalore further South.

Have a great time in November & expect a PM from me regarding Andamans.   KK

[cyberhippie]

Never been to the Andamans me old mucker!

[kullukid]

cyberhippie, on Aug 20 2009, 04:53 PM, said:

Never been to the Andamans me old mucker!

You're right you know, you haven't been to the Andamans!
It's my old age, got confused when I read this;
The ferries leave from Chennai every 10 days or so, and from Calcutta about every 2 weeks - here's a link I got from Cyberhippie's website with the timetables.....

http://tourism.andam...n/getticket.htm

on A.N.Other travel site posted by Conor & thought it was referring to your site. Doh!!!!    KK

[Shiver me Timbers]

Hey there Kullukid, I'm not sure how much help I can be on the Andaman's, it's well over 3 years since I was there, and I've heard things are changing fast, but...

If you only have 1 week, spend it on Havelock, because as you'll probably spend 2 days in Port Blair getting to/from Havelock, you'll only be left with 5 days on the island itself.

Still worth it though, I've talked to many veteran Asia travelers who've hit all the best beach spots on the continent, and every one of them put the Andaman's right up in the top 3 beach destinations in Asia (the other name that always comes up is Palawan in the Philippines).

In Port Blair, stay at the Central Lodge - it's an old ramshackle guest house, dirt cheap and very old school, but with a great atmosphere.

Oh, and bring a hammock - while on Havelock, spend at least one night sleeping in the trees at beach #7. You'll wake up to the sound of crabs underneath you, and an elephant strolling past.

If you're there in February or March, I might just see you then. We're planning on heading back around that time.

Conor.

[kullukid]

Shiver me Timbers, on Aug 20 2009, 10:53 PM, said:

If you're there in February or March, I might just see you then. We're planning on heading back around that time.

Conor.

Thanks Conor, I hope you are right about the beaches, years ago we went to the Seychelles & Mrs KK's always wanted to go back,but I managed to convince her the Andamans are just as good!   
We will be there sometime between 12-24 Feb,would be nice to bump into you....let's see! KK

[jemma]

Hi KK,

Sounds a great trip, very jealous about the Andaman section always dreamt of going. I went to a Kumbh Mela in Ujjian in the early 80's had an interesting time. May try to scan a few photos (pre digital times).

One question? We are planning a short trip to India over Christmas break. Present plan is Delhi, Orchha and Chitrakoot but this may change. I love the mountains, is D'Sala and HP not freezing cold and damp or are you a yeti?

[kullukid]

jemma, on Aug 22 2009, 09:57 AM, said:

I went to a Kumbh Mela in Ujjian in the early 80's had an interesting time. May try to scan a few photos (pre digital times).

I love the mountains, is D'Sala and HP not freezing cold and damp or are you a yeti?

Hi Jemma, would love to see the photo's if it's not too much hassle to scan them.
I've been to D'sala a few times around xmas/new year & the weathers been wonderful,nice sunny days no rain T-shirt weather although the distant mountains are powdered with snow, which makes the views even nicer,it gets a bit cooler at night but not freezing. Obviously it's always pot luck with the weather & you could get heavy snowfall up there at any time......I think I was lucky, the snows seem to have come later if at all in recent yrs. The worst time to visit D'sala is July August due to the mist & the rain. KK

[jemma]

Thanks Kullukid,

I thought it would be much colder even in the foothills. My son is desperate to climb a mountain (he is only 10yrs old) so may have to head north instead.

Have tried to put a few photos of Ujjain into my album. Nothing very exciting I am no great photographer only took three photos during my first trip to India over four months.

Edited by jemma, 23 August 2009 - 02:02 AM.

[kullukid]

jemma, on Aug 22 2009, 08:32 PM, said:

Thanks Kullukid,

I thought it would be much colder even in the foothills. My son is desperate to climb a mountain (he is only 10yrs old) so may have to head north instead.

Have tried to put a few photos of Ujjain into my album. Nothing very exciting I am no great photographer only took three photos during my first trip to India over four months.

Go for it Jemma! Mcleod is a great place to take a 10 yo, if it rains or snows you can always leave.
Thanks for the photo's, do you know how many people attended the Mela in Ujjain that year? KK

Here's some photo's I've taken in Mcleod & Kangra valley in Dec/Jan to wet you appetite.
http://picasaweb.goo...ey=qtixRtYXdTg#

Edited by kullukid, 24 August 2009 - 04:40 PM.

[jemma]

I think we might well head north. Can you suggest an alternative route from Delhi avoiding the bum numbing bus; I have four children the youngest being 4 yrs.
I have no idea of the numbers that were in Ujjain, not as many as in some years, though still a huge gathering. All the talk before was of possible chaos and disease, though I was not there at any of the main bathing times, everything was peaceful and organised. Lots of amazing sites and people. I only wish I was braver with the camera.
Look out for each other some craziness can go on. Reading Jock and Di’s emotional messages about Ryan reminded me of a young German having spent the day smoking too much gave away his possessions and joined a group of Sadus. We did look for him but there were thousands of tents, I have no idea of the longer term consequences of his trip to the mela.
All said it was a fantastic experience and one of the most memorable times in India.

[kullukid]

jemma, on Aug 24 2009, 08:06 PM, said:

I think we might well head north. Can you suggest an alternative route from Delhi avoiding the bum numbing bus; I have four children the youngest being 4 yrs.

The fastest most expensive way is to fly to Gaggal about 30 mins below D'sala. A cheaper more interesting route is to split the journey in half by taking a train to Amritsar (5hrs) visit The Golden Temple (a must do!) through the day then again at night when it is all illuminated. From Amritsar you can either take a direct cab or Train/cab to Pathankot where you can catch a local bus or alternatively go on the toy train which stops at Kangra just below D'sala.

http://www.luxury-tr...ey-railway.html

[jyotirmoy]

You can take an overnight train from Delhi itself to Pathankot.

1077 JHELUM EXPRESS DEP: NZM 20.04 ARRV: CHKB 05.55
2413 AII JAT EXPRESS DEP:  DLI 22.35 ARRV: CHKB 06.10
4033 JAMMU MAIL  DEP: DLI 21.25 ARRV: PTK 07.20

[jemma]

Thanks for the info on the train, looks a great way to travel with kids.
My other half still has concerns over the temperatures at night with no heating. He recalls one trip to Darjeeling in the winter that during the night was too cold for comfort.

[jyotirmoy]

Darjeeling in winter with out heating is difficult indeed. I have not been to D'Sala in winter but a few friends of mine did and I gather that it is not that bitter cold.

Dear Kullu bhai doc Dhruba sends you his greetings.

[Ray kelleher]

I spent time in Mcleod Ganj late one December and while the weather during the day was fine, sunny with the occasional splash of rain, the nights were down right cold and damp.. Many nights sitting in Mclo's huddling around a table with a few hardy people nursing bottles of Seven days Apple wine, even though it was cold and damp at night i have nothing but fond memories of that period and met some great people whom i am still in contact with