Winter Holiday (PART ONE)

Following the end of a hectic term - adapting to life as a teacher at Srirajni and learning the ropes, topped off with the marking of endless terminal exams - we well and truly felt in need of the winter break awaiting us. Our five-week holiday saw us embark on an adventure around the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent.

Passing through Mumbai on our way south, we took a 16-hour train cross-country to Hyderabad to stay with our Project Trust Rep, Bharavi, and his family, enroute to Christmas in Ongole.  A small town in Andhra Pradesh, Ongole did not what had hit it when 14 volunteers, from various corners of the country, descended upon it to celebrate the festive holiday together.

Arambol, Goa

Doubling back on ourselves, a group of us headed back to the west coast to enjoy the delights of Goa over New Year. Beautiful beaches, lazy days and all-night parties, Goa was just what we needed; it offered a brief break from the daily intensities of life in India. We welcomed in 2016 on Anjuna beach, releasing a Chinese Lantern over the Indian Ocean.

The Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi

Waving the others goodbye, Katie and I continued our journey down the coast, heading towards Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of India (the point at which the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal meet). We passed through Kerala, ambling around the peninsula at Fort Kochi before heading on to Alleppey. Situated on the Keralan backwaters, we took a canoe out on to this elaborate network of canals and waterways, lakes and lagoons, lined with rice paddies and remote villages, and frequented by a constant stream of water vessels.

The Keralan Backwaters

Having arrived as far south as it is possible to go on the Indian subcontinent, we slowly started to make our way back North from Kanyakumari, working towards Pondicherry, the ancient kingdom of Hampi and onwards to Mumbai.

Mattancherry, Cochin