After managing to make it through the underwhelming, yet strangely exhausting, event that is the Radley College Gaudy, eleven intrepid explorers arrived at clock tower ready to journey into deepest, darkest India. After distributing the important kit – first aid kits, Dioralite (for the ‘bottom sneeze’) and a set of misspelt trip T shirts – we were off on the ‘Comminity Engagament Project’ for 2010.
Mick Dean kindly offered to make the first act of his retirement driving a bunch of boys to Heathrow airport; a very kind gesture that led to a painless arrival in the airport and, after a few hours of Costa Coffee muffins, a straightforward boarding of the Jet Airways plane to Mumbai. The flight was kind, with movies and the first curry of the trip consumed, and before we knew it Mumbai was hoving into view.
All seemed to be going smoothly; too smoothly in fact, and it was inevitable that the first problem would soon arise. Tom Parker managed to pick off what he thought was his bag from the carousel, only to find that it was, in fact, the container of a strangers’ belongings. Tom’s bag was not to be seen, evidently having been picked up by said stranger. Fortunately, with some quick thinking and an even quicker helpful attendant, the bag was located and the crisis of Tom having to wear a heinous concoction of his mates’ clothes for the next month was averted.
A quick customs check and we were on the next flight to Kochi. This was a more sleepy affair, with ten ‘nodding dogs’ managing to keep Rachel amused for a couple of hours before we arrived at our final destination. Jai Chacko was on hand to meet us and soon enough we were being whisked away on a hired, and none too better for wear for being so, minibus to Aleppey. Our journey afforded us views of the diversity of Indian life – the sounds, the smells, the traffic and the rain – and it was all eagerly lapped up by all. Well, all apart from Alex Wright, who spent the entire journey glued to his Game Boy Colour. We stopped only once, in a very random hotel where we all sat around in a big room facing each other and eating sandwiches…
The Kayaloram Hotel, we found, was delightful. We were greeted off the taxi boat by the staff, who adorned us with garlands and sandlewood extracts, before treating us to a bounty of an Indian meal and fresh coconut milk. It was not long before we all retired to our own air conditioned wooden shack rooms, completely bushed.
No comments:
Post a Comment