March 4: Ootacamund (Ooty)

Catch a train to Coimbatore (approx. 3.5 hrs). Travel by private vehicle to Ootacamund (approx. 4 hrs). Ootacamund was the British hill station known as Snooty Ooty and it was here that the game of snooker was named, if not invented. Take a ride on the famous toy train - be sure to get a window seat. Visit a tea graden in nearby Coonoor. Stroll around the Botanical Gardens , home to over 650 species of plants and trees.

___________________
Today we left the hot, humid coastal city of Fort Cochin and traveled north to the mountainous area where the weather is cooler and tea is grown...the blue mountains...the town of Ooty. We departed Fort Cochin by tuk-tuk and traveled about 45 minutes to a railroad station. It's Sunday morning and the station was not busy at 8 AM. We traveled in the the train's second class A/C chair car...comfortable and clean. As we traveled farther north, the train began to reach capacity...vendors offered chai, coffee, pastries, etc. at reasonable prices. The trip lasted approximately 3 hours whereupon we boarded a spacious non-A/C van which took us to Ooty...an extended 5 hour trip due to traffic. One has not lived until one travels the roads of India. the van proceeded from village to village over curvy mountainous roads with hairpin turns...blind passing lanes...the noise of constant honking of horns...the trip was exciting, trilling and in some cases...downright scary. One redeeming benefit from the trip was the weather which became cooler with less humidity....rather than mid-July in Virginia, it became like early October....pleasant.

After arriving in Ooty, we unpacked and Chandra took us on a tour of the town...what a neat place. We visited the market area...talking to and taking pictures of the vendors....they were extremely friendly and enjoyable to talk to. The city has an inordinate number of sweet shops, chocolate, cakes and other treats. For dinner, we selected a pizza restaurant that was recommended by "Lonely Planet" ...my 10 " pizza was covered with onions, mushrooms. tomatoes, and baked in a Tandoori oven...it was delicious. It's late and has been a long day....time to head back to the hotel.....nite...nite.