Christmas Eve, and today we're on the move again, this time south to Mangalore in Karnataka. We check out of our hotel at midday and take a taxi to Madgaon railway station to catch the 13.30 train. Unfortunately, and not unusually, the train is running late. Initially we're told it's an hour late, but as time goes on it gets later and later, until it finally arrives two hours late. By this time we've been waiting on the station three hours. Never mind, we use the time productively. We buy what we think are potato crisps, only to find they've got the consistency of plastic and taste like cardboard (they turn out to be plantain). The bananas are OK though.

We also check our emails and update the web site at the station internet café. When the train finally pulls in we stand at the spot where our carriage should be, towards the back of the train, only to see it sail past near the front of the train. We've got our packs on our backs so a brisk forced march down the station platform is necessary. Clive informs anyone who'll listen how he used to do this sort of thing regularly in the army, but no-one's listening. He suddenly realises that Sarah is striding down the platform in search of car A1 and he has to hurry to catch up!

Our travelling companions on this journey turn out to be a Sikh family; Jai Raj Singh, his wife Gurmit Kaur and their daughter Savnit Raj Kaur from Amritsar. They're heading for Kochi from where Jai Raj is hoping to visit the Lakshadweep Islands. We have a very interesting chat and learn a bit about the Sikh religion which is fascinating. The five and a half hour journey flys past and we end up swapping email details.

When the train pulls into Mangalore's Kankanadi station, another of our travelling companions expresses concern for our wellbeing, given that it's now 9pm and we don't know anyone or where we're going. We assure him that we're used to getting around, and sure enough we're no sooner out of the station than there's a taxi driver who knows exactly where we want to go. We agree the price and jump in the Ambassador taxi.

Our destination is the Summer Sands Beach Resort at Ullal Beach, about 13kms south of Mangalore and we have no idea what it will be like. The drive there is like any journey on Indian roads and takes about 30 mins. At the entrance a gate is opened to let us in and we drive down between rows of small villas to the reception desk. After checking in we're shown to our room which is very modern and clean and has soft beds, but no fridge.

We can hear loud party music going on so we go to investigate. It turns out to be a private reunion party for a group of Indian doctors taking place between the restaurant and the beach, but just as we arrive the music stops as someone has lost an earing and the doctors all search in the grass for it. We try out the restaurant for a snack. Disaster!! They don't serve alcohol! No Kingfisher beer. We've come to a beer-free resort for six days! After Goa, this will be a shock to the system.