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I left Alleppey and spent most of the day on the bus. I took the local bus and had to change in Kottayam, but it went smoothly with just enough time to have a late lunch in between.
When it got dark I could feel the cool mountain air through the open window of the bus as we got closer to Munnar and higher up in the mountains.
The roads were constantly winding like a snake up the mountain and it got pretty scary in the dark with the sharp corners. But Indians have their own way of driving and as long as you sound your horn you can drive as recklessly as you want. It even says "Sound horn please" on the back of all trucks an bigger vehicles so they'll notice when you overtake.
It started raining at one point and quickly all the windows of the bus were shut to keep the wet out.
I spent one night in Munnar and left the next morning on yet another bus ride.
I was headed for Kodaikanal to see a friend of mine. There was no direct bus and I ended up taking four different buses to get there. It couldn't have gone more smoothly though if I had tried to plan it. When I got off one bus I went to the toilet and then found the next bus and the the bus left within a few minutes. This happened every time I changed bus, so I had pretty perfect timing.
The roads were once again snaking their way up and down the mountains and valleys and the views were amazing. Munnar is famous for its tea plantations and I got a perfect sightseeing on my bus ride. The tea plants are low bushes with deep green leaves with lighter shades where the new leaves were growing. These lush green bushes were rolling down the hillside and vanishing in the valleys below. Above, the mountains rose high enough to touch the clouds and the mountaintops vanished in wisps of mist and cloud.
We drove through jungle-like forests where big green plants grew several metres high where they only reach pot sized decorations on the windowsills back home.
It felt good to breath the fresh mountain air and it was full of smells. The lush green scent of the vegetation, the sweet fragrances of flowers and jasmine and the whiff in the air as we drove past the tea factory where the tea was drying and smelt like hay and memories of summers long gone.
It was a very pleasant day on the bus even though it took about seven hours to get there. On the first bus I leaned out the window taking photos of all the beautiful scenery as we left Munnar. on the second bus an old couple sitting behind me gave me fruit and food and smiled happily at me. On the third bus there was a Bollywood movie playing at the front of the bus and it kept me entertained with all the colours and music. On the fourth bus I was watching the sunset and listening to music shutting out all the thousand noises of India for a little while.
I arrived in Kodaikanal just after dark and I met up with my friend Maxi and his travel buddy Nat. We had some food together with a German guy called Andy before we went to bed.
It was nice to speak some Swedish for a change, even though the English is taking over and I find myself thinking in English pretty often.
Goodnight!
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