Beat'n the Heat in Munnar

Even the bronz-asaurus needs a break from the heat. This isn’t even heat… this instant sweat.. not the good, “oh man decent work out” heat (not like I know how that feels anymore). Its more like.. “why does my skin feel and resemble how most would envision Slimes’ from Ghostbusters…

Side note: Why does travelling make you think of some of the best movies of all time… Like why we have Harry and the Henderson’s waiting to be played on our computer? Food for thought.

Anyways… Travelling through some of India’s most southern cities (if you can call them that) during their hottest time of year is HOT. So we figured we would beat the heat by escaping to the hills bordering Tamil Nadu.

If you have been keeping up with our adventures in India, it should be pretty clear by now that getting around in India is no small feat. You might as well give yourself the entire day and most of the night.. Even if your only a couple hundred KMs aways.

Munnar is about 300KMs away from the nearest coastal city, Kochi.

300KMs via local bus transit requires the following:

• Bus Boarding: Body checking your way through the “line ups” (major under statement – these guys make celebrity swarms look like a few people chatting), all while dodging the feet of the people taking the shortcut through the windows
• Finding a 2 seater (3 seaters always fill up and a 3 seater is built for 2.5 Indians) after throwing your bags beside the driver.
• Finally spending the final 100KM weaving around maze-like roads reminiscent of our times in Bolivia.
• If you cant picture it, lets just say this.. Minimum 3 people wind up puking out the window (all windows are open – just imagine the spray-back).

8hrs later (pretty quick India commute) and we have made it to Munnar.After a bus ride through these hills we have never appreciated the still ground more. Even if its caked in cow shit.

The crazy ride aside, upon arrival, temperatures dropped 10 degrees with cool mountain breezes instead of suffocating humidity.. Already, the trip has been worth it.

Another side note: this trip was only for 3 days before committing another 3 days to re-bronzing at the Le Meridien Kochi. More to come on that.

Munnar is a small hill station well known for its tea harvesting. Basically, 90 years ago, TATA (one of India’s largest mega-corporations) bought the town and everything in it…. Around every mountain corner is yet another tea plantation… just hills upon hills of tea plants…. Sounds boring, but the dizzying labyrinth –like fields make for some pretty amazing views.

Amazing lush green tea fields

The hills of Munnar

Enjoying a morning hike through the tea feilds

You, hell even me (who has been positively surprised around every corner in India) never pictured it to have anything like this. This place is peaceful, breathtaking and completely lacking of touts and your standard India big city/tourist annoyances… i.e. the honking had stopped, the streets were clean and every way you turned your head, another breathtaking view.

Seconds off the bus and through the colony of rigshaw drivers, we spotted a face we thought we could trust…  A great conversation later and we had our days planned with Siva (pronounced Sheeva). In a country filled with scams and an in-your-face culture, its amazing how these honest and pure people, experiences, etc… are around every corner. Its really just a game of chance.. but when you find it, it makes up for every negative experience you have had since.

Anyways, just like that, for about 600 rupees (about $12 CAD dollars) we had transport, a local guide (Siva) and great times ahead.

I think we have mentioned this before, but its Indian tourist season. You know what’s funny about being the only white people during Indian tourist season? EVERYTHING! Im pretty sure we will the India gossip mags release “shocking” pics of Jonalia. The power couple from Canada. At leqst that’s how it feels with the millions of photos taken of us…. 

GUNEET.. please confirm if my theory around Facebook “white people” albums is true…

“One, one! One, one!”

“Foto! Foto!”

“Hold my baby”

You hear this and you know you can kiss the next hour goodbye replaced any of your plans with white person photo time.

That said, we have taken some pretty epic photos with them and it may be more fun for us than them at this point. They love us and we love them. Just one of the many reasons to travel India. There is real love for people around every corner.

Jonny posing with a group of girls

Me in a family photo

Our 3 days in Munnar were a much needed break from the madness… now a little bronzing and then up North to Darjeeling, West Bengal for some trekking and to get a glimpse of the mountain warlocks we know as the Himalayas.

OOO_Jonny and Tals