Happy Easter

[Cathy]
Greetings to all and a very happy day for me with Samuel on his feet again, and looking much better. We are staying in a lovely old house, which is now a YWCA hostel, overlooking Coonoor proper, with a belt of trees separating us from the tea plantation between us and the town.The town is apparently noisy and busy, so I'm not sorry not to have been down there yet, but the hills around us are great for walking in and fine views so we'll hope to do that in the next few days, and then move on to Ooty.Our plans to go on the Nilgiri steam railway were foiled, as there was damage to the track during the last monsoon, which has not yet been repaired.

We took our first train in India from Trichy to Coimbatore - 6 hours travelling, plus an hour on the train before it left, to ensure we got seats. We had single seats opposite each other by a window, which was fantastic, as the crowds of people cramming onto the bench seats and into the luggage racks barely affected us. We had plenty to drink, but our food supply, tucked on the floor inside our messenger bags, was invaded by pharoah's ants and had to be chucked away at the next station. We had enough to keep us going, but were very exhausted by the time we got to our hotel in Coimbatore. Although we had felt fine when we left Trichy, neither of us felt good over the next day or so, fussy about food and a bit irritable and tired.

As there was no Steam railway we took a bus to Coonoor, planning to take the diesel to Ooty from there as that part of the track was unaffected, after staying a night or two in this lovely hotel. We also hoped we might get a chance to see the steam engines, as they are housed in Coonoor. The really steep bit is between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, and we could see the track running parallel to the road, with the ratchet teeth in the middle ( the only reason the steam train has survived - no deisel could do such a steep climb). Our bus drove round a lot of hairpin bends through forests, round deep valleys and ravines - wonderful journey!

We hear the diesel leaving for Ooty several times a day, but at present we are very happy here - cool breezes, pleasant temperatures for walking early and late in the day - still hot in the middle of the day. The first time since Munnar that we have been in a hotel room without a fan, because it isn't needed. Shame about Samuel's ill health, but we are ready for action now, and already planning our next adventures into Wildlife sanctuaries. Only 11 days now before we leave India!