To the mountains and back down to earth

We got up early and made it to the train. Unfortunately, a man stopped us and asked us to enter a coach which was not ours. So we spent more than half an hour from Coimbatore to Mettupalaiyam in the wooden class (very uncomfortable) and with a special smell in the air (eau de toilette).

Im Mettupalaiyam, we boarded a crowded little mountain train and tried to find a space between all the luggage from us and other travellers. Finally, we got two window seats on the left side as recommended in the Lonely Planet. Short after 7 o'clock the little steam engine in the back started working and took us on a splendic trip to the Nilgiri Hills. Within the next 5 hours the train stopped several times for water refills and at stations and, of course, for the tourists to take pictures of the scenic mountain view with train bridges, hills with eucalyptus trees and tea plants.

Around noon we arrived at our destination Ooty where we were already expected from a driver of the Savoy Hotel (Taj Group - www.tajhotels.com/) - the best hotel group in India (as they say themselves). Within minutes we could make our own decisions as we reached our cottage (built by the British more than 100 years ago). We had a spacious room with a bathroom including a bath tub - pure luxury.

After a short trip to the city where we bought some gifts and scarfs, we returned to the hotel for an ayurvedic massage in the wellness centre. For an hour, we were massaged with oil and Inka & Susi had even chosen to get oil dropped on their forehead for half an hour. I found that not too amusing and relaxing, so I let this offer to the other girls. As far as I can say for Inka - she will not do it again.

The dinner was served as buffet and I mainly concentrated on the desserts: fresh fruits, ice-cream, pineapple souflet, caramel custard (never again) and brownie cake. For lunch I had a Tenderloin Steak which made me really happy after all that chicken around here.

Yesterday, we made a sleep-in and then left for the market where we could see the chicken alive and dead without feathers next to vegetable and fruit stands. A bit further down the market we found bangles (Armreife) and hair stuff. We bought also some fruits and left for the botanical garden where we had lunch on the lawn.

Outside the garden was the Tibetian Market with warm clothing and we both got some warm scarfs. Those were really good for the trip downhill to Mettupalaiyam for which we used a bus this time. This was only two hours, but it was not made for everybody's stomach. The rear door was not there and the driver had a certain "kamikaze"style on the mountain roads to get us down from 2240 m above sealevel to 500 m.

After two train rides with some delay we finally arrived in Tiruchchirupalli at 4 am. Here we will stay the next two days and have a look at the temples.