Sleep???

So after a bumpy, 8 hour bus journey we were finally in Dindigul, it was 5.30 in the morning so we weren’t quite ‘with it’, Daniel picked us up and took us to a hotel for a few hours sleep. We checked in and headed straight to bed, about ten minutes later there was a power cut and a knock at the door followed shortly after. There was a problem with the electricity in our room so we had to move along the corridor.

Daniel brought Ailsa and Emerald to collect us at 9am to go to Pastor Abraham and Sister Ruth’s for breakfast... this spread could have fed the five thousand! There was porridge, French toast (or Bombay toast as it’s known in India!), sandwiches, dosai, fruit, potatoes, cashew nuts, and much, MUCH more! The kids were sussing us out the whole time, they are getting so big and have the most beautiful eyes and smiles. Rose, Daniel’s wife, reckoned the youngest Emerald wouldn’t remember seeing a white person! Pastor Abraham soon joined us and was in top form sharing his thoughts and sharing stories of his faith experiences.

We spent the rest of the morning in their home before heading to Munnar with Daniel and his family. We had only entered the wildlife reserve a few minutes when we spotted a crowd of tourists with their camera’s out. As we drew close we saw an elephant in the distance. A bit on up the hill we spotted some monkeys, now all we had to see was some tigers!

Jenn started to look a bit peaky and I realised the bumpy, twisty drive up the mountain wasn’t doing anything for her travel sickness, we stopped for a bit of air and continued on up. The kids and Rose were starting to feel it by now, and the kids were both quite sick.

As we got higher and higher the temperature dropped, we stopped to wrap the kids up warm in balaclavas and winter coats. The windows were down and I was loving the cold air blowing in! I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Jenn pipe up, ‘is there a hospital at the top?’ – she ensures us it was just a general question, but I’m not sure I believe her ;)

We arrived after dark and had a quick rest before heading out for the best dosai in India! I’m now in bed, the 4^th bed I’ve been in 17 hours, and ready to rest for a long journey back tomorrow.

Laura x

p.s. Please keep the Tribal School very close in your prayers, we have been unable to visit them as foreign visitors seem to cause problems with the locals, they think they are receiving money and are stealing from them. When challenged the thief’s reply why should they care, they have lots of money from foreigners, which certainly is not the case! This was my favourite place to visit last time I was in India so I was pretty gutted to not get, but I feel worse knowing us being there can cause them so many problems!