Up at 6 AM, Sandeep brought me breakfast at 7 ( as he did all November 2015!!) and I left by taxi for the airport before 8. Domestic flights are always more dicy, but all went well. I arrived in Coimbatore 12:30 AM, and did not see my friend Guna, so proceeded by taxi to Coonoor without full info of accommodation.( uncertainty theme here) On the way, the taxi broke down….lol!!! surprise! and the clutch gave in!! Right as we were crossing the railway line!!! If a train had come, it would have pushed us as we were almost on the tracks!! The cars behind hooted, the driver jumped out and waved them on. Just as we stopped, another taxi passed us, recognized my driver, stopped ahead, and picked me up!!! He first helped push the taxi off the tracks!!! Unbelievable!! So I went on to Coonoor without delay!! The poor taxi driver had to sort out his car!! I was being looked after!!!!!! No internet meant I couldn’t phone or contact my Rishikesh contact who was offering the hotel.Embracing uncertainty! Anyway, I managed to get through to the guy only after we arrived in Coonoor, not knowing what hotel address to give to the taxi driver. All ended well…the driver was helpful and patient!!!!!.I got the call, and I went to Vivek Hotel. The price is so cheap…..$18 a day….that won’t buy any hotel in Canada! The room is ok, for that price….no shower, no bath but I get hot water in the morning, and have to wash from a large bucket and smaller bucket to pour the water over me. If I want to wash at night, they will bring me a big bucket of hot water, and I will do the bucket wash routine…fun!!!! Canadians would think it a hard thing to do, but it really isn't in India.The plus is the room comes with English movies free…..nice but not sure if I will need movies!! Bed is ok, looks very soft by Indian standards, certainly warm. Monsoon has apparently started here….cloudy and cool, but no rain yet. I have a tiny balcony, and am on the first floor.Place to hang things, and big drawer for clothes….all packed out. I will be here till June 17 when I must decide whether to go to the mountain top clinic or stay here. I will make contact with Dr. Sundara tomorrow. Amazing thing is that we drove right by his clinic. The driver stopped for me, I checked, but he wasn’t at the clinic….only comes on a Friday. Dr. Sundara’s clinic is 5 minute walk from Vivek HOTEL!! It is quite close here to CENTRAL Coonoor….and is a part of Conoor called Bedford…lol!!! I am actually familiar with this part of Coonoor. This hotel is an Indian tourist hotel but I am probably the only foreigner here. If it's good enough for Indians it's good enough for me. Had supper at the restaurant here….totally dirt cheap, and food will be fine here I think.No toilet paper, but got a roll from reception!! No charge! Door to bathroom ( my own private one!) is too low, and I bumped my head on the door top….now must remember to stoop to enter the bathroom…That is a first for me!..I can handle that!! It’s not cold so far, and wearing just T shirt and pants.Got myself unpacked, and have spent hours blogging.Going to bed now but will get the photos uploaded tomorrow. Thanks for checking in, and welcome to the mountain tea hill station of Coonoor.
No comments:
Post a Comment