....life goes on

Well, our journey has gone on (fortunately!)
After Trivandrum we travel to Varkala where for 4 days the beach was closed and where a couple of restaurants were damaged. In every bar or restaurant people from all over the world in their own language discuss about the tragedy... and about their new travel plan!


Facing the ocean

After 5 relaxing days here in Varkala we would like to go on the backwaters but some people told us that in Kollam was still unsafe so we proced directly to Allepey were we found a very nice place to stay (Tharavad Heritage Resort).


Kettu vallam (a boat)

After Allepey (didn't love this place a lot really) we went to Fort Cochin where you can breath a nice atmosphere.....


Mum & Dad, me&Mauro.......just amazing!
(I let you guess why the first pic is really better than the second one-my father was spectacular when uses my digital!)

After Cochin we went back to Trivandrum to spent the last days on the beach of Kovalam. There we met again Luca and visit again Vellanad and the children.

The new office 

Now the new office is finished and all the staff is ready to welcome everyone who wants to visit the children and the families and wants to learn how the association use the money (there are two or three rooms free for the visitors).

Me, Mauro and Biju, happy for the simple toy we brought to him. 

The worse side

Unfortunately just the second day of our stay a terrible cataclysm occured.
We didn't understand how big it was until we saw on television on the following days all the news and the picture and.... Oh, my gosh!
In the afternoon of the 26th of December we received this call from some friends from Italy asking:" Hey, are you OK?". And so we asked "Why?". And they answered that there was a big hearthquake in Indonesia "Well, but we are in India now, no problems here!". Oh yes, they said to us, but here in Italy all the TVs show this disaster because a big wave formed after the quake called "tsunami" in japanese and this wave have swept everything on his path........


Tsunami map

So we knew about this incredible disaster and passed all the day calling home to assure everybody that we were fine and safe on the west coast of India. Only in the following days we learned that some waves hit near Kollam, and near Trivandrum and Kanyakumari and some people told us that the level grew in the backwaters.

Read the latest news at http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com

The arrival

Now I'm here, back in my house. I'm writing and pasting on the diary some pics from my collection.
It's really unbeleivable all the things that happened (fortunately all good things...). The big fear with my parents was to get sick or worse....
We arrive at the airport of Trivandrum on the 25th of December very tired but happy and excited. Outside an incredible crowd of people...just amazing!
Oh Lord!Where's Luca? But Luca was there waiting for us.
First of all a good breakfast at the Veli's Indian Coffee House: first masala dosa for all! (Mum was a little shocked ...only water for her)

Then went to the Hotel Chaitram near to the Bus Stand and the Train Station.... (really near and really noisy, avoid it if you can).
And after a little shower (it was really hot temperature) we went to Vellanad, the village on the hills near Trivandrum (about 30 Km) where Namaste has an office.


With Vishnu and his family

The first pics with Mauro trying to hide, Taddeus huging Daddy and Mum .... now she smiles but when we leaved from the house of these sweet people and say goodby.....

Well, this was our first day. After that we had a really good time with a wonderful lunch prepared by the cook in the office (the best biryani I've ever had!).

The night (as I've said the hotel was near the Bus Stand) was a nightmare... but we were also really tired!

UNBELIEVABLE!

I know, I know ........
So many months ago (it seems to me) I started this blog just to write down my sentiments and share with (don't know who....) my experience.
From then a lot of things happened.

My first intention was to update my travel journey every day while in India or at least once a week..... Of course didn't happen.
WHY?
Couldn't find Internet Cafés out there? No, it's plenty of its nowadays.
The costs was too high? No, from 15 to 30 Rs. per hour (about 0,26/0,52 euro).
Not enough time to spend in an Internet Café? Well, probably, and just because I still prefer my old paper diary and my coloured pens.
And thanks to it now I can write down what's happened.

BEFORE DEPARTURE


"...all my bags are packed,I'm ready to go..."/ Mum



Mauro / Dad



...meee!