Our goal is Guwahati - the journey is long. We start after a long wait fog with a 1.5 hour flight from Kathmandu to Badrapur in southeastern Nepal. The airport consists of a small building along with the runway and the baggage claim is made directly to the aircraft. Advance was explained to us by all those involved long and detailed to look for a taxi to the bus station here, where there was a short walk to Indian taxis, which in turn lead over the border to India and us Railway Station New Jalpaiguri (NJP) would bring. Sound adventurous, but doable, especially since we had a day's time. As is often the practice teaches else who watched "Head of local taxi service to us in surprise, of course, we could directly from here go to the station NJP.
goes after the usual fare agreement is through a beautiful countryside, bicycle rickshaws and tuk-tuks seem to be the main means of transportation , rice fields and pastures line the road. After about 1 hour drive, the driver stops suddenly after the bridge and says he just had to pay a fee for the car, this was the border into India. Our question whether he needed our passports, surprised him and he shakes his head. In memory of the very detailed paper work for their first entry into India now, we are surprised. But it works, then no trace of passport control, and 1 hour we reach the station of New Jalpaiguri. Now we are without an entry stamp, but in the hope that our multiple entry visa when leaving on the 27.12. will judge. At the station of Guwahati, as always, there is intense activity, everywhere people sit or lie down and wait for their trains always late. The tracks and the train station are full of dirt, also as usual, the 12-strong "Office of the Manager on Duty for the clean train station" full of documents is emblazoned on the good work of the past. We are on the search for a luggage room, to go eat something in the city. In the luggage, we asked if we were doing food stored in the luggage. We deny this, not knowing exactly what meaning is behind this issue. The officer appears to our ignorance noted and explained to us that this very thing for many Rats running around. Full understanding nod, we leave the answer storage hall and Nicoletta's question of where now are the rats, evasively.
first time we take a pedicab (until then could Ariane never quite comfortable with the idea, as a strong white (so has the perception of "chauffeur" to the outside to be) of dry, older Indians to leave. Of course, comes on at all rickshaw drivers great joy when we show up with our Blondies and ask for two rickshaws to the next restaurant. The classic statement, "I Know a good restaurant gets "one of the 80 drivers buzzing around us the contract. Quick is a second rickshaw driver selected and off you go. Knowing that this ride for the driver is just as essential, as for any tuk-tuk drivers, we are happy about the slow pace and catch the stinking exhaust fumes like atmosphere. A small roadside restaurant with only 3 tables for the girls cooked rice with tomato sauce and we get a well-seasoned "Chicken Birjani. Of course, our rickshaw driver waiting for us. The invitation, which will provide us with the food company politely turned down. Good for strengthening the reunification drive we arrive in time the station. On the platform waiting, we learned that our train was delayed about two hours. We take care, because the journey is the destination and so we sit in the waiting room of the 1st Class. by our "three girls Joker" we will quickly emerge as the main attraction in the waiting room, nice and interesting conversations with various passengers. We are impressed by an older German couple, traveling for 7 weeks with the bus and train through India. With such a tour receives the statement, "The journey is the destination" even more important, because waiting times are still possible up to 20 hours. The girls entertain the whole first Waiting room, and later played with Indian children at an international level memory, and "Cow and Co.". We introduce ourselves to a long night, are of 2 hours late, finally 5, at 23.00 clock rolls up our train. Nicole and Alex to pass the time by which the rats that scurry across the tracks are.
The reserved berths second Class waiting for us, but for obvious reasons, do not spontaneously only 3 beds for us 5, including 2 overhead. We source our rapidly dormitory, one each about 60cm wide bed, with a curtain to separate, to have it is a red sheet and a blanket per bed. Erik and Nicole share a deck above, Antonia and Ariane the other. Alexia luxury legally occupied, to her great joy down an aisle seat. We sleep well despite limited space and will be around 7:30 am woken by one of the "Chai Tea" calling Zugverkäufer. Such a tea in bed is what - and it is not even Sunday. The last mile to the Guwahati railway station are, as usual, surrounded by slums and lead us again the extreme diversity of this country in mind. Here people live in conditions unworthy of the human right is at the track in the dirt and on the other hand, it extremely wealthy families who can afford everything possible. Guwahati is the capital of the eastern state of Assam, which is bordered to the north of Bhutan, on the east by Myanmar (formerly Burma) and in the south of Bangladesh. Assam has always been to crisis areas in India with strong and regular separation efforts. Foreign phones work qua network lock is not flat, but again, we are of all people friendly manner, the "Cheak pincher" delighted by the "prey" and try the girls like to pinch back in the cheek, something to get from their beauty . At the train station to our pre-ordered car waiting, we are quickly under the personal care of the senior police officials, who are from the ever-approaching large amount of photo-"where you come from," and the girls touch-meaning prospective protects.
The final drive to the first - by Katharina selected location - is reminiscent of a beautiful landscape, in part, to Kerala. After the mountainous highlands of Nepal, we enjoy the sight of palm trees, rice paddies and yellow blooming mustard fields. The streets are always surrounded by Polizeipatroullien. After a good 5 hours of driving through this really beautiful scenery and a total of 30 hours journey we reached Bali Para Tea Estate in the heart of Assam. Even at the entrance to the tea plantation, we are visited by a white-clad received in "Boy". The old, the colonial-style house puts us right back to the imperialist India when the British still occupied India. Quick tea is served and we expect our friends now living in Delhi Catherine, Oscar and their two girls and Maurizia Carlotta. Alexia is very excited, seeing her old friend Carlotta Frankfurt again. Full of enthusiasm, Erik discovers an Enfield in the garage of the tea farm and then for the next day agreed directly a ride.
It is already dark when the four arrive together with Ruth, the sister of Oscar. They, too, is the long journey to remember well, but the delicious dinner in the main house in fancy Old English atmosphere quickly compensate all parties for the strains. The good wine is doing nicely. The girls have come together quickly and in zero-nothing there is intense activity to Friederike beads from South Africa, all kids good deal.
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is together with a friend of Catherine and Oscar, the manager of the Tea Estates, we start the next day for a boat trip on the Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in the world. On a very old rickety boat to take all 13 delegates. Erik break the first wooden plank already get started. We chug in an old boat on the water, it is hazy, so that we are not the views of the white snow mountains indulgence. The old diesel engine spread its corresponding odor. The water is calm and the mood was downright melancholy. White sands support our leisurely journey, suddenly is a loud pit to car radio from toothless mate, the first river dolphins are spotted! For lunch is held on a sand bank, from a distance we see a blue tarpaulin, which - put up as protection against the scorching sun - stand out from the white sand. Our consideration is again the resourcefulness of the Indians. Time is just a romantic place conjured up out of nowhere, benches, chairs and table are taken from the aircraft and accordingly established in the shade. Riverside eager fish and rice is sizzling. A "toilet tent" at a safe distance must not be missed. We all enjoy this very special food and the almost unique Place. A perfectly chosen location, which pleases us both Europeans and Aji enormously with his two daughters. The girls romp in the fine sand and build sand castles together with the Indians, while we maintain our motel and learn something new about this fascinating country and its people. On the way back we will of course still out of gas, which puts the Indian tax man is not really in trouble: The mobile phone used to pull out and quickly, "substitute" procured.
In fact, when we were a little late last packed the two cars - Erik and Catherine still had each a round with the Enfield through the village and the tea plantations turn - we are a civilian vehicle taken three armed police officers after leaving the tea plantation in reception. After some time, the civilian vehicle replaced with a military vehicle and as we drive to almost empty streets swept towards Kaziranga National Park. Every now and then there is a military barrier, which we pass without complications. Certainly our next Lodge just outside of the Kaziranga National Park arrived, is also here again Catherine's good sense for a particular location in the woods.
The Kaziranga National Park is one of most famous national park of Assam, for h ere you can still find the unicorn rhino in ample quantities. We are not disappointed. Already on the evening Jeep Safari us the slow-acting animals to run into and can not irritate the Jeep nor the Kindergejohle. This impression is topped in early morning elephant safari yet. Eingezingelt of about 13 elephants, all loaded with tourists chug along through the meter-high elephant grass, we can powerful, totally peaceful animals acting in all peace at close. A great experience for young and old. Our stay will be crowned with a makeshift boat safari on the Brahmaputra. Once again, we enjoy the eerie expanse of the river as the only tourists in sight. The trip took us to the river this time, the smallest villages and tribal villages. On the car ride, we see children playing with elephants in the village square football, ox carts and elephants all part of the normal street scene.
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The next day is once again a day of travel. After 5 hours of driving, partially empty streets and in police-run column, we arrive at the airport of Guwahati surprisingly relaxed in order to Bhubaneswar to Kolkata, fly to the capital of Orissa on the east coast of India.
During the final days before Christmas with you influenced by snow and cold snap are available for us again beach holiday on the program. Around 23.00 clock, we arrive at Puri at the Mayfair Beach Resort with private pool and beach. The next day we enjoy the wide beach to capture various temples and appeared from time to time in the vibrant life of one of the main beach. Puri is one of the main places of pilgrimage for Hindus in India, according to the life here is raging. Ariane shows how the early jogging in the morning at 7:00 clock the beach is crowded with people. Beach vendors recommend their product, camels and ponies are available for beach rides are available, the fishermen had just come back from the morning catch. Mobile-Sunrise Cafe "are built up rapidly, ie, 5 plastic chairs placed in the direction of sunrise and behind a mobile kiosk, the chai tea and biscuits offered. In between swimming hundreds of Indians in full dress and amusingly often accompanied by self-proclaimed "Life Guards", armed with old car tires, as the floating ring itself being able to swim to the side stand. We are not comfortable with some of the lifeguards that would work in an emergency rescue.
the evening of the Night Market is built on the beach, in the "Sunrise Cafe" arise Sunset Café. Highlight all of us on the beach hand-powered carousel. The 5 small Blondies enjoy your days at the beach and let himself be persuaded reluctant to visit the various temples. As a reward, either bicycle rickshaw or tuk-tuk down. As soon as we sit in the vehicles, the mood and is fast, the time will increase accordingly, "Come Little Children" at 26 degrees, "Year after year ..." or "Oh Tannenbaum" smashed. Great Christmas spirit!
particular highlight is the visit of the Sun Temple in Konark - a Unesco world heritage site. Originally, this temple as a cosmic chariot of the sun god Surya was intended. Weather conditions (floods), and wars have destroyed parts of the temple. Nevertheless, a large part has been preserved and the many weird and crazy expensive ornaments tell the story of the temple and at that time. We are not sure whether we really have hired a registered guide, for the good man has his sole focus in the explanation of some disreputable representations from the time of the Kama Sutra. So at the end of our world view in full gear bathing rather chaste Indians falter. A great temple, the Ariane compensated a little that we do not travel to Cambodia to visit Ankorwat. It was a tough cultural unity for our blond girls: they were regularly reminded of the commitment of leaders to rest, the heat made them as well as to create the many well-meant "touching cheeks." In the end, all kids are happy when we sit back in the AC car and drive to a village near Konark to visit a project of Oscar job. Along the river were financed by KfW "cyclone shelters" built the whole in the unfortunately frequent cyclones village communities - offer protection - up to 1500 people. In parallel they are used for education and training opportunities. Coupled with a visit to a visit of the shelters is the nearest village - a great experience, from the young and old come home very enriching. The adults overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality of the villagers on the one hand, and fascinated by the cultivated state of this typical Indian village, which seems to have not changed significantly over the last 100 years. The girls are more enthusiastic for the little kids and Cows, which are of course important part of village life. With the final visit of a Yogini Temple - India's only 4 of them - go by rich and very nice for 10 days. Fully satisfied, we all fly the plane to New Delhi to celebrate with Catherine, Oscar and the girls Christmas. It was a great time, we all very much. And despite the daily chaos with 5 small blondes we could talk beautifully and benefit from the already very rich store of knowledge of Catherine and Oscar about the history of India. Small, not significant downer was the second hotel in Puri, which rather resembled a building site, as touted the chic beach resort. Nicoletta went on their way to bathe in the dynamic stair jump with the pink flip-flops, unfortunately, still a laceration under his chin to the sewing but now thanks to the professional treatment of Oscar's sister, Ruth without healed very well.
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