Our last day in Kerala is going to be a long one as we are up before dawn to go on a boat ride around the Kumarakom bird sanctuary. Philip drops us off at 0545 and our boat driver points out endless brrrrrrds of the brown, white and down from Siberia kind. Lots of kingfishers too, but no sign of the beer... We have to row ourselves back to the drop off point - despite our polite declining of using the man row and the lady row, he insists. We've still got the whole day to spend lounging by the pool with the Nolans, but it passes quickly, and we are soon off to the airport, for our last trip with Philip. Its sad to see his smiley face for the last time, as the Ambassador turns away from the departure building, but after his day off tomorrow, he will be meeting another couple to take them around beautiful Kerala.
We're very sad to be leaving India, it has been challenging to tour around, but so very rewarding, and we will leave it with fond memories of stunning views, amazing palaces, fascinating forts, and tremendous food. Favourite places are too numerous to list, and difficult too as the country is so contrasting, from the energetic chaos of modern cities Mumbai and Delhi, where anything is possible, to the altogether chilled out relaxed way of life in Kochi and Kerala. Beautiful sunsets over the Lake Palace in Udaipur and the beaches of Goa, the border closing ceremony with Pakistan and of course the Taj are all highlights. Even the trains weren't too bad, and little extra adventures like taking over the cycle rickshaw in Jaipur after beer in a teapot, the endless stares and requests to take our picture holding their children, and the flat tyre on the bus from Udaipur to Jaisalmer will be fondly remembered forever.
Not a lot goes on in Kochi airport, but we entertain ourselves weighing our luggage, and each other before the flight to Bahrain to change planes. We are the only Westerners in Kochi airport, so its a bit of a surprise to get to Bahrain, and see lots of white faces once again. They are also in full Christmas spirit with OTT decorations, and Mariah Carey sqawking about all that she wants for Christmas is You-oo-oo-ooo-ooooooooo.
The trip to the UK passes in a blur visiting friends and family, catching up on news and eating lots. All of a sudden we are back on a 13 hour flight to Hong Kong for more Christmas.
We land at 8am local time, and are met by Sue & Ed with a bottle of fizz. We stop by the Mariners Club to pick up the turkey and have another glass of fizz with Judi & Peter and then are off to Sheung Sze Wan and Sue & Ed's new house. Its a beautiful location out of the main city with sea views and lots of space - unlike the rest of the city...
We spend most of Hong Kong eating and drinking, well it is Christmas after all, sharing dinners with Tracy, Yuval, amazing beef from Ed's barbecue with Judi & Peter, and even put to use our recently developed Indian cooking to knock up a pretty decent turkey butter masala.
Next stop is Laos. Its been a lot of fun catching up with family and friends over a glass of wine or 20, but our Christmas gift from Sue & Ed is waiting - a trip to Luang Prabang in Laos, and then a few days in Hanoi, VietNam to celebrate New Year!
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