The adventure begins!

It's pretty hard to travel light when heading off on an adventure-based trip to a developing country. My bag is bulging with everything from thermals to a bike helmet, enough drugs to set up a small pharmacy, and about my body weight in hand sanitizer and Wet Ones. You can't say I'm not prepared!

So I'm here now, after a good flight via KL. Arriving in Bangalore around midnight was very straightforward. Picked up some rupees and water, and then out into the fray to find my driver. Although not really much of a fray at all - everyone seemed completely disinterested in my arrival!

It was about an hour's journey into town, with the streets dark and deserted, save the occasional motorcyclist or stray dog. It was a warm welcome at the hotel, and then straight to bed. I am staying centrally at The Park, a self-proclaimed hip and groovy place, with the right idea but missing a little in the execution.

After breakfast this morning I've ventured out. Within meters, the rain turned into a downpour, and so I've literally received my first Indian blessing. The first task was to find a new power adaptor, given that the ones I had bought were not working. Both two pins, so 'same same' but definitely different. Only took me tripping the room's power twice to work that out! I had been sent in the direction of the 'market' which turned out to be a narrow street lined with shop fronts. Wasn't too hard to track down the 'electrician' and after parting with 40 rupees (~80c), and some further adaptation back at the room, I'm powered up once more.

Have also discovered the local supermarket to stock up on water, Pepsi and chips. They sell hand sanitiser. And wipes. Alas no beer - and at $5 a can from the minibar, looks like it's going to be a 'treat food' only.

The plan has always been to treat these first few days as a welcome chance to unwind and adjust, given the effort of leaving office and home for eight weeks. It's overcast and dull here today, ruling out the pool so it seems a massage and pedicure is in order.

So to finish off I'll leave you with some New Year's advice from The Bangalore Times. Don't drink and dance. Tipsy Tip: Hitting the floor intoxicated can make you throw up.

Who said travel doesn't teach you anything new...

Snaps below:
The room at The Park
My first cows - local dairy?
Street scene, a block from the hotel
Butter at the supermarket - though suspect the packaging represents the Waikato, NZ rather than India!
Powering up the iPhone
Chutneys available at the supermarket

Here's the gameplan...

I fly out from Melbourne on Thursday 29th December for a couple of nights of acclimatisation in Bangalore. After a busy leadup to departure, it will be good to have a few days 'rest and recovery' before the fun really starts. On New Year's Day I'll catch a train to Mysore to join up with the Exodus cycling tour that I have booked. This will see us exploring Kerala over the next two weeks - and yes, the moderate-challenging rating has me a little worried!

After all that cycling hard work, I'm looking forward to a week in Varkala, Kerala, before heading north to Goa for a second week. This fortnight will be the 'holiday' within the holiday, with plans featuring no more than beaches, coconut palms and a good book or two.

From Goa I fly north to New Delhi in time to meet up with the Peregrine tour that I have booked on. This will involve travelling around Rajasthan, which many consider to be India's most exotic state with a rich cultural heritage. By mid February we will return to New Delhi and I'll set off on the last leg - a tour by train to Orchha and Varanasi. It seems somewhat fitting to finish the eight weeks in Varanasi, the spiritual home of Hindu India.

There nothing like planning some extended travel in a country to familarise yourself with the geography - but to help you, I've included a map.

Just six more sleeps...

It's hard to imagine that this time next week I will be in India. There's still a bit to do in preparation, but I am feeling quite calm about it all. Most things are booked, I've had my injections and organised my Visa. Just need to finish a report, tidy the apartment and pack my bags, as well as attend to the Christmas festivities. Though, must say, with the gorgeous weather that has finally arrived in Melbourne, it will be a little hard to leave Seisman Place!