Guruvayur – Fort Kochi, Kerela - 70 km
My final day of riding in India arrived and I was half happy and half sad to reach my
destination. From Vypin Island, a short ferry ride took people to Fort Kochi and I settled
for the first available place. It was not the best location as the room was hot as hell
during the day, and not even the fan made the slightest difference.
The following day, the bike shop packed the bicycle leaving me a few days to explore
Kochi. My time was mostly spent eating momo at the Tibetan restaurant and drinking
coffee at the No18 Hotel.
My flight was in the early morning, and the last airport bus was at 7 p.m. This meant
the usual long and tedious wait or a pricey taxi ride. I opted for "long & boring" as I
believed I had enough to keep myself occupied.
Miraculously, and due to the time zone difference, the flight landed in Cape Town, South
Africa on the same day. I stayed for almost three months before realising my mum was
OK and was doing fine without me. From South Africa, I returned to Asia as I made
tentative plans to meet Tania Bouwer later that year in Bangkok for a cycle ride around
Asia.
Cape Town, South Africa – Singapore
Although I didn’t get to see everyone and didn’t do everything planned, I said goodbye
to friends and family and departed lovely Cape Town for the long flight to Singapore via
Dubai and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The flight wasn’t too bad as long-haul flights go, except it came with a six-hour layover
in Colombo. Moreover, it happened to be the Tamil New Year and a public holiday in Sri
Lanka. As a result, heaps of free fruit, tea, coconut milk and rice cakes were offered.
The rice cakes were lovely, especially since a very potent chilli paste accompanied them
and I was more than happy to be back in Asia.