Sunday, January 20th

Now I have landed in the land of pepper!

And definitely (see picture). I discovered it on one of my recent garden tours. - It's actually quite amazing what you notice here when you wander through the hotel grounds with very wide open eyes: papaya, pepper, passion fruit, starfruit, breadfruit, henna bushes (almost like trees), bananas, oranges (as small as mandarins), coconuts, chillies... and other unidentifiable plants. Plus small but somehow beautiful monsters (picture)!

This morning, I woke up in my packed room with the distant music from the temple down on the beach, went to breakfast, then to the consultation (my doctor is off), then to the massage and then to the reception. They informed me that the new room won't be ready until 12:30 p.m. Okay, then I'll just change rooms after yoga... So, I went back to 306 to move my things to 267. Then unpack, decorate everything and set up Daniela's way again. Suddenly, the Guest Service Manager came and asked why I hadn't come to the reception. She had looked for me in the old room, in yoga, at the pool, on the beach and everywhere else. (Yes, sure she did! Pha! That's a laugh!). I just said that I wanted to set up my new room first and then I would have reported...

Actually, I'm not that uncomfortable in the significantly larger room, which is cut completely differently. It's brighter and, as I said, larger. So, I reassured myself. Because it could have been worse. Some of the expensive bungalows are located on the left side of the hotel grounds (on the right on the map). They have a great view of the beach and even the sea. BUT, there's a large construction site at the edge of the complex that makes a lot of noise all day long. There's also the temple next door. So, peace and relaxation are not exactly rosy. And some of the rooms in the same category as mine are also on the outside of the building. So, also exposed to construction noise...

Today, the two groups arrived, some of whom moved into my old room. And accordingly, the tables in the restaurant were put together and extended. Really strange, because Ayurveda doesn't really go together with group travel for me. But: to each their own!

Earlier, I wanted to pick up my goods from the nearby tailor, just like yesterday. Not ready again... and also sewn in too tight elastic band in my loose pants! So, one of the three Kumar's quickly altered a pair of pants and after trying them on, he got the go-ahead for the others. So, I'll come back tomorrow. Maybe I'll finally get the complete order?! Smile - Welcome to India!

Speaking of tomorrow. I'll be leaving at 8 a.m. and won't be back until 5 p.m. So, no massage and no yoga. I'm going on a full-day trip down to the south to Cape Kanyakumari. A temple, a palace, and the drive to the southernmost point of India are on the program. I'm very excited and will of course report back to you. Honorable obligation! Smile.