Don Curry drinks passion fruit wine

Don Curry has reached another turning point in his journey today. After accompanying a group from his old home for some time, it is now time for him to continue on his own.

As always since he was traveling with the group, the day started with a very early breakfast and an early departure shortly afterwards. Because the only goal of today had to be reached at a certain time. The reason for it would soon become clear. The bus approached an inconspicuous Indian village, the small village of Keezhoor, on increasingly narrow roads. The special thing about this place: tour guide Sebastian comes from here and wanted to show his real home. Barely had Balu parked the bus when a group of young drummers approached.

But they were only the first welcome committee: on the way from the parking lot to the church of the village, numerous festively dressed children had gathered on both sides. Some even carried signs that said 'Welcome!'.

Together, the children accompanied the travel group to the church square, where women distributed fresh coconuts to the guests, from which they could drink refreshing coconut water. Some girls performed a graceful dance, then a Mass in the Syro-Malabar Rite began in the church: a small music group consisting of keyboard and female singers accompanied the priest and the parish in the almost continuous singing.

In the community house next to the church, a large lunch buffet was set up. Afterward, there was a short digestion walk to Sebastian's parents' house, where fresh jackfruit was served. At the end of the lunch, a young man approached Don Curry, introducing himself as his future driver. His name was 'Prince'. Now it was time for Don Curry to say goodbye to the group and continue on his own way. Some members of the group said they would also let Prince drive them through India. But Don Curry could now enjoy this privilege alone.

Prince allowed him to choose any seat in his white, sparkling Toyota Innova. As usual, Don Curry took the seat behind the driver, which had allowed for the best communication with the changing guides in the first days of the journey. But Prince didn't like this choice at all. He asked Don Curry to sit next to him first, so they could get to know each other better on the first day. And since Prince had already talked more in the first hour than Mr. Sanjay in 10 days, Don Curry remained loyal to the passenger seat. In a short time, Don Curry learned everything about Prince's small family and the worries he had about his wife's and one-year-old son's health. He was told about the driver's career and that he had been a 'big zero' in school until ambition took hold of him and he learned English on his own initiative. Someday - he dreamed - he would drive a big tourist bus through India, preferably a Volvo bus. He was immensely proud to be able to complete such a long tour with a European guest, but immediately limited himself by saying that he only knew the area up to Chennai, and after that, it would be new territory for him too. In between this extensive flow of information, he repeatedly asked Don Curry questions; after all, he also wanted to find out more about the guest entrusted to him.

This constant communication made the long way back to the mountains pass quickly. Near the mountain town of Munnar, a special accommodation awaited Don Curry, but it was very remote and poorly signposted: the JungleJive Tree House. A family of tea farmers had built a two-story treehouse around a huge forest tree, which had a total of 4 rooms with their own bathroom.

Everything seemed very simple and rustic, but it had its own atmosphere. A campfire burned directly under the house after sunset, and dinner was served in the form of a mini-buffet at the tables around the fire: there were only four dishes to choose from, but they were all very tasty. A French couple at the neighboring table asked the young waiter if there would be wine to drink. No, he could only offer water or tea, as there was no alcohol license, he explained. But if they wanted, they could try something he had made himself for the first time this year: passion fruit wine. The French were curious, and Don Curry could by no means refuse when he was asked. So they all received a small cup of a pleasantly scented, well-chilled liquid. The taste of the drink was not perfect yet, quite fruity and slightly alcoholic, but not enough to pass it off as wine. But as a surprise digestif, it pleased Don Curry's throat quite well.

The more the fire burned down, the clearer a magnificent starry sky became visible. However, the diverse sounds of a tropical night and the irregular creaking of the treehouse soon lulled Don Curry to sleep. None of the guides had given him a fixed breakfast or departure time for the next day. A beautiful thought...