Tea Plantations

An interesting drive to the top of the world .... single track hair pin bends (with a few passing places) and several times our driver had to manouevre back & forth to negotiate the tighter turns as the coach was too long to get round in one move.

But the views were worth it.  Acres of tea plants everywhere.   From my school days I'd envisaged neat terraces on the mountainsides but these were planted on rolling hills rather than 'shelves'.   Lots of tall trees interspersed to help stop soil erosion in the monsoon season

Tea picking .... we're told these ladies work from 7am till 5.30pm for approx £2.50 per day.  Have to assume there are some other company perks to make it worthwhile!

this is what all the fuss is about:  Our familiar teas are made from the tender tips/small leaves.  Indian Chai is made from powdered leaves

We are staying in 2 storey bungalow accommodation at a Hill Station.   Not for the faint hearted or those with impaired mobility as there are hundreds of steps to climb to reach the restaurant and gardens ....

Our bungalow.   It has a huge balcony on the upper floor and a smaller balcony leading from the downstairs bedroom.   Bathrooms upstairs and downstairs - accessed via a steep spiral staircase

lounge and upstairs balcony areas

Bedroom, dressing room and smaller balcony

We're off next to a tea factory en route to Cochin to catch a flight to Mumbai.  Then a flight from Mumbai to London at 3am.