Christmas Day 2012 - today we head back to the lowlands and for the return journey we treated ourselves to an Innova which has the advantage of putting more space and metal between you and the vagaries of Indian roads which include U-turning trishaws; death defying Kerala State buses; the odd sauntering cow and of course the constant horn tooting stream of traffic which travels on all sides of the road regardless of the main direction of travel.
As it turned out given it was a public holiday in a fairly Christian state the drive down through the tea estates and rubber plantations was really quite quiet.
After a 4 hour drive we arrived at our destination - Vayalar and the Sarovar Premiere. First impressions were fine and the room very nice. But on closer inspection it seems the resort is still under construction ! Not major works but fitting out - seemingly it opened in April and here we are in December so a fairly long soft opening !! And sadly we find it has not yet got its liquor licence !
Lunch was by the pool a very nice panner and dhal. At 1630 there was a free cruise in the backwaters round the hotel with some nice photo opportunities !
As it turned out given it was a public holiday in a fairly Christian state the drive down through the tea estates and rubber plantations was really quite quiet.
After a 4 hour drive we arrived at our destination - Vayalar and the Sarovar Premiere. First impressions were fine and the room very nice. But on closer inspection it seems the resort is still under construction ! Not major works but fitting out - seemingly it opened in April and here we are in December so a fairly long soft opening !! And sadly we find it has not yet got its liquor licence !
Lunch was by the pool a very nice panner and dhal. At 1630 there was a free cruise in the backwaters round the hotel with some nice photo opportunities !