We have seen a Kathakali classical dance drama performance in Kochi which dates back to 1500. This is a stunning show with make-ups made from natural stones mixed with coconut oil, funny face expressions accompanied with percussion and singing.

Santa Claus on a scooter on its way to a kids street show.

Chinese fisher nets on the coast of Fort Kochi where Lara and me helped to lift one load with a catch of 2 little fishes...

Ready to go for a 5 day road trip on Bullet Royal Enfield in countryside of Kerala.

One many times we got a bit lost. I proudly present Lara which has the courage to jump on my bike and bear my driving style.

First breakdown of Korbi's bike on the way to Munnar. About 10-20 guys helped us to get the bike running again and after 2 hours a miracle: it's ready to go again.

Lara and me got invited for lunch by this lovely family from Munnar.

Korbi's road trip ended up here after just 1 day of driving... This man is the mechanic who tried his best to make it run again, but this bike was not possible to be repaired in Munnar. Korbi continued the trip by bus...

The charming family of the mechanic.

Landscape of tea plantations which looks like the world of the Teletubbies between Munnar and Periyar NP.

Pretty and me on our way to Periyar NP.

One more, it's just so beautiful!

We stopped in a small village where we met some curious kids.

Lara with husband and kids ;-)

Thats one of the most beautiful villages I have ever been. Just wonderful

One chapel perched on a big rock. Kerala is mainly Christian and this makes the roads safer as there no cows on the road.

Lovely!!

Open air cow transportation, Europe should look up how simple and animal friendly this can be organised.

Driving licence question: What's wrong in this traffic situation?
Little circulation problem in Kottayam gets resolved on its own... The opposing traffic doesn't have much space anymore, but they are less than us.

That's how I thought we might discover the beauty of the Backwaters.

Finally we got a houseboat with full service and lived for 24 hours like Maharajas over Christmas Eve

Juhu!

Santa Claus and his friends drumming on the road wishing everybody passing good luck

These are the originals on their way to deliver many many presents: Santa Aral and Santa Claus

Scene change: Kudle beach close to Gokarn where we lived in huts made of mud covered by cow shit and dried palm leaves on the roof. These are the kids of the host family with their pet

A very authentic way of life we had there. Getting water from a well and washing clothe on a stone as wash board.

How to make a cover of palm leaves workshop

What a life of misery...

Those eyes make anybody soften

Lara in a poi flow after a short workshop on the beach

"der hollaender", one of the mates from Traveler Cafe in Kudle with whom we spent 10 days hanging around together. They stay the whole winter in that place and have their little shiva altar with a trident, candles, statues and a swastika and a Om sign on the ground made of a mix of cow shit and mud...

Umesh, one of the two guys working in Traveler Cafe, behind the counter with the DVD player which played regularly Indian World music

That's the German-speaking crew 'meditating'

let's check the other beaches around and have a boat ride passing Om beach and Half-Moon beach to...

...Paradise beach where we chilled out the last day of the year at Shanti (peace) Garden where we tried slacklining, but Lara was by far the most talented of us

Puja from a Saddhu who wished me good luck and happiness for the year 2009

It works!

Last sunset of the year 2008

North Indian Fast Track Tour

Bye bye Nepal, Hi back in India... And the stress starts. We got nearly into a fight half an hour after entering India.

Korbi and I lighted up this candle and left it flowing with the Ganges which gives you long life and happy family.

Typical morning boat tour with Marc our friend which we met in Delhi before going to Nepal...

Mighty Varanasi and its never ending Ghats along the Ganges

A good shower which relieves you from the bad experiences in life and gives you new strength and luck in life.


Massive morning washing

Laundry please! In one of the dirtiest and most poisonous river in the world.

It's cold in Varanasi and the goats also need some warm clothes.

Some buffalos at the local restaurant eating rubbish from the bin.

Tried the best Lassi in the world! Thanks to Marc

Let's go for a complete different trip and let's have a jeep tour in the Bandhavgarh National Park

First traces of a tiger in the near surrounding and the hope to see one is not gone

Let's go hunting! Arms ready! Shoot!

There is a Kingfisher hidden in this picture, the national beer is called after this bird. Very important bird ;-)

Incredible India! (India's advertisement slogan)

Poor elephant is towing a long chain which is also his big leash

Finally here he is! A bit far, but I am kind of happy for this...

Ok let's move on to a different place by night train. Indian train station are always crowded like this with people sleeping on the floor and waiting for their train connection

This is Khajuraho village where I got invited for food (Dal and rice) in a family...

...and afterwards for a bike tour around the temple site

Hundreds of temples like those were build in this area, but only about 20 survived the Moghuls brutality. Still those which are left, are in very good shape. Maybe they liked it...

The temples are surrounded by scenes of everyday life of the common Indian from that time displayed through small statues which show musicians, maharajah, war and...

...sexuality. Which is shown pretty clearly and with a little bit of exaggeration in the details...

A facade of one of the temples with some generously contoured nymphs having a good time. Statues of Hindu gods are surrounding those main carvings. The guys who sculptured those walls must have been very funny guys.

Ganesh, one of the favorite gods, the elephant headed god, son of Shiva and Parvathi (you remember?!). He's the Lord of the Beginnings and will bring luck to any new completion.

Mustard fields in Khajuraho

Two Lotus flowers, symbols of Hinduism and of peace and beauty.

Some meditative words from Osho the worldly known and controversial sex-guru

The air in Agra is so dusty and full of smog that the sky always seems to have a grey colour. Still this building is stunning, but the degradation is visible and most of the money tourist spend for the entrance gets into the pocket of some corrupted men.

Amazing what the builders made possible, with full marble embroided with other gemstones

That's another way of traveling India

Hey Sugarman! We moved to Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan and did a market day, with full flavours all around!

Spices, full flavour!

Flower man is very important in Hindu culture. Flower are put nearly everywhere for good luck.

He's preparing wedding gifts. Those crown of money are given as gift to the other family during wedding. MONEY, MONEY!!!

Saree (traditional woman's wear) shop

My favorite wedding car ;-)

And don't forget the good old Indian dirt

this bike seems to hang around here for a while...

Jaipur and the forts and long walls in the back

One of many Maharajah water palaces on the way to Amber fort

Amber palace, I think the most enjoyable monument we have visited so far. Every door is open, you can go on roofs and enter all corridors which makes you feel like a kid playing in a big labyrinth.

Monkeys like ice cream and eat it not the biting way but licking like they are really enjoying it

Life on the roofs and in the sky

Mirror palace.

Streetlife of Jaipur

Construction in Sarees. Women have to work as hard as men. Next step: train to Bombay where we will meet sweet Lara for three magic weeks.