Wednesday in Ooty

On Wednesday after breakfast we took off with Ravi in the van headed for the hill station town of Ooty. The ride was chaotic and colorful as we drove through the endless Indian suburban landscape. Tiny shops lining a thin winding road; dodging small motorcycles carrying entire families with sari draped moms riding sidesaddle in the middle; trucks blowing their horns driving way too fast;and on all sides, people. After arriving at the King's Cliff Bed and Breakfast we drove back to town and checked out the botanical gardens. We walked around it twice - I think the upper section was closed - either that or none of us could find an open foot path up to it. There's nothing special about this place to people who live where there are parks and lawns and pleasant views everywhere. But to Indians, spending an afternoon at the Ooty botanical garden might represent the only time in their lives when they can wander around a big open manicured space with somewhat well tended trees and shrubs laid out in an orderly kind of way. Indian cities feature no green space, they are totally covered in a man made landscape , and an unpleasant one at that. The countryside is beautiful to our eyes with its palm groves, fruit plantations, rice paddies and small villages but even there, no part is left for public 're-creation'. I can forgive Indians their cheesey botanic garden in Ooty. Following the botanic garden, we went to the boathouse by the side of a small lake right in the town of Ooty. We rented two paddle boats and went for a tour of the lake none of us dared dip a finger in. It was touristy, hot, and fun. Had our photos taken several times as Indian families and groups politely asked if they could pose beside us. We became tourist attractions ourselves. What a strange experience.