It’s been a long day.

Today we were awoken at 4:30 am to take rickshaws to the train station. Our train was scheduled to leave at 5:10 am but our motto, “hurry up and wait” unfortunately rang true again so we did not depart until 5:30. Everyone was excited to adventure Trivandrum, but given the time we all appeared to have preferred to be snuggled up in our silk sacks and bug nets. 

When the train arrived, we all were a little skeptical of its condition. It did not smell great, but as usual we were up to try our hand at a new cultural experience. At the early time the train wasn't too crowded, so we all were able to lie down on the fold out beds spread out throughout the train’s cabin. After the three and a half hour train ride we felt well rested and ready to explore Trivandrum’s sights.

Traveling through the bustling streets of Trivandrum, on our way to the first temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy, we happened upon another smaller temple where we witnessed worshipers throwing coconuts as a blessing to the Hindu god Vishnu. 

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Following our fiery haired beacon, Mack, we arrived at Sree Padmanabhaswamy. We learned that to enter to the temple worshipers had to bathe in the holy (but not so clean) water to cleanse the body of impurities. We also were told that if all of the treasures discovered in this temple were given a monetary value, it would exceed twenty Billion dollars.

Another aspect to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, was a tour of the palace of the Maharajah. The palace had been renovated into a museum with a tour guide informing us of the artifacts found in the eighty-five-room palace. We all agreed that the grand thrown made entirely of Czechoslovakian crystal was our favorite piece found in the temple.

When we completed our twenty-room tour of the palace, we all piled onto a crowded Indian public bus and set off in search of the Arabian Sea. After our thirty-minute bus ride we arrived at the southern coast of India. As Daisy warned us the undertow of the waves were monstrous, and even caught Lucy and Hunter by surprise, making them off balance, and consequently submerged Lucy completely (Uh Oh!).

With Lucy soaking wet, we traveled back to downtown Trivandrum and got a classic Kerala lunch. 

With our bellies full, and some new threads for Lucy, we spent the remaining time shopping. Everyone bought at least one trinket and many of the girls purchased a gorgeous Indian bag. We shopped to the very last minute, allowing only forty minutes for us to walk to the train station and purchase our tickets. Sitting on the train, we’re all looking forward to get back to Daisy’s, shower, eat dinner, and pass out for the night.

Xoxo

Nathan and Lucy

P.S.

Mum, the Arabian Sea may have broken the camera. Fingers crossed!