Abrams Family World Travel

World Travel: Wherever We Lay Our Hats...

HERE'S a question we get a lot (and for obvious reasons): "So, where's home?"

We've been travelling so long that we don't really know. Often we say, "wherever we are". And that's the truth. Home is where we (as a family) are. We don't own a house and Kobra, for instance, hasn't lived anywhere for more than six months. 

This year, travelling mostly through Asia before getting to Australia and then New Zealand, we have had to relocate 35 times!

We've stayed in hostels, houses, concrete apartment complexes without views, boats, tents, campervans, resorts, hotels, homestays and with family, strangers and friends. 

It's been an interesting year, starting in India, finishing in New Zealand, taking in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia in between. We have met many amazing people, forged some strong friendships, faced many challenges and learned some incredible lessons.

So we thought we'd make the rest of this blog somewhat visual, showing the places we have stayed, and thanking you all for following and sharing in our journey. 

First port of call, Varkala Beach in India

Preparing for sun and beach on our balcony

  In search of a better deal, we find a new apartment

  And then, for a great price, a resort with a pool

  An excellent hostel in Alleppey, recommended by Lonely Planet

Followed by a night on the backwaters

  In Fort Cochin, the night Liverpool win the Carling Cup

Stopping over in Kuala Lumpur for a few nights

From one hotel to another - in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Greenhill apartments in Chiangers - and lobby transport

Penang beach living in Batu Ferringgi, but it doesn't work out for us there

We head by coach to Kuala Lumpur for a spot of apartment-sitting in Bangsar

Renting nine floors up in Chan So Lin, Kuala Lumpur

In Subang Jaya to take care of cats

House sharing off the beaten track as we return to Chiang Mai

Birthday celebrations in a seventh-floor Chiang Mai apartment

A weekend in Singapore, where we got ripped off buying durian

A stopover in scorching Phuket on our way to Bali


 

A couple of nights by a main road and with noisy neighbours in Ubud

Renting a two-story home in Ubud for £10 a day

House-sitting and caring for a dog, rabbits and a chicken in the stunning Blue Mountains outside Sydney

 A townhouse in the Sydney suburbs

 Campervanning our way to Melbourne from Sydney

Magical sunset in Bonbeach, a stone's throw from where we stayed

  Camping by the beach in Mornington, near Melbourne 

Pretty cool, family-friendly hostel in Parnell, Auckland

  A family home in Auckland, caring for a dog and two cats

 

Kerala: Our Vision Of India

  Bus stop in the Varkala rush hour - where are all the men?

Fresh coconut delivery service

Done the bodyboarding. What's next?

A modest attempt - by Indian standards - of transporting the family

Can you see why they call it Black Beach?

Outside the bizarrely-named Santa Claus resort in Varkala Beach

Kobra can't get enough sand

Bob and I saw this poor, hungry dog in the road. It couldn't use it's back legs, but was standing and not complaining. We got it some food, but have no idea if it survived

A nation's love affair with advertising boards

Cool in the shade on the backwaters in Alleppey

Pepsi delivery bicycle

The roof of a shopping parade - turns out to be a temple

 Someone likes a guitar

And it hardly ever rains - at least this time of year

Just casually making a painting while on the phone - as you do!

Magnificent sunsets over the Arabian Sea

 

Makeshift cricket - Indian style. How's that?

When you need shoes fixed, this is where you go

 Stuffed cat at the fish market

They can't get enough of Kobra

Amazing trees in Fort Cochin

Fort Cochin, India: Who Needs A Washer-Dryer?

WE - or should I say Jamie? - do most, if not all, our washing by hand. I haven't seen a washing machine or dryer since I left the UK.

But that's how it's done in these parts - even for large loads. And if you have ever wondered how hotels etc get their sheets and bedding cleaned, you ought to pay a visit to the local laundrette.

The process is quite simple. Men and women stand in what look like stone booths filled with water and beat the laundry clean - washing, pounding and rinsing several times. It's almost like watching someone having a workout!

The laundry is then hung out to dry in the sun - there are lines and lines of sheets and clothing.

From there the items are folded, awaiting the hot irons, some of which are powered by electricity, but most are fuelled by burning old coconut shells. These black irons each weigh close to 10kgs. The 'ironers', barefoot on planks of thick wood,  stand there all day.

The laundry is then neatly folded and stacked ready for collection. The finished product looked as impressive as anything I had seen in a dry cleaners.

 

Fort Cochin: Some Eating Gems

HAVING spent little more than two days in this port city in northern Kerala, I cannot claim that this is a comprehensive list by any means.

However, in our short time we did discover some culinary gems. Top of our list was a restaurant called Dal Roti on Lilly Street. It's open for lunch (about 12-3.15pm) and dinner (from 6.30pm). But be prepared to wait - and it's worthwhile. No reservations accepted. You turn up and wait to be seated. The owner is very matter-of-fact, which can turn off some people, but he's actually a really nice man and very helpful.

This place gets seriously busy and for one reason only - the food is good! We went twice and enjoyed it each time. The food is plentiful, especially if you get their 'Samosa' dish, which isn't the Samosa as we know it, but a huge meal for two that is more like a pie. It comes either with meat or as vegetarian and the owners will adapt it for vegans also. It is delicious and there's a restaurant challenge for any individual who can eat it by his or herself - the meal comes free!

Alternatively, Dal Roti, which is northern Indian cuisine, also serves up all sorts of curries, thalis and breads. Their breads are the speciality, mostly coming as wraps. They are really satisfying. We stuffed ourselves and had drinks, too - lime and ginger (without sugar) was nice - and the cost was around £8.

For breakfast we all like a Masala Dosa. But could we find one in the centre? Nope. So we did what everyone requiring information should do in this town - asked a tuk-tuk driver. He took us to the Sri Krishna Cafe on Gujerati Road (Mattanchery), where the food is tasty and absurdly cheap. A Masala Dosa was 20p, but as good as any I had eaten elsewhere. 

It's not fine dining by any stretch of the imagination. This is where the locals go - and we prefer to eat. 

Our last tip is for tourists who are health-conscious and maybe don't want a typical Kerala breakfast or meal. Try the Solar Cafe on Bazaar Road, which is a tuk-tuk ride away from Fort Cochin centre.

Solar Cafe serves organic food, all of which is washed with turmeric first. They do nice juices and fruit plates, toast with honey and porridge etc and even take-away. It's a nice setting with books to read and somewhere to relax from all the craziness outside.