I am in Cochin (or Kochi). It is very hot and humid… Indian ladies from Kerala are very pretty… That’s nice… But there is a lot of stinking garbage on the streets – it is bad and sad… It is still country of the big contrasts…
In the morning I was walking around the Fort Cochin, visiting old churches and the palace once presented by Portugeese to the local raja.
Kerala state has a lot of backwaters – rivers and channels. Local tourist office offers inexpensive tour to the backwaters. It will cost much more then 350 rupees if you will decide to go there on your own and to rent a boat… There were only 9 people on this tour – they took us by minibus to the distant village – little boat was waiting there and we sail through the narrow channels enjoying the scenery, watching the countrylife. The local guide was pointing many exotic terees and plants. Then in the village there explained how they made the solid strings from coconut fibre and the mats from the leaves of pandanus palm… Very interesting and the people are just lovely…

The private tourist enterpreneurs in Vietnam are very well organized – they will send you from hands to hands… Tourist bus companies invented “open ticket”. Since most of the tourist attractions are located along the 2000-km road linking Hanoi and Saigon they offer just for 22 USD bus ticket who allow you to make as many stops as you want on this route. It is really good deal but keep in mind theat you will be forced to travel with this one company all over the way… They offer free pick up from the hotel but at the destination they will deliver you to the hotel of their choice…
I boarded the bus in Hanoi at 7.30 pm. Yes, I got a seat but there were not enough space for my knees… Can you imagine such a position during 16 hours? They also take into the bus more people then there were seats – all locals – they were sitting just on the floor…
At the destination they offer me their hotel (6 USD single room with bath). It was not so fancy but I was so tired that I accepted their offer…
Hue is the former capital of Vietnam – in the middle of the town there os old, huge citadel – they charge 55000 for entry. Perfume River is crossing the city… Enough… Good night!

EGwada is probably the only hostel on expensive Gwadelupe. They charge hefty 25 euro per person in the 11-bed dormitory. The toilet is downstairs… But it is on the Hill, so you have a great panorama even from the bathroom :).
They say it is in Gosier, but let you know that in fact they Re jn Saint Felix – eastern end of Gosier. On seconnd roundabout in Saint Felix turn left and after some half kilometer look for the sign on the left side.
In the morning I went to the Saint Felix beach and then – taking pictures – to the central Gosier and onward – to the fort.
It was 29 deg during the day and high humidity – it was hard walk.
In the afternoon I took a public bus to the lovely town of Saint Francois. This will be my base to explore smaller islands around.

There are no lights on the runway on Christmas Island. Daylight landings only…. It was 6 am when I saw for the first time this legendary atoll (they say – the biggest atoll in the world!). Palms, palms and the empty ocean around! We landed near the little barrack of the terminal… WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS IS.!
We were walking to the immigrations desk – only 8 passengers – including locals!
The formalities took me just 4 minutes…
Smiling people waiting in front of the “teriminal”…
Where to stay? You have no reservation? No, I cannot spent money for the only, expensive hotel…
Friendly local guy took me to his junk car…

Tashkurgan town is a convenient stopover on the way to the famous Karakoram Highway. Here you have a chance to drink your last beer before entering Moslem country and to speak with the local ladies. Two hotels offer basic acommodation – the room with hot bath cost 100 yuan. Hospitable Tadjik people live here – i had an opportunity to visit their tyipical house. I found also the only internet cafe. Sorry – no access for the foreigners – this is special military zone – close to the border to Tadjikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan…
Tomorrow morning I want to take the only bus and to cross the famous Khunjerab Pass to Pakistan