Moi and Mine

We arrived in Bangalore and took the Shatabdi Express train from the City Station out to Mysore were we were met by a car (and driver Sivan). We went on the Ooty Road past coconut groves and fields of rice and sugarcane plantaions bobbing tgheir silky heads in the breeze. We passed lorries filled high with straw or onions through one village and the next. Stopped for chapaties and malai koftas and tandoori chicken (unusual food in the south) A cow actually did cross the road, very slowly. We could smell the earth, the sun, the elephant dung and the dust. We had a drink from a young coconut cut with a machete.

We spent Christmas in Coonoor where all the ladies wore new saris bright pinks of purples with gold zari borders. We went to church at the Garrison church in Wellington, St. George's, where my mother had been baptized around 1921 and passed the hospital where she was born. We also passed Aravinkadu where my grandfather worked at the Cordite Factory there. Our room was beautiful at Blair Athol, we had a row of peach trees in flower in front of us.

En route up the mountain 36 hairpin bend climb we stopped at IPAN to see the resuce animals. But, not before we spent a night in the jungle and saw a wild elephant and her baby in Bundipur Reserve.

We have been in Ooty now visiting old sites and talking and talking to old friends. A love lunch at Fay's in Coonoor. Selbourne which I remeber from 1957. Lushington Hall had memories,too. Then we have been fighting Delhi Belly for several days. I was down and now Bill. We are recovering and will take the Blue Mtn train down the ghats to Coimbatore tomorrow and fly to Bangalore on the 31st.

love you all. Joy

We had an all too brief but lovely stay in Thailand at the Chaophya Park, a hotel recommended by my friend Teck Ky. It was an oasis in bustling Bangkok, we were ensconced on the fifteenth floor with a view of the city. Dinner was an endless buffet of all kinds of fresh food including five types of boiling rice (I tried the red) and greens cooked in a flash. The desserts--I had to have the sliced green guava dipped in rock salt, lemon zest and chillies. Yumm... Bill had the sorbets. Soups, salads with pomegranate dressing, omelets made to order, you name it. Now we are in Cambodia with the hospitable, gentle people bowing and wishing us and charging us in USD because their riels are so inflated we paid 50,000 just for dinner in the Old Market quarters last night--of Amok fish and Cambodian chicken curry with steamed rice. Had to get up at 4:30 AM this morning to watch the sun rise over the Ankgor Wat temple.
It looked just like this photo and took us four hours to walk around and see. It was amazing. Tonight we go to a son et lumiere and special effects show behind the monument. With more food! The Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong was unbelievable with 33 skyscrapers, already lit up with Christmas and New Year's greeting stories high on them, beaming light in spurts from their tops! Incredible. Tomorrow, we go back to Bangkok to change planes and on to Bangalore.

I feel like Julie Andrews as she came over the crest of the mountain and looked out into the beyond in the 1965 musical, The Sound of Music. I feel like singing--

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, To you and you and you.

I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, goodbye. Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.


The Reunion of the class of 1957--and others from other classes--is December 27-30, 2007 in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiri Hills in south India. It is at 7,500 ft in the clouds. See my last blog for an update on the programme (British spelling now!)

Many have written letters. This para from Chris Willy aka Chilly: "First I want to congratulate Joy and her helpers (Manohar and Fay) for getting together what looks like an absolutely wonderful trip. Living in Ooty for the winter months, when we often had quite heavy frosts, and crackling nightly fires, it was a time I so enjoyed. ... About six of us biked down from Ooty to Mettupalayam. On a scout trip down there, we went swimming in a river that had just hundreds of iridescent butterflies. My happiest moments were in the wild. Mum loved nature. We visited the elephants at Tepakadu, and went on the most amazing ride starting before dawn. All you could see was this beedie glow high above you. Then it descended, and there was this huge silent beast. The sun came up through the teak leaves, and the elephant, guided by the deft touched of the mahout, steered stealthily toward an abundance of wild game, spotted deer, a gaur, chattering monkeys and colourful jungle cocks. In the evening we listened to a tiger or panther roar from our Forestry bungalow. It would take forever recalling those remarkable times."

I wonder if the hush is still there in parts of the Nilgiri hills.

We stop at Tepakadu on the way to Masinagudi before we visit IPAN --Hill View Farm Animal Refuge in Mavanhalla which has been described as "one of the finest shelters in India " by Animal Aid India. We spend Christmas in Coonoor at the Wallwood Gardens at 6,000 ft surrounded by tea estates--with Wendy, Jyoti, Margo, Terry, Gail, Sharon and Darlene. I hope those train tickets are delivered as promised to Margo when she arrives in Bangalore on the morning of the 22nd.

But before all that...I have to meet Bill in Hong Kong. He is flying on Cathay Pacific and I, because of mileage miles, am flying on Singapore Airlines. We leave at midnight.

PERSONAL NOTES: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Bill. He closed out 5 architectural projects yesterday and is also involved with the historical renovation of the Palo Alto Art League. Congratulations to Holly for graduating from Mt. Albert High School in Auckland as the best all-rounder with numerous awards and accolades. Good on ya! Mum, for traveling to NZ for Christmas--I knew you could do it. Happy Birthday to Meta and Oliver, too.

Sayonara. In Tamil it is Poyitu varen. Literally translated as "I am going--only to return" . And, so do I.

Before December 27^th…

Tiessen party should arrive in Coonoor mid morning on the 22nd, by hill train. That gives them the rest of that day, the 23rd and 24th to roam around. Chase party (including Joy and husband Bill Bruner, Wendy, Margo, Wendy’s cousin Jyothi) arrive in Coonoor on December 24 and move to Ooty on December 26th. Both parties stay at Wallwood Garden in Coonoor and in Ooty at Montauban and Holiday Inn.

Tamil service on Christmas Day at Union Church—check with Geoff Vines.

All Saints' Church in Bedford, Coonoor's oldest church (1854) in Upper Coonoor--turreted belfry and red Mangalore-tiled roof, weeping cypress trees shadowing a cemetery. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2004/07/10/stories/2004071000130300.htm

St. George's Church, Church of South India, Wellington Barracks Post, Wellington

BREEKS REUNION UPDATE

(as of December 10^th, 2007)

Thursday, December 27th Ooty

9:00 AM Assemble at Selborne. Meet and Greet. Tea/Coffee/rolls
Selborne is behind Hotel Venus and opposite Hotel Glanton Manor.
9:30 AM Address by the Principal Alistair Reed and Devotions.
10:00 AM Discuss programme.
10:45 AM Leave by bus/van for tour of Breeks School.
christopher hawkes <hawkes_travels@rediffmail.com >
11:30 AM Guided tour of current Hebron School at Lushington Hall.
12:00 Noon See Toda village (or relax in Staff Room).
Lunch at Lushington Hall
Post lunch--Raj Bhavan and Clifton Grange (yet to be confirmed), Tibetan Market, and Botanical Gardens and Free Time (to hang around in the Gardens or go to hotel).
Autos are available at the entrance to the Gardens.
6:00 PM Meet for dosais at Hotel Nahar’s Chandan Restaurant

Friday, December 28th Coonoor

8.30 AM Meet at the office of George Hawkes Travels at Charing Cross
9.00 AM Travel by Hawkes coach to Ooty Railway Station (or meet at Station)
9.30 AM Departure by hill train to Coonoor
Give your name and age for travel by train to Olive Lillywhite to reserve tickets.
10.30 AM Arrival Coonoor, met by Hawkes Coach in the car park of station
10.45 - 11.30 Visit Highfied Tea Factory and shop selling Ooty Tea and spices
11.30 – 12.45 Coach trip to Lambs Rock and Dolphins Nose
1.00 PM Lunch at Fay (Rahman) Vohra’s at 10 Tiger Hill cottages in Coonoor.
2.30 PM Coach from Tiger Hill to CMS - old Hebron tour (Monahar)
3.30 PM Visit to Sims Park and Tan Tea View Point, All Saints Church and Darlington Cemetery. (Pasteur institute is opposite SIMS Park).
7.00 pm Coach to Orchid Square Restaurant for dinner
Return by coach to Ooty. Approx. arrival at 9:00 PM

Saturday, December 29th Ooty

9:00 AM Meet at Hot Breads (Charing Cross) for light breakfast and chai.
10:00 AM Take car/van from Hawkes Travels (also at Charing Cross).
10:00 AM Drive to Dodabetta top. Look around.
Back to Charing Cross for lunch.
1 PM-7 PM FREE TIME to do things in groups, by yourselves, catch up.
7:o0 PM Meet at Toda Room at the Holiday Inn and go to Shingkow Chinese restaurant for dinner. (Est. 1954 Powquin who runs it is a Breeks alumni 1963)

Sunday, December 30th Ooty

8:00 AM or 11:00 AM St. Stephen’s Church services or
10:45 AM Union Church service or
Badaga Service—Check with Geoff Vines or
Bedside Baptist--on your own :-)

12 NOON FAREWELL LUNCH
Fortune Resort Sullivan Court 123 Selbourne Road (Pavilion Restaurant)
3:00 PM Hill Train to Mettupalayam

COST for vans, food, tours for 3 days as noted above is INRupees 1500. Please pay on first day. (Pro rata will be available for late arrivals or quasi attendees.)

Mementos: small plaque with Breeks moto and badge and group photo copies INRupees 150.

Looking forward excitedly to meeting everyone. Please send letters to read, if you cannot come. And, let us know if you are! Joy

Special thanks to Fay Rahman Vohra and Manohar Devadatta for organizing this Reunion from India.

Weather for Ooty, India (Tamil Nadu) is 54F at 7:30 AM today feels like 49F winds 10 mph

Ooty on Yahoo! Maps has improved resolution for India now http://in.maps.yahoo.com

Original post of October is here.