The Little Town of Ooty and the Train that Really Could

We left Madumali on a bus that goes straight up the tortorous Sigur Ghat road with 36 hairpin bends. It was a bit of an endurance test for shakey old bus we were on, and there were times that you literally could have jogged faster than we were moving. The slow pace was a relief though, as the journey was a bit like driving on a winding sidewalk perched on the edge of a cliff. A little nerve wracking at times.

We were on our way to the pretty hill station of Ooty (used in the colonial days as a retreat by the British). I have a great aunt and uncle that run a guesthouse there, so we went for a visit. The guesthouse, (called Farley) is full of character and set in beautiful grounds (with its own tennis court!) surrounded by trees and mountains.


We spent our time relaxing, visiting with the Fazers, playing tennis, reading books, enjoying great meals, coffee and home made granola bars. It was a bit like being back home for a few days. We also had a tour of the school the Fazer kids attend (Hebron) , and had a little taste of what teaching could be like in the private sector. A few interesting details: they have about 300 kids (K - Gr13) and over 100 staff. There are five full time music teachers who teach exclusively private lesons. I spent a few min in the grade 2 class where there were all of 9 kids, 1 teacher, and 2 adult volunteers. Wow. A world away from what we do... Oh yes, and did I mention the cozy staff room with fresh cut flowers, and cookies? Hmm. We may need to consider a change in venues.


The Train:
If you ever go to Ooty, make sure you use the "toy train" as a means of getting there or leaving. It's a very small steam engine train that can fit on a little winding track built into the side of the mountains. Amazing views - especially the ones where you look out the window and only see air, or the side of a cliff if you stick your head out far enough. It's a bit reminiscent of "The Little Engine That Could" but four hours later, you'll see - it really can. A word to the wise though - try not to sit in the car right next to the engine as it is incredibly loud (thank goodness for earplugs), and the steam pours through the windows leaving you feeling a little soggy. But still, it was worth it. A few pictures: