Day-2: Ooty-Coonoor

On  the second day, I decided to separate from my friends to go to Coonoor which is my destination according to my plan. I took the train at 9.15am from Udagamandalam Railway Station at Ooty to Coonoor Railway Station for an hour. This day had many people took the train because it was a long weekend, so it hards to see any scene along the way as crowded people. Therefore, I decided to stay at there one night in order to took the train back to Ooty in the morning around 7.45am, and I also wished that I will saw wonderful scene along the way that I missed it yesterday. When I reached there, many sell mans tried to Coonoor's sell sight seeing package, and I decided to go with one Auto driver name Sanga who is polite and also speak English clearly. The trip is cost Rs 250 which is about Sim's Park, Tea Garden, Tea Factory, and Coonoor City View. Thereafter I visited every place, he also took me to find the hotel, and I chose Sri Lakshmi Tourist Hotel where I could see Coonoor city view and also see sun set at there.

Ooty Railway Station

Coonoor Railway Station

Sim's Park

Tea Garden

Tea Garden

Coonoor City View

Day-1: Bangalore-Ooty

On 17the Dec, I cough the Semi-sleep bus from Wilson Garden, Bangalore to Ooty at 9.30pm, and the bus reached to the destination around 7.00am in the next day. As my plan, I will stayed at Hotel Divi Paradise for one night, but I met some Thai student on the bus, and they invited me to join their trip. Therefore, I stayed at Sapphire Garden View Hotel which was same hotel with my frineds; moreover, the hotel provided sight seeing trips, and finally we decided to go with Film Diwane sight seeing which started from 9.30am to 4.30pm with Rs 150 per person.

Generally Ooty is located above mean sea level 2,000 meters which consists a lot of natural resources such as lakes, mountains, forests, rivers, and agricultural farms. Many tourists visit there around November to February because the temperature is very nice and comfortable around 5-25 Deg.C.

Sight Seeing Brochure

Ooty City

Eucalyptus Forest for made Paper and Aroma Oil

Hill Peak

Hill Peak

Pykara Lake

Bangalore-Ooty-Coonoor (3 days 4 nights)

This trip start by one of my friend told me about wonderful place at the South of India which is called "Ooty". He showed me some pictures about that, and there are very beautiful like the North of Thailand, so this is my first motivation why I decided to go to Ooty. I started by search the information about the tourist attraction places, hotels, and transportation. By the way I have to prepare myself to test Toefl examination on the 12th December. 
There have many ways to go to Ooty such as bus, train, and car; however, I decided to go by bus. The tourist attraction are not only located at Ooty, but there are also located at Coonoor that is far from Ooty around 19 km, and I have to go there by train. Finally, I decided to travel between 17th-21th December which is three days and four nights.


Tourism Places (Ooty-Coonoor)

Ooty Tourism Places and Hotel

1-Ooty Lake: It is a favorite haunt for tourists. The Lake is an ideal place for boating, fishing and picnics. Paddle boats and rowing boats are also available here. It has the tallest memorial of Ooty, a pillar surmounted by a cross.

2-Ooty Railway Station (Udagamandalam)

3-Hotel Divi Paradise: Address: Lower bazaar, near main bus stand 2 min, Ooty, Tamil Nadu 643001, 09360101031

4-Botanical Garden: Address: Vannarapettai, Ooty (Ootacamund) (Udhagamandalam), Tamil Nadu

5-Kotagiri Tea Garden: The small village is the center of tea gardens and is known for its tranquil beauty.

6, 7-Chocolate Factory/The Tea Museum: Address: Kil Kodappamund, Ooty (Ootacamund) (Udhagamandalam), Tamil Nadu, 0423 2231679

8-Doddabetta Peak: With an altitude of 2623 meters, it is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu and the best vantage point in Ooty. A motor road takes you to the top of the peak

Coonoor Tourism Places

1- Coonoor located at an altitude of 1,856 meters, is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills. Coonoor called as a small tea garden. Coonoor is the first of the three hill stations in the Nilgiri- Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor.

2- Sim's Park The Sim's Park with all its natural beauty was constructed in 1874 has unique trees and plants. Fascinating and unforgettable view points for tourist are Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose; Lady Canning's Seat to name a few. Tourist can avail of the Toy train facility to get a detailed view of this place.

Diwali Festival (5-7 Nov, 2010)

     Diwali or Deepavali is called “the festival of light” which is the most important festival of the year in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism religion. This festival occurs between mid-October to mid-November which around three to five days every year; moreover, in this year it happens between 5 to 7 November, 2010. Every people celebrate in family by performing traditional family, wear a new clothes, share sweets and snacks. Moreover, they belief that the light brings a good things to their life and triumph of good over evils, so a lot of lights illuminate ever corner in India, many fireworks and crackers are occurred all day all night during Diwali. In addition, Deepavali is also an official holiday in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and other. 

My 2nd week at Bangalore (Wonder la)

On the second week, 15 Oct, I went to Wonder la with my friend and teacher at English school. Wonder la is the largest India's amusement park which located on Mysore road, 35 kilometers from central Bangalore. The park combine between played machine, swimming pools with slider. It open between 11.00-19.00, and entrance fee is 625/470 RS for adult and child respectively.

My first week at Bangalore (continue)

In the second day, I have a chance to travel at the important shopping malls in Bangalore which are Garuda mall and MG road. The Garuda mall is air condition store that far from house around 8 km which auto-ricksaw charge around 56RS, 7RS per a kilometer. Similarity, MG road has various stores and restaurants such as KFC, Levi, and Domino Pizza. I went there in order to exchange money, copied house key, and bought English book at book store. The exchanged rate is not much different from Thailand about 45RS per a dollar which is 0.68Baht per Rupee. Moreover, the English book has price cheaper than Thailand about 30-40% because India is a central of printing business.

On Sunday 3 Oct 10, I went to UB city, Vidhana Soudha, High Court, and Lal Bagh Garden. I took auto-rickshaw, 60 Rs, to UB city which is the greatest shopping mall in Bangalore. 19 floors building with 3 floors shopping mall consist of many of brand name store such as Louis Vuitton, Paul Smith, Versace and more. Then I walked from UB city to High Court and Vidhana Soudha which far from UB city around one kilometer. I went there on Sunday, so I could not came inside there that has the museum. After that I took auto-rickshaw to Lalbagh, 250 acres garden, which also someone call lung of Bangalore because there consist a lot of plant and  glass house that use for exhibit flower shower around January every year. Moreover, there has a nationality geological monument that was established at the top of rock hill ,3000 million years.

UB City

UB City

Vidhana Soudha

High Court of Kanataka

Glass House, Lalbagh

Glass House Larbagh

3000 Million Rock

National Geological Monument

My first week at Bangalore (continue)

When I reached to Bangalore International Airport,  I found out my friends who waited me at outside of terminal. I greatly to saw their first time because I communicate with them through phone and internet. They took the minivan which was furnished by English academy that I interest to study; moreover, it free of charge and take time about one hour. The way from the airport to house very busy because it has horn sound all the time, and most of driver do not respect the rule of driving. Moreover, there has some of animal such as cows and goats walk on the road ways that seem normal for Indian people.

 My house located at Jaimarat Nagar which near Banasawadi railway station. It has three floors that each floor is divided to two rent rooms. Each room has two bedrooms, two restrooms, and one kitchen. Moreover, another facilities are furnished such as refrigerator, television, and water heater. The accommodation price is 3500RS which electricity fee is not included. Four student live at here which three are Thai student and one is Arab from Yemen. My friend told me that Arab student just study English on grade 11 and their government encourages and support scholarship to study English at India Although, they just study it ,they can speak fluently in English.

The English academy located near my house, so I can easy walk to there. The academy provide both group class and private class for students. The group course is divided to three level for graduated student which is basic, intermediate, and advance level. Moreover, it has special course for student need to prepare for English test such as TOEFL, IELT, and diploma English. Moreover, course price is also cheaper than Thailand. For example, in India the group class 4 hours a day 5500 RS per month, while the cheapest place for study English in Thailand charge 13,000RS per month; moreover, India English academy charge 3500RS per month for private course 2 hours a day and 5000RS for special course.

The road in front off my house

Living Room

Kitchen

Main road of Jai Baarath Nagar

My first week at Bangalore

First October, I woke up at four o’clock in the morning to catch the flight, Kingfisher Airline, to Bangalore. This flight not direct to mu destination, Bangalore; however, I have to transit to domestic airline at Mumbai International Airport that locate on the west of India. I arrived to Suwanabhum airport, Bangkok, on 5.30 after that I check in ticket and baggage which its weight must not exceed than 20kg and 7kg for carried baggage than I got two boarding passes that specify gate and seat number. After that I went to Passport control, X-ray carried baggage and body, and waiting at departure gate respectively. Mumbai is far from Bangkok approximately 3000km, so the flight takes time 4 hours. I arrived to Mumbai around 11.40 in the morning; India time is slower than Thailand about one and a half hour. When I arrived to Mumbai, I went to Passport control area, getting baggage, x-ray baggage, and immigration process respectively. The immigration process quite easy for tourist visa; however passengers might be asked some question such as where do you live? That mostly of question you must have already filled to arrived card. The transit passengers which will go to domestic area have to go to domestic terminal 1A for Kingfisher airline, 5km from International terminal. Before go to domestic terminal, the flight furnishes baggage check in at domestic transfer area in order to serve passengers than taking a coach to domestic terminal which it has schedule every 20 min. The flight to Bangalore boarding time at 16.10; therefore, I have much time to survey around the airport after I have taken x-ray carried baggage and investigate the ticket before go inside the terminal. The flight from Mumbai to Bangalore takes time 1 hour, so I arrived to Bangalore at 18.20. I think that this is a nice trip because it is my first time to catch flight by myself; moreover, I got many of experience about catch flight and airport communication.

Suwanabhum Airport

Mumbai;s Terminal

India's Arrival Card

Air Scence

Mumbal Intl Aprt

Passport Control (Mumbai)

 Baggage Claim

Interterminal Coach

Kingfisher Airway

M.G. Road

Mahatma Gandhi Road (M.G. Road) in one of the busiest roads in Bangalore that was located between Trinity Circle and Anil Kumble Circle. On the side of it consists of retail stores, food outlets, restaurants, office buildings, shops, and theaters. Presently M.G. Road is being improved Metro Rail line in order to connects the eastern part with the west of Bangalore; therefore, traffic is normally slow with bottle-necks. Traveler should park your vehicle on the designed park place, which far from there around 5 km, then take an auto-rickshaw to the destination.

M.G. Road Map

M.G. Rd (Night Scene)

M.G. Rd (Day Scene)