Bombay and Madras
Friday 27th June (Bombay) (Map 21)
Breakfast in bed of eggs, toast, marmalade and tea. Tea wasn’t much good so we made a cup of coffee of our own to get us ready for the hectic day ahead.
First up we went to the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to see if they could get the Land Rover on a ship with ourselves in it also. We had to travel across the city to another office branch. Fruitless, but they were telexing to Madras for us to see if there were any ships to Singapore. After a discussion last night we’d decided if we couldn’t get a ship together with the Land Rover we would send the vehicle separately and get ourselves to Aussie via train to Madras, ship to Singapore and fly out from there.
SCI offered us a berth for the Land Rover on one of their ships but it didn’t leave until late next month. We would have to store the vehicle until then. They told us to try the Indian AA. We were confused even more with dealings which involved finding a garage to store the Land Rover and getting the customs to OK it in advance. Decided it was just too much hassle and we’re going to let Forbes, Forbes and Campbell transport the vehicle. We all went to see their English chap (Mr Ginginy.) to settle it. We had to return on Monday to pay the money and get the Land Rover measured and weighed. The boat sails the following day.
We also visited the local travel agents to check on shipping and flights from Singapore. Got dates, prices etc to Fremantle. Told we couldn’t book a ship leaving from Singapore here in Bombay without a long delay. Also were offered another route to Singapore – via train to Calcutta, flight to Bangkok and bus to Singapore – just as cheap. We returned to the hotel to go through the various options we have.
Note – The Yorks lads having a lot of trouble, they haven’t the funds to get any further than Singapore. Also they have to have X-rays to enter Aussie (for tuberculosis check). We’ve already got ours. They’ll have to have a lot of money sent to Singapore. We all got an early night after deciding to take train to Madras and ship to Singapore.
Breakfast in bed of eggs, toast, marmalade and tea. Tea wasn’t much good so we made a cup of coffee of our own to get us ready for the hectic day ahead.
First up we went to the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to see if they could get the Land Rover on a ship with ourselves in it also. We had to travel across the city to another office branch. Fruitless, but they were telexing to Madras for us to see if there were any ships to Singapore. After a discussion last night we’d decided if we couldn’t get a ship together with the Land Rover we would send the vehicle separately and get ourselves to Aussie via train to Madras, ship to Singapore and fly out from there.
SCI offered us a berth for the Land Rover on one of their ships but it didn’t leave until late next month. We would have to store the vehicle until then. They told us to try the Indian AA. We were confused even more with dealings which involved finding a garage to store the Land Rover and getting the customs to OK it in advance. Decided it was just too much hassle and we’re going to let Forbes, Forbes and Campbell transport the vehicle. We all went to see their English chap (Mr Ginginy.) to settle it. We had to return on Monday to pay the money and get the Land Rover measured and weighed. The boat sails the following day.
We also visited the local travel agents to check on shipping and flights from Singapore. Got dates, prices etc to Fremantle. Told we couldn’t book a ship leaving from Singapore here in Bombay without a long delay. Also were offered another route to Singapore – via train to Calcutta, flight to Bangkok and bus to Singapore – just as cheap. We returned to the hotel to go through the various options we have.
Note – The Yorks lads having a lot of trouble, they haven’t the funds to get any further than Singapore. Also they have to have X-rays to enter Aussie (for tuberculosis check). We’ve already got ours. They’ll have to have a lot of money sent to Singapore. We all got an early night after deciding to take train to Madras and ship to Singapore.
Saturday 29th June
We were up at 0700 and had the same breakfast as yesterday. Fred and I went to fix up the ship for the three of us from Madras to Singapore, but SCI hadn’t had a reply to the telex of yesterday. So we have to go back Monday. Sleepy stayed in our room, he has a bad stomach.
Spent the afternoon sleeping and reading. Rain is falling steadily and it looks like lasting a long time. Skies are very overcast. I didn’t feel too well and stayed the rest of the day in bed. Fred and Sleepy have been chatting to the Yorks lads. They still haven’t decided what to do. We all had another early night.
We were up at 0700 and had the same breakfast as yesterday. Fred and I went to fix up the ship for the three of us from Madras to Singapore, but SCI hadn’t had a reply to the telex of yesterday. So we have to go back Monday. Sleepy stayed in our room, he has a bad stomach.
Spent the afternoon sleeping and reading. Rain is falling steadily and it looks like lasting a long time. Skies are very overcast. I didn’t feel too well and stayed the rest of the day in bed. Fred and Sleepy have been chatting to the Yorks lads. They still haven’t decided what to do. We all had another early night.
The Salvation Army Hostel in the Fort area of Bombay (Yes, a modern photo but it hasn't changed since 1969)
Sunday 29th June
Woke at 0800 to our usual breakfast. After breakfast we removed the front bumper and tow bar fitting at the back of the Land Rover. The shipping charges are decided by cubic capacity so we are going to also remove the door tops and hood and then lower the windscreen, virtually reducing the possible cost by half.
We then found that there was room available at the Salvation Army Hostel and we moved out of the Sea Shore Hotel. We settled in at the hostel and had a welcome shower and got down in time for dinner of braised steak, veges and ice cream. It costs 12 rupees a day (about 13/-) for full board. We get three good meals plus afternoon tea, all with waiter service.
We repacked all our clothes we were leaving in the Land Rover. Carrying with us only the bare essentials. Had a tea of soup, roast pork, mash, french beans and finished up with custard. Early to bed again as it rained from 1900 to midnight.
Woke at 0800 to our usual breakfast. After breakfast we removed the front bumper and tow bar fitting at the back of the Land Rover. The shipping charges are decided by cubic capacity so we are going to also remove the door tops and hood and then lower the windscreen, virtually reducing the possible cost by half.
We then found that there was room available at the Salvation Army Hostel and we moved out of the Sea Shore Hotel. We settled in at the hostel and had a welcome shower and got down in time for dinner of braised steak, veges and ice cream. It costs 12 rupees a day (about 13/-) for full board. We get three good meals plus afternoon tea, all with waiter service.
We repacked all our clothes we were leaving in the Land Rover. Carrying with us only the bare essentials. Had a tea of soup, roast pork, mash, french beans and finished up with custard. Early to bed again as it rained from 1900 to midnight.
Monday 30th June
Another good night’s kip, all seven of us are in one room. Plenty of space for everybody and good beds. Went down to a big breakfast of egg, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, toast and a cuppa.
Went to see Forbes, Forbes and Campbell about the Land Rover and were told to get it to the docks by 1400 ready for customs check. We then went round to SCI and found we had our passage reserved on the ‘State of Madras’ leaving Madras on 11th of July. We are all in a ‘C’ class cabin – at about £40 each.
Got back to the Sally Army and had a quick dinner of soup, liver, bacon, veges and sweets. We then got to work on the Land Rover. Took off the soft hood, door tops and windscreen. Packed them all in the back O.K. and even sold off a few of our plastic water containers.
Got to the docks on time and the Land Rover was checked in at customs on time. (Was a bit weird driving without the top and windscreen). The Yorks lads have decided to come the same way as us after much too much discussion. They also get their Land Rover to the docks. They have to pay almost double our price as their LWB has a hard top.
We tied down the canvas over the back and kissed the old gal goodbye for a while. It’s a great load off our shoulders not having to worry it about anymore. Arrived back at the hostel in time for afternoon tea and bickies. Lounged about until tea of steak, spuds, baked beans and stewed prunes. Fred and Sleepy went for a walk with a few of the lads, I stayed and did a bit of reading. Finally got to sleep at 2300.
Another good night’s kip, all seven of us are in one room. Plenty of space for everybody and good beds. Went down to a big breakfast of egg, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, toast and a cuppa.
Went to see Forbes, Forbes and Campbell about the Land Rover and were told to get it to the docks by 1400 ready for customs check. We then went round to SCI and found we had our passage reserved on the ‘State of Madras’ leaving Madras on 11th of July. We are all in a ‘C’ class cabin – at about £40 each.
Got back to the Sally Army and had a quick dinner of soup, liver, bacon, veges and sweets. We then got to work on the Land Rover. Took off the soft hood, door tops and windscreen. Packed them all in the back O.K. and even sold off a few of our plastic water containers.
Got to the docks on time and the Land Rover was checked in at customs on time. (Was a bit weird driving without the top and windscreen). The Yorks lads have decided to come the same way as us after much too much discussion. They also get their Land Rover to the docks. They have to pay almost double our price as their LWB has a hard top.
We tied down the canvas over the back and kissed the old gal goodbye for a while. It’s a great load off our shoulders not having to worry it about anymore. Arrived back at the hostel in time for afternoon tea and bickies. Lounged about until tea of steak, spuds, baked beans and stewed prunes. Fred and Sleepy went for a walk with a few of the lads, I stayed and did a bit of reading. Finally got to sleep at 2300.
Tuesday 1st July
Awoke at 0700, had a heavy downpour during breakfast of poached eggs, bread and marmalade with the cuppa. Today is payday for everything. We have to change all our money at the bank because the shipping companies require confirmation that the money has not been obtained via the black market.
The black market is illegal here in India. It’s a pity really as you can get nearly forty percent more for your pound. (24 to 26 rupees against 18 rupees at the bank official rate for every pound). We went to F. F. and Campbell to check the price of the Land Rover shipment after the customs check and then went to the bank to get the travellers cheques changed. Also changed enough for the passenger berths from Madras to Singapore.
Land Rover cost 2525 rupees (about £140)
Passenger berths 2295 rupees overall (about £42 each)
We went back to F. F. and Campbell to pay Land Rover charges and the agent promised to send the carnet back to Birmingham and the bill of lading to Perth. All returned to the Sally Army for dinner and found that the Yorks lads had been to the Central Railway Station to book our tickets to Madras. That’s costing us 115 rupees for all seven of us (under £1 each for 800 miles – very cheap). In the afternoon we went to SCI and paid for the passage to Singapore. We can’t wait to get going now.
The rain has been falling off and on all day and we have been getting around using taxis. Surprisingly cheap. The cars hold up to five people – they’re only small Fiats. But you can get a mile for 80 paise – about 10d - we were told there’s 4000 taxis here – it’s believable too.
Bombay is typical of the bits of India we’ve seen to date, - dirt, dirt and more dirt. The beggars in the cities especially are confronting at first, and can be bothersome. There’re so many with arms, hands and legs missing that you get to the stage of ignoring them. You don’t want to be rude to them but any sign of showing concern for them or giving money attracts an immediate crowd of more beggars pushing each other for your attention.
Sleepy went to bed early – he has a sore throat and thought it might be a cold starting – so he’s going to sweat it out. Fred and I went for a walk. The Salvo's hostel was just at the back of the Taj Mahal Palace and Gateway to India monument which are both on the waterfront. We spotted some Indian-style building construction with totally crazy bamboo scaffolding you wouldn't get me up. Eventually the rain drove us back to the hostel.
Awoke at 0700, had a heavy downpour during breakfast of poached eggs, bread and marmalade with the cuppa. Today is payday for everything. We have to change all our money at the bank because the shipping companies require confirmation that the money has not been obtained via the black market.
The black market is illegal here in India. It’s a pity really as you can get nearly forty percent more for your pound. (24 to 26 rupees against 18 rupees at the bank official rate for every pound). We went to F. F. and Campbell to check the price of the Land Rover shipment after the customs check and then went to the bank to get the travellers cheques changed. Also changed enough for the passenger berths from Madras to Singapore.
Land Rover cost 2525 rupees (about £140)
Passenger berths 2295 rupees overall (about £42 each)
We went back to F. F. and Campbell to pay Land Rover charges and the agent promised to send the carnet back to Birmingham and the bill of lading to Perth. All returned to the Sally Army for dinner and found that the Yorks lads had been to the Central Railway Station to book our tickets to Madras. That’s costing us 115 rupees for all seven of us (under £1 each for 800 miles – very cheap). In the afternoon we went to SCI and paid for the passage to Singapore. We can’t wait to get going now.
The rain has been falling off and on all day and we have been getting around using taxis. Surprisingly cheap. The cars hold up to five people – they’re only small Fiats. But you can get a mile for 80 paise – about 10d - we were told there’s 4000 taxis here – it’s believable too.
Bombay is typical of the bits of India we’ve seen to date, - dirt, dirt and more dirt. The beggars in the cities especially are confronting at first, and can be bothersome. There’re so many with arms, hands and legs missing that you get to the stage of ignoring them. You don’t want to be rude to them but any sign of showing concern for them or giving money attracts an immediate crowd of more beggars pushing each other for your attention.
Sleepy went to bed early – he has a sore throat and thought it might be a cold starting – so he’s going to sweat it out. Fred and I went for a walk. The Salvo's hostel was just at the back of the Taj Mahal Palace and Gateway to India monument which are both on the waterfront. We spotted some Indian-style building construction with totally crazy bamboo scaffolding you wouldn't get me up. Eventually the rain drove us back to the hostel.
Bombay waterfront in the Fort area - circa 1990.
The Taj Mahal Palace on the left with the Gate of India to the right. The Taj Mahal Tower behind the Gate wasn't there when we were. The Salvo's Hostel was behind the trees on the left of the picture.
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Wednesday 2nd July
All woke up later today and were nearly missed breakfast. This time boiled eggs with toast, marmalade, etc. A chap came round to the Salvation Army yesterday looking for people to be extras at movie-making and he arrived back this morning to say there would be no filming today – studio flooded. Anyway he says we have to have a jacket, collar and tie and none of us have these. Fred may be able to borrow some from Graham. We went to Mackenzie and McKinnon to see if there is any more mail for us. We saw the English chap Mr Farlie again and had a long chat with him. Sleepy and I got a letter a piece. Fred still hasn’t had anything.
Then went to Thomas Cooks’ to see if we could get information on shipping from Singapore to Aussie. They gave us two sailings and prices but they couldn’t book anything from here. Back to Sally’s for steamed fish, mash, beans and banana custard. I didn’t fancy the fish and needless to say Fred and Sleep enjoyed the extra helping they got. Raining again today. The monsoons have really set in. Everything getting really boring now. We just sit around waiting for the next meal.
All woke up later today and were nearly missed breakfast. This time boiled eggs with toast, marmalade, etc. A chap came round to the Salvation Army yesterday looking for people to be extras at movie-making and he arrived back this morning to say there would be no filming today – studio flooded. Anyway he says we have to have a jacket, collar and tie and none of us have these. Fred may be able to borrow some from Graham. We went to Mackenzie and McKinnon to see if there is any more mail for us. We saw the English chap Mr Farlie again and had a long chat with him. Sleepy and I got a letter a piece. Fred still hasn’t had anything.
Then went to Thomas Cooks’ to see if we could get information on shipping from Singapore to Aussie. They gave us two sailings and prices but they couldn’t book anything from here. Back to Sally’s for steamed fish, mash, beans and banana custard. I didn’t fancy the fish and needless to say Fred and Sleep enjoyed the extra helping they got. Raining again today. The monsoons have really set in. Everything getting really boring now. We just sit around waiting for the next meal.
Thursday 3rd July
Woke up to find it still raining – everywhere is flooded. 6” of water in the street outside. Managed to make breakfast of omelette and the usual.
Filming still not definitely on yet. They want the people for a night club scene but the chap can’t get enough girls. Ready cash is beginning to get a bit short so the money will be welcome if Fred gets on. It pays 40 rupees a day.
Had dinner of steak, boiled potatoes, carrots, peas and jelly and custard. Film chap came back after dinner and Fred went with him. Still raining. Sleep and I decided to do all the dirty washing. Train leaves for Madras on Monday morning. We’re fed up. Went to bed early. Fred not expected back till 2200. He won’t like missing dinner but we need the money.
Friday 4th July
Sat about most of the day reading and daydreaming of Aussie. Fred got paid for the filming but he didn’t do anything, just sat about all the time. After dinner we went to see Mr Farlie again. No more mail but we left a forwarding address just in case any came.
Sleepy cut my hair and I did his – didn’t make a bad job either. Nothing else to report.
Saturday 5th July
Same boring day as yesterday, Fred went to see Mr Ginginy at F.F. & Campbell to check on a few things. Land Rover leaves tomorrow. It must be sodden through with all the rain we’ve had these past few days.
Sleep and I went with Sam, our Indian friend, to change some money on the black market (only £2)
Sunday 6th July
Woke at 0630, everybody a bit happier now that we’ve only one day left here. As usual nothing to do except read, talk, eat and sleep. Also it’s still raining. Incidentally, the papers here have reported that the heavy rain on Wednesday caused havoc with the traffic in most parts of Bombay, but it raised the reservoir levels serving the city a good few inches and that’s their main concern.
Packed our gear for the morning and we were early to bed.
Woke up to find it still raining – everywhere is flooded. 6” of water in the street outside. Managed to make breakfast of omelette and the usual.
Filming still not definitely on yet. They want the people for a night club scene but the chap can’t get enough girls. Ready cash is beginning to get a bit short so the money will be welcome if Fred gets on. It pays 40 rupees a day.
Had dinner of steak, boiled potatoes, carrots, peas and jelly and custard. Film chap came back after dinner and Fred went with him. Still raining. Sleep and I decided to do all the dirty washing. Train leaves for Madras on Monday morning. We’re fed up. Went to bed early. Fred not expected back till 2200. He won’t like missing dinner but we need the money.
Friday 4th July
Sat about most of the day reading and daydreaming of Aussie. Fred got paid for the filming but he didn’t do anything, just sat about all the time. After dinner we went to see Mr Farlie again. No more mail but we left a forwarding address just in case any came.
Sleepy cut my hair and I did his – didn’t make a bad job either. Nothing else to report.
Saturday 5th July
Same boring day as yesterday, Fred went to see Mr Ginginy at F.F. & Campbell to check on a few things. Land Rover leaves tomorrow. It must be sodden through with all the rain we’ve had these past few days.
Sleep and I went with Sam, our Indian friend, to change some money on the black market (only £2)
Sunday 6th July
Woke at 0630, everybody a bit happier now that we’ve only one day left here. As usual nothing to do except read, talk, eat and sleep. Also it’s still raining. Incidentally, the papers here have reported that the heavy rain on Wednesday caused havoc with the traffic in most parts of Bombay, but it raised the reservoir levels serving the city a good few inches and that’s their main concern.
Packed our gear for the morning and we were early to bed.
Monday 7th July
We were up at 0630 and had a good shower before an early breakfast at 0700 and we left the Sally Army at 0735 headed for the Central Station. It’s stopped raining but we don’t think it be long before it is back again.
The train left on time at 0750 and we’re all in one big compartment. Seven of us plus an Indian chap. Our tickets say we have a seat and a bunk each, in fact they’re just wooden seats that fold up into bunks. Very hard, but the sleeping bags take a bit of the soreness away. The weather is a good deal better- cool and not humid at all.
We spent a boring day doing nothing except reading and getting out of the train every time it stops to stretch ourselves. The train stops every few hours and sometimes more frequently. Kipped down for the night, Sleepy on the top bunk, Fred in the middle and myself on the bottom.
The train is stopping more often now. It wouldn’t be so bad, but every time we stop the train is invaded by locals flogging bananas, oranges, mangoes, chocolate, tea and coffee and of course there’s never any shortage of beggars to pester you. Bananas are very cheap – a dozen cost one rupee (1/1d). They’re our main food. We bought some biscuits and sardines in Bombay and they’ve kept us going.
We were up at 0630 and had a good shower before an early breakfast at 0700 and we left the Sally Army at 0735 headed for the Central Station. It’s stopped raining but we don’t think it be long before it is back again.
The train left on time at 0750 and we’re all in one big compartment. Seven of us plus an Indian chap. Our tickets say we have a seat and a bunk each, in fact they’re just wooden seats that fold up into bunks. Very hard, but the sleeping bags take a bit of the soreness away. The weather is a good deal better- cool and not humid at all.
We spent a boring day doing nothing except reading and getting out of the train every time it stops to stretch ourselves. The train stops every few hours and sometimes more frequently. Kipped down for the night, Sleepy on the top bunk, Fred in the middle and myself on the bottom.
The train is stopping more often now. It wouldn’t be so bad, but every time we stop the train is invaded by locals flogging bananas, oranges, mangoes, chocolate, tea and coffee and of course there’s never any shortage of beggars to pester you. Bananas are very cheap – a dozen cost one rupee (1/1d). They’re our main food. We bought some biscuits and sardines in Bombay and they’ve kept us going.
Madras Railway Station
Tuesday 8th July (Madras) (Map 21)
We all woke at about 0800 and everybody had had a good night’s sleep despite the hard beds and interruptions. During the morning we bought more bananas and finished off the biscuits. Graham got chatting to an Indian traveller and we managed to get a bit of food out of him. A couple of pasty-like wafers and some heavy cake mix. Very good and filling.
The train continued to stop at most small stations and probably due to this we arrived at Madras Central at 1450 – fifty minutes later than forecast. Now we have to find some accommodation. Fred, Bob and Lufus got a taxi and went to the shipping agent to pick up our tickets.
The rest of us stayed behind to watch our gear and ward off the beggars, etc. who crowded round to check us out. Fred and co. returned and we found that they had met some people we had known in Bombay (at the agents). They had recommended a tourist hotel about six miles south of town. We decided to head out there.
After a lot of haggling with the taxi drivers we finally got a poor guy down to a ridiculous price. All seven of us plus our luggage piled into the taxi and after a hair-raising ride we made the hotel. The people from the agents were also there.
It’s called the ‘Andhra Mahila Sahra Tourist Hostel’. Very clean and expensive. Three to a room and for bed and breakfast (which you had to pay for) was 25 rupees. It came with our own shower and toilet and good mattresses on the beds. There was also a gym with table tennis table. We all wrote begging letters back home after calculating that we would be short of funds for the final trip from Singapore to Aussie (whatever mode of transport we chose). We got to know the guys that we’d met in Bombay.
Malcolm, a salesman from London, Peter, an engineer from Scotland – father with lots of money, Bronwyn, his girlfriend from London, and another couple – another Graham, Malcolm’s brother, and his partner Yvonne again from London. They had all made the trip from England to Kabul in an Austin Gypsy. They had split up in Kabul and got back together in Bombay. They were all booked on the same vessel as us to Singapore. Went to bed early after a long day.
We all woke at about 0800 and everybody had had a good night’s sleep despite the hard beds and interruptions. During the morning we bought more bananas and finished off the biscuits. Graham got chatting to an Indian traveller and we managed to get a bit of food out of him. A couple of pasty-like wafers and some heavy cake mix. Very good and filling.
The train continued to stop at most small stations and probably due to this we arrived at Madras Central at 1450 – fifty minutes later than forecast. Now we have to find some accommodation. Fred, Bob and Lufus got a taxi and went to the shipping agent to pick up our tickets.
The rest of us stayed behind to watch our gear and ward off the beggars, etc. who crowded round to check us out. Fred and co. returned and we found that they had met some people we had known in Bombay (at the agents). They had recommended a tourist hotel about six miles south of town. We decided to head out there.
After a lot of haggling with the taxi drivers we finally got a poor guy down to a ridiculous price. All seven of us plus our luggage piled into the taxi and after a hair-raising ride we made the hotel. The people from the agents were also there.
It’s called the ‘Andhra Mahila Sahra Tourist Hostel’. Very clean and expensive. Three to a room and for bed and breakfast (which you had to pay for) was 25 rupees. It came with our own shower and toilet and good mattresses on the beds. There was also a gym with table tennis table. We all wrote begging letters back home after calculating that we would be short of funds for the final trip from Singapore to Aussie (whatever mode of transport we chose). We got to know the guys that we’d met in Bombay.
Malcolm, a salesman from London, Peter, an engineer from Scotland – father with lots of money, Bronwyn, his girlfriend from London, and another couple – another Graham, Malcolm’s brother, and his partner Yvonne again from London. They had all made the trip from England to Kabul in an Austin Gypsy. They had split up in Kabul and got back together in Bombay. They were all booked on the same vessel as us to Singapore. Went to bed early after a long day.
The Andhra Mahila Sabha Hostel. Image courtesy of Graham Akroyd.
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Malcolm and Peter showing Lufus the Austin Gypsy. Windscreen down with door tops and hood removed, it's probably ready for shipping out. Image courtesy of Graham Akroyd.
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Wednesday 9th July
Woke at 0730 to find newspaper shoved under door (no doubt we’ll have to pay for that too) and we went and had breakfast. It was very good and included cereal before the mains with toast, marmalade and tea to follow.
The hotel’s a pleasant place but doesn’t seem to have too many people staying here. We decided to go to town and change some money. In town we found that the black market was not as good as Bombay. The street people we talked to were only offering 20 rupees to the pound. After a few arguments we pushed it up to 21.50 rupees. The chap took us to the back room of a dingy looking hotel. All a bit wild west and gangster movie-like with lookouts at the doors. We made the exchange without any problems though.
Then went off to the Post Office to send off our begging letters back home, and made sure they were franked before we left them there. We went back to our hotel and had fresh bread and bananas for lunch with a good cuppa. All the food we had brought with us has now gone and we’re left with teabags, coffee and milk.
Spent the afternoon sunbathing on the roof and had a large tin of sardines and bread for tea – we each got double sandwiches out of the sardines – they went a long way. We had a late night listening to stories, especially from Bob, who was an ex-copper, telling us of his experiences attending autopsies, Ugh!
Woke at 0730 to find newspaper shoved under door (no doubt we’ll have to pay for that too) and we went and had breakfast. It was very good and included cereal before the mains with toast, marmalade and tea to follow.
The hotel’s a pleasant place but doesn’t seem to have too many people staying here. We decided to go to town and change some money. In town we found that the black market was not as good as Bombay. The street people we talked to were only offering 20 rupees to the pound. After a few arguments we pushed it up to 21.50 rupees. The chap took us to the back room of a dingy looking hotel. All a bit wild west and gangster movie-like with lookouts at the doors. We made the exchange without any problems though.
Then went off to the Post Office to send off our begging letters back home, and made sure they were franked before we left them there. We went back to our hotel and had fresh bread and bananas for lunch with a good cuppa. All the food we had brought with us has now gone and we’re left with teabags, coffee and milk.
Spent the afternoon sunbathing on the roof and had a large tin of sardines and bread for tea – we each got double sandwiches out of the sardines – they went a long way. We had a late night listening to stories, especially from Bob, who was an ex-copper, telling us of his experiences attending autopsies, Ugh!
Thursday 10th July
Up at 8.00 for a shower and breakfast. I am having trouble with my ears. They’re clogging up and echoing like hell. We’ve found out that we cannot take rupees on to the ship so we will have to spend all our spare currency.
Played table tennis most of the morning. Met an Australian chap from Hobart, Tasmania. He travels around the world, reckons he’s been around the globe five times and visited 96 different countries. Didn’t know there were that many. He says Perth is a nice city, money good and plenty work available.
Had a few more bananas and a cuppa for dinner and decided to go to the beach in the afternoon. I went to a nearby chemist and got some drops for my ears. Together with the Yorks lads we then went to a place called “Elliots Beach’, supposed to be the best beach in Madras.
The sea was very warm and we stayed in most of the afternoon. Waves were good and we had a great time. Sleepy and I both got bowled over by the big waves. I got a big graze on my hip for my troubles. Very sore but a coating of ‘Germolene’ helped the problem.
We got back and had a good tea at the hotel. We had some ‘Instant Whip’ from the Yorks boys and spread it over bananas with cheese, tea and biscuits to follow. Got an early night.
Up at 8.00 for a shower and breakfast. I am having trouble with my ears. They’re clogging up and echoing like hell. We’ve found out that we cannot take rupees on to the ship so we will have to spend all our spare currency.
Played table tennis most of the morning. Met an Australian chap from Hobart, Tasmania. He travels around the world, reckons he’s been around the globe five times and visited 96 different countries. Didn’t know there were that many. He says Perth is a nice city, money good and plenty work available.
Had a few more bananas and a cuppa for dinner and decided to go to the beach in the afternoon. I went to a nearby chemist and got some drops for my ears. Together with the Yorks lads we then went to a place called “Elliots Beach’, supposed to be the best beach in Madras.
The sea was very warm and we stayed in most of the afternoon. Waves were good and we had a great time. Sleepy and I both got bowled over by the big waves. I got a big graze on my hip for my troubles. Very sore but a coating of ‘Germolene’ helped the problem.
We got back and had a good tea at the hotel. We had some ‘Instant Whip’ from the Yorks boys and spread it over bananas with cheese, tea and biscuits to follow. Got an early night.