THE LAST DAY - DAY 228

228) FRIDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1978 : RETURN FLIGHT – MADRAS (CHENNAI) - COLOMBO

We shall someday have to break it ...

And then .... the last day of my trip, the longest one and a once in a lifetime opportunity, was arriving .....

It was the end of my semi-independent and economized long journey (independent on hotel accommodation and only reliable on some meals in restaurants) by a self-modified campervan, that was mutual invested and adapted from a used minivan of the Post.

Departure from MUNICH, GERMANY on June 28, 1977, to the city of MADRAS, INDIA and travelling in India until February 10, 1978.  Total 228 days of travelling on the roads.

- A total distance of 21,396 kilometers through the countries along the Hippies Trail - the journey to cross the borders in

GERMANY 1 day
AUSTRIA (1 day)
YUGOSLAVIA (6 days)
GREECE (9 days)
TURKEY (24 days)
IRAN (29 days)
AFGHANISTAN (22 days)
PAKISTAN (5 days) 
NEPAL (26 days)
and INDIA – travelling time in India for 3 months and 10 days

A Farewell Hug before departure  - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

In the afternoon, Tilo drove me to MADRAS international airport. I felt some regret and a bit pity realizing that we would have to part, after a long time of travelling and adventuring together.  

Tilo in Afghan outfit -  http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

Thank you very much Tilo Grabowski for allowing me to travel together with mutual tolerance. Sometimes, we think we know best of our friends’ thoughts  and  habits at the beginning of the journey.  However, as we travel along,  everything  could be changed  in both. There were many times that we were different in opinions as to the direction of travel (at least) and to select  proper parking spots by the  road sides.  

MADRAS Airport (at a later date)- Photo skyscrapercity.com / Google images seasrch

Once I might have thought it was not safe to stop to overnight on that particular spot, according to my Asian points of view. Maybe a Thai should feel differently  from the European that  some bad events might happen.  We were living in such a big gap of security standards  between Asia and  Europe.  High security standards exist in Europe and it should be safer than in Asian countries, armed robbery seems to be barely happened  in Europe.

I did not know how BAHLU felt on this occasion or if he could perceive that we would not see each other for maybe 1 year or 2 years, or we would not meet again.

FAREWELL INDIA !

GOODBYE MY FRIENDS !

 

DAY 227 - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

227) THURSDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 1978 : 0KMS. - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

 

I collected my personal belongings, which were clothing and necessary personal articles, not so many, including some souvenirs. They were well packed in 2 rectangular wicker baskets with lid bought from the local market, hoping to be strong enough for check in on the plane and they would not crash before arriving home.

CHENNAI High Court - Photo : Yoga Balaji / wikipedia.org (Bing images search)

DAY 226 - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

226) WEDNESDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 1978 : 0KMS. - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

 

I arranged to buy my flight ticket to fly back to Bangkok, but unfortunately there was no direct flight from MADRAS. Therefore, I had to stop in transit in COLOMBO and stayed overnight at the hotel, covered by the airline's management of Air Lanka.   

Rippon Building (CHENNAI Town Hall) - Photo : virtualtourist.com / Google images search

In the afternoon, I wandered along  city beach of MADRAS, which is not different from other major cities in India with many important western style buildings.  

Marina Beach, Bay of Bengal, CHENNAI - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

 

DAY 225 - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

225) TUEDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 1978 : 345KMS. - MADRAS (CHENNAI)

 

Departing from BANGALORE, we drove out through ISHNAGIRI, VANIYAMBADI, VELLORE, WALLAJAH until we arrived MADRAS (CHENNAI) almost the late evening.  All along the way today, I was thinking of getting ready to pack my belongings as in a few days I would set off to return home.

 
 

 

Central raiway station - Photo : Spacemanspiff / wikimedia.org (Google images search)

WIKIPEDIA: ... .Chennai Central, erstwhile Madras Central, is the main railway terminus in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras. It lies adjacent to the current headquarters of the Southern Railway, as well as the Ripon Building, and is one of the most important railway hubs in South India ........ The 138-year-old building of the railway station. , one of the most prominent landmarks of Chennai, was designed by architect George Harding. [5] Along with Chennai Beach, the station is also a main hub for the Chennai Suburban Railway system.

 

Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai - Photo : Spacemanspiff / wikipedia.org (Bing images search)

Kapaleeshwarar Temple - CC-by SA Planemad / wikimedia.org (Bing images search)

Kapaleeshwarar Temple : is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal (from Tamil, "Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree"). The temple was built around the 7th century CE in Dravidian architecture.