London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 76 – 11 November 2016
One More Day in Vizag
After several days in the workshop, countless cups of tea, and plenty of patience, our faithful old Kontiki was finally looking her best again.
Having been thoroughly cleaned inside and out the previous day, she was gleaming in the sunshine and looking ready for the road ahead. More importantly, the suspension repairs were complete, and she was once again sitting proudly on her new springs and shock absorbers.
For the first time in weeks, we felt confident that Kontiki was fully fit for the final leg of our epic journey.
Following breakfast, we made our way back to Ganesh’s garage.
Before leaving Vizag, we wanted to personally thank the man who had brought our motorhome back to life.
Over the previous few days, Ganesh and his team had worked tirelessly to repair the extensive damage caused by the dreadful roads between Myanmar and India. What initially looked like a very basic workshop had produced first-class results.
We shook hands, thanked everyone sincerely, posed for a few photographs, and said our goodbyes.
Without Ganesh’s skills and determination, our journey could have become far more complicated.
As we prepared to leave, however, another invitation arrived.
Our friend Dr Ashok had asked us to join him for lunch at his new hospital project.
Naturally, we accepted.
What was supposed to be a simple lunch soon turned into something more.
Dr Ashok had known my brother Mahesh for many years, and after hearing that he had arrived from the UK to join us, he insisted that we stay in Vizag for one final day.
Over the previous week he had treated us like family, helping us with the repairs, arranging accommodation, introducing us to friends, and ensuring we were looked after at every step.
When someone shows such kindness, it is difficult to refuse.
So, reluctantly but happily, we agreed to delay our departure by one more day.
Meanwhile, India was going through a major and unexpected event.
Just a few days earlier, the Indian Government had announced the sudden demonetisation of the Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes, removing them from circulation overnight.
The decision had caused chaos across the country.
Everywhere we looked there were long queues outside banks and cash machines as people tried to exchange their old notes for the new currency.
Travellers like us were particularly affected.
Much of the cash we carried had suddenly become unusable.
We too found ourselves caught up in the situation and were beginning to worry about obtaining enough money for fuel, food, and daily expenses.
Once again, Dr Ashok came to our rescue.
Rather than allowing us to spend hours standing in queues, he kindly advanced us enough cash to last several days until the situation settled down.
His generosity saved us a great deal of inconvenience, and we were extremely grateful for his help.
The hospitality we had received in Vizag had been nothing short of extraordinary.
As evening approached, Dr Ashok and his friend Dr Lu collected us for what would become our final night out in the city.
They took us to the Daspalla Executive Court Asian Restaurant, one of Vizag’s well-known dining establishments.
The evening was filled with good food, laughter, stories, and friendship.
Over the course of dinner, we reflected on the incredible journey that had brought us all together.
From a cricket ground in Leicester to a restaurant on India’s eastern coast, life certainly takes unexpected turns.
The food was excellent, the company even better, and the evening passed all too quickly.
As we returned to the Waltair Club later that night, there was a sense that an important chapter of the journey was coming to a close.
Vizag had been far more than a repair stop.
It had been a place of friendship, kindness, and recovery for both the travellers and the motorhome.
Tomorrow, we would finally leave.
The countdown to Mumbai had truly begun.
Location: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh
Weather: Warm, sunny, and pleasant
Highlights: Saying goodbye to Ganesh and his workshop team and spending one final day with Dr Ashok
Most memorable moment: Experiencing the incredible generosity and hospitality of our friends in Vizag
Vehicle update: Kontiki fully repaired, cleaned, and ready for the road
Special thanks: Ganesh, Dr Ashok, Dr Lu, and everyone who helped us during our stay in Vizag
Dinner: Daspalla Executive Court Asian Restaurant
Interesting event: Nationwide demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes causing long queues at banks and ATMs
Mood of the day: Grateful, relaxed, and excited to continue towards Mumbai
“Some places are remembered for their sights, others for their people. We will remember Vizag for both.”
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki finally leaves Vizag behind and resumes its journey westwards, with Mumbai now firmly on the horizon and the end of our epic London-to-Mumbai adventure drawing ever closer.
