London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 72 – 7 November 2016
A Vision for Healthcare and More Vizag Hospitality
Our unexpected stay in Visakhapatnam continued today as Kontiki remained in the workshop awaiting parts for her suspension repairs.
Although we were eager to get back on the road, we had to admit that Vizag was treating us very well indeed.
After enjoying another leisurely breakfast at the Waltair Club, we set off to visit a project that our friend Dr Ashok had been passionately working on for several years.
Unable to join us himself during the morning, Dr Ashok arranged for his friend Rajesh to collect us from the club and take us to the site.
As we approached the building, we were immediately impressed by its scale.
This was no small clinic.
The project was a large, modern private hospital that was nearing completion after years of planning, investment, and hard work.
Dr Ashok personally showed us around and explained his vision for the facility.
The hospital would provide state-of-the-art healthcare services and was being equipped with some of the latest medical technology available. Spread over several floors, the complex would eventually accommodate around 150 beds, along with specialist departments, diagnostic facilities, modern operating theatres, and its own in-house pharmacy and dispensary.
As he spoke about the project, it was easy to see how much dedication and commitment had gone into bringing it to life.
The scale of the development was impressive, but what impressed us even more was Dr Ashok’s passion for improving healthcare facilities in the region.
We congratulated him sincerely on what was clearly a remarkable achievement.
It is one thing to dream about building a hospital.
It is quite another to turn that dream into reality.
Fortunately for us, the visit also coincided with lunchtime.
The hospital had its own canteen, and Dr Ashok kindly invited us to join him for lunch.
The food was simple, fresh, and delicious, and it gave us another opportunity to hear more about the challenges and rewards of managing such a major project.
After lunch, we returned to the Waltair Club and spent the afternoon much more leisurely.
The weather remained warm and pleasant, so we went for another long walk before finding a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
There was no rush, no border to cross, and no mountain road to navigate.
It felt strange after so many weeks of constant movement.
By now, however, we were beginning to suffer from a different problem.
Too much comfort!
Every day seemed to involve excellent food, generous hospitality, and very little physical effort.
We jokingly agreed that if we stayed in Vizag much longer, we would need a larger motorhome just to carry us.
As evening approached, it was our turn to play hosts.
Over the past few days, Dr Ashok and his friends had looked after us wonderfully, taking us out for meals and ensuring we wanted for nothing.
Tonight, we decided it was time to return the favour.
We invited Dr Ashok and a couple of his friends to join us for dinner.
At around 7:00 pm, they collected us from the club, and we headed to a restaurant a few kilometres away.
The evening was filled with laughter, travel stories, and plenty of friendly conversation.
A few drinks appeared, followed by yet another delicious meal.
By now, Vizag was rapidly becoming one of the most enjoyable stops of our entire journey.
The hospitality we had received had been extraordinary.
As we sat together enjoying the evening, we reflected on how fortunate we had been throughout this adventure.
Wherever we travelled, people had opened their homes, offered assistance, shared meals, and treated us like family.
Those human connections had become every bit as important as the places we visited.
Eventually, we returned to the Waltair Club feeling content but also slightly restless.
We were grateful for the break, but deep down both of us were eager to get Kontiki repaired and continue the journey.
After all, Mumbai was waiting.
Location: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh
Weather: Warm, sunny, and pleasant
Highlights: Touring Dr Ashok’s impressive new hospital project and learning about its future plans
Most memorable moment: Seeing a dream become reality as the hospital neared completion
Lunch: At the hospital’s in-house canteen with Dr Ashok
Dinner: Hosted Dr Ashok and friends at a local restaurant
Vehicle update: Suspension parts still awaited; Kontiki remains in the workshop
Special thanks: Dr Ashok and Rajesh for their hospitality and generosity
Mood of the day: Relaxed, inspired, and increasingly eager to get back on the road
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki continues its stay in Vizag, waiting for news from the workshop while enjoying the warmth and hospitality of our friends on India’s east coast.
