Yesterday I did both exams, the Red Hat Certified Systems Administrator ( http://www.redhat.com/training/certifications/rhcsa/ ) in the morning and then the Red Hat Certified Engineer ( http://www.redhat.com/training/certifications/rhce/ ) in the afternoon. I felt that both exams went well. They are both practical exams: you are sat in front of a computer where you have to correct any faults with it and then make a series of requested configuration changes to it. So far I’ve only received the results from the first examand I’m pleased to be able to say that I’ve passed. I’m still awaiting the results of the second exam so am keeping my fingers crossed.

After the exams finished the four of us on our course were asked to come to the opening ceremony for IPSR’s (the company thet I did my training with) new website thst has been specifically targeted at potential clients from outside of Inda: http://www.ipsrglobal.com/. I ended up doing the honours of clicking on the link to bring up the website for all in the room to see. I have to say that it is a nice clean looking website which gives a good and true impression of the company and their services. At the end of the ceremony all four of the trainees were presented with a boxed set of local spices. I’ll look forward to cooking with mine when I get home!

Now that I’ve finished my training and have completed my exams I can look forward to the relaxing part of my time in India! I’d like to say thanks to all of the staff at IPSR at this point, especially our trainer Mohsin and the organiser Kichu (thanks for all the lunches Kichu!)

I’m currently waiting to be collected and taken on a backwaters cruise on a houseboat which I will be staying on tonight. A houseboat cruise is a popular pastime for Kerala visitors. The Kerala tourist site ( https://www.keralatourism.org/ ) describes the houseboats:

“The original kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and spices. A standard kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.

The kettuvallam is held together with coir knots. Not even a single nail is used during the construction of the boat.. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallam can last for generations.

A portion of the kettuvallam was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals would be cooked onboard and supplemented with freshly cooked fish from the backwaters.

When the modern trucks replaced this system of transport, some one found a new way that would keep these boats, almost all of which were more than 100 years old, in the market. By constructing special rooms to accommodate travellers  these boats cruised forward from near-extinction to enjoy their present great popularity.”

I’m looking forward to that!

After the houseboat I’ll be visiting the tea plantations at Munnar and then will be hiring a Royal Enfield motorcycle to do a little exploring of my own for a while. I’m hoping to be able to find the village where my son, Adam, did his voluntary work earlier this year.

I’ll be letting you know how I get on, and the result of my second exam as and when I’m able to get an internet connection.

Thanks for reading!