Kovalom

Hi all I made it to the next beach town after I had such a wonderful relaxing time in Varkula it was hard to leave and I feared that Kovalom would not measure up to what Varkula was. Although Kovalom is smaller and different I enjoyed staying the last couple days here just chilled out and relaxed until I departed back to Abu Dhabi. Met a friendly couple from London that showed me a great cheap place to stay and they had hot water! the 2nd place to offer such a luxury. so I took complete advantage of that! The beach wasn't as nice but still a perfect place to be in the sweltering heat and the hawkers roam the beachfront where they were pretty much non existant in Varkula and it seems like the habit for the local men is to cruise up and down the beach checking out the ladies in their bikinis... by the end of my trip I had enough of the gawkers local men asking the standard questions "what is your name where do you come from what is your job" and then when you answer they remain standing there staring at you or sit down right beside you until you get and leave becuase it feels completely uncomfortable that this strange man is practically sharing your towel with you like it's no big deal so the last day or two I spent my time drinking chai and kept my nose in my books at the neighboring beachfront cafes.

Overall I completeley love Kerala "God's owns Country" and only am now starting to get into the groove of this country. I wish I had more time to explore the neighboring states and to venture up north. But thanks to Kerala I have gained a few more feathers on my traveler's wings and feel I can travel anywhere still have a passion to visit the Northern states of India and now have the confidence to get there some day. I was scared doing this country alone but the people of Kerala were so friendly and helpful and always steered me in the right direction when I looked like I could use some us friendly advice everytime I was at a bus station someone was always there to make sure i got on the right bus and where to go once I got off that bus. I just feel so lucky to have had a small glimpse of India and am always amazed at what beauty there is in such an overpopulated place sure the place has it's own distinguished smells and lack of garbage control but get beyond what you see in front of you and take a closer look and you will all me just as amazed as I am and probably will be for a very very long time.

next stop Nairobi, Kenya!! can't wait too see family, friends and a good party I could use a drink after being sober for a month.

Varkula

I have been in a beach town called Varkula and loving every moment here, a true paradise. I don't want to leave! been here for 3 or 4 nights now and it's just so peaceful I have a wonderful view of the ocean from my balcony and I am staying on the other side of the cliff where just a few tourists are and on the north side is where all the action is, my french friend Pierre has been scooting us around on his scooter exploring the less busy beaches the indian boys have no fears as they seem to crawl out of the rocks to have a look! I know everyone is waiting for me to post picutes I will and I have lots to share but waiting until I'm back in abu dhabi when I will have more time to upload. Not sure what my next plan is I think I will be here for another few days and then spend a couple more at another beach town called Kovalom and then fly out on the 10th to make it for Bob's wedding in kenya on the 13th. My most important concern of course is what to wear!! I know the most stressful situation to deal with... Varkula is a temple town and I'm not too far from the main hindu temple and an easy place just to people watch especially today on a sunday the men and women stand in separte lines to go in, music and incense fill the air just a wonder to see...I am still amazed at the people here everyday. I walked down to a little area today just below where i am staying just to get some beach time on my own and literaly out of the rocks comes a young man and sits right beside me says nothing just sitting there... i had to get up and go to where the rest of the tourists are somedays i'm just not in the mood to deal with the difference in our cultures I understand and respect that their culture is different than ours and that they like to look at us tourists lazing around the beach in our bikinis but still it's uncomfortable I suppose i should be used to it by now but is it really something one can get used to?!

(cliff town Varkula)

(north end of the cliff where all the restaraunts and tourist shops are you have to walk up those lovely set of stairs to access the beach)

(just a regular saturday at the beach, kids are always hanging around tourists quite sweet most of the time)