you have a lovely coconut

Managed to pick up a German travel friend, Annika, for our train journey to Varkala. Made it that much more interesting trying to find space in sleeper class (No AC/open tickets) with three as opposed to two. Squeezed our way into a compartment that was already probably too full but had a lovely accommodating family that made room for us and kept us entertained. Was a beautiful scenic trip along the coast - amazing lush greenery and lots of water inlets. So much to keep us occupied that we almost missed our stop - was a last minute dash off the train with our friends carrying baggage and passing it out the door to make sure we made it out in time.

Took a ride in an Ambassador (standard all Indian car - white exterior, fully carpeted interior, Indian made), the only way to travel to our new home for the next week or so - New Heaven, North cliff, Varkala.

Varkala - little beach town with a resort perched along the cliff of the beach. A strip of restaurants and shops along the cliff top path all seemingly selling the exact same thing. Strangest thing was that the majority of souveniors/shops were selling and run by Tibetans or Indians from other parts of the country - not really any local goods or food around, which is a shame as lovng the keralan food.

Spent just over a week here - standard beach activities, swimming, reading, sunbathing, sleeping, ice creams and lots of sweating. can tell you that it was spectacularly hot and exceptionally humid. Got treated to a fine array of tropical thunder adn lightening storms over the course of the week - monsoon approaching! The beach was nice, (no hawkers!!) but had an incredibuly strong rip - anna not really prepared to go over waist height as if youlost your footing you popped up twenty metres down the beach. There were however Indian's answer to Baywatch with two guys in beautiful blue safari style shirt adn shorts that petrolled the beach - that were soon on hand to blow their whistle at you and point to get out or move back up the beach if you looked out of control. They also did a fine job of trying to disperse the groups of indian guys 'walking' up and down the beach taking photos of the white girls in their bikinis on their mobile phones.

Was a treat to indulge in the seafood delights - again a welcome reprieve from the curry. Calamari, prawns, and all manner of fish - grouper, snapper, shark, king fish, butterfly fish, tuna. YUM!!!!

Varkala was also a reunoin of sorts for us with random meetings. Caught up with different people we had met in Goa, Kannur and even little old NZ. The NZ reunin was with the son of a good famiy friend of Anna's mum. Would be at least 16years since i had seen Clayton and was definately a little spinny - i knew that mum had ssaid him and his girlfriend Vanessa were in India, but what are the chances.... Made for lots of good dinner companions over the course of the week.

Little sad to be leaving the beach but excitement is building for Vietnam. Colin well adn truly embracing the travel vibe. Loved the comment - 'this is now officially the longest travel stint ever and think I am coping alright actually'.


Note: in reference to the title, a lovely little girl trying her hardest to sell us some particualrly crappy trinkets while we were trying to eat, was referring to colins bald head - needless to say he didn't buy anything!