Blogs from Varkala, Kerala, India, Asia - page 21

liebe leute, zum einen gleich herzlichen dank an euch alle, die an meinen burzeltag gedacht haben und liebe mails bzw. nachrichten geschickt haben. BUSSI DANKE!! ich bin mittlerweile in Varkala gestrandet. ist an der westkueste und liegt 40km suedlich von Kollam. die reise von madurai nach kumily zum nationalpark war ok, 4,5 stunden im bus, dafuer hat man aber wundervolle landschaften zu gesicht bekommen. der abschied aus madurai ist - wie sich alle denken koennen, die den maduraieintrag gelesen haben - nicht wirklich schwer gefallen. die dreckbilder und ein video werde ich heute oder morgen dem eintrag hinzufuegen. also in kumily gelandet, sind die beiden boarischen maedels und ich in das rolex tourist hotel, haben dort ein nettes zimmer bekommen, 500 rupees fuer drei ist schwer ok. nachteil... kein warmes wasser. ich sag das nur so ... read more

Can't believe...just lost the whole entry...with a view that it was probably too long anyway, here's the brief version. Went to Varkala to hang out on the beach for a few days...met some people who had been to Sri Sivananda's Yoga ashram and knew a lady I had met at Amma's who had also recommended I go. With the decision to go made...I finally gave in and bought some fisherman pants to do me Yoga in. bumped into the couple from Hull again, got a lift from a british guy on the back of his enfield to the train station, wicked journey. Got to Ashram, met some wicked people...the bloke called Vera, was a star, his wife worked at the ashram...he showed me all was not a pure at the ashram as you might have been ... read more

Hello my lovely people, We left Alleppy for Kollam on a rather jam-packed boat but never-the-less enjoyed the eight hour journey along the backwaters to Kollam. The scenery is beautiful with coconut palms, bananna trees and other exotic foliage lining the waterways. The weather here is also beautiful with hours of golden sunlight to enjoy the scenery in. On the way we stopped at an Ashram to pick up a couple of passangers, which amuzed me greatly as these two young twenty year olds lived up to the stereotype of ashram visitors as they wafted onto the boat in lots of flowing material and a look of peace and spirituality accompanying their beards. Well, his beard at least. they had very much enjoyed their three days at the ashram, I over heard, and had been lucky ... read more

To cap off our India visit, we arrived at Varkala for our stay of nine nights. If we could redo our itinerary (which is always easy in hindsight), we would have made an additional stop at one or two other locations (Hampi probably). Since Varkala is a more touristy beach scene (like Goa), we didn't need so much time...but don't worry, we were still happy with our slow days spent on the beach, in the cafes or on our porch's hammock. No complaints from us. Varkala is not quite like Goa as the hotels and restaurants sit on a cliff and not directly on the beach. But like Goa, the restaurants are very touristy and overpriced - it is hard to find good (cheap) Indian meals here (we took the bus on three separate days into ... read more

In this region of India people are sharp on not drinking alcohol. You may not drink in public places' only at the varanda of your hotel perhaps. we had our breakfast at "Chineese Dishes" in the town very near to the boat jetty and transferred to the boat to Kollam. It took 8 hrs. and we paid 300 inR /person excluding lunch and tea stop. that boat trip by itself a totally backwater one. You watch the Kerala way of living by the water side. The nature, people and their believes make this land " God's Own Country". After KollamWe shared a taxi with a couple to Varkala. The pictures may make you feel jealous, those friends who are strugling with minus degrees' we hope to worm them by our report. We are planning to go ... read more