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Published: December 5th 2006
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Trivandrum
A hindu temple on top of a hill over looking public baths. Good bye Sri Lanka and (finally) hello India. Yep I'm here! With such a short world wind tour of S.L. (which is obviously far to short) i was really looking forward to finally getting to India, no set pace, place or idea....just taking it as it comes.
The port of arrival for India was at the southern end of India, a smallish town called Trivandrum. Now I was expecting to be confronted with the works; heat, people, poverty, smells, pollution, poo, you name it. It turns out I am just easying myself into India, as this is not India and not what i expected. The state I am in is called Kelala and is know for it's gentle and relaxed side, being the beaches, lagoons, lakes and canals of Indian lifestyle. The arrival here stunned me, the people are friendly, the streets are cleaner, theres less hassles.....where am i again? I was expecting hell, but i have some how found myself in a small paradise, and a damn cheap paradise too. Upon finding a comfortable bed in Trivandrum, the first priority was to short out an authentic Indian curry, and it did not disappoint. Heaven on earth, Chicken Tikka Masala,
Like a tiger
My first Indian tiger, albeit one at the Trivandrum Zoo. Aloo Gobi, rice and naan for the insignificant fee of $5.00, a feast that could feed two. This on top of my $12 a night room, complete with hot water, cable TV, this was a winner. Welcome to India. The net day continuing to explore around the Trivandrum, the people, the food, the lifestyles, and decided to escape the city's hustle and bustle (and air+noise pollution) and headed to the zoo (i haven't been since i was a teenager, so excited, i felt like a tourist). Well to be short.....shite! Pretty much every animal was dead, asleep or just 'out for the day' and saw bugger all. To say the least i was disappointed, i did see a cockatoo (yippy, not). Although i did see my first Indian tiger, albeit, 50 foot away behind an enclosure, but i felt i connected with the animal, with my camera anyway. Oh well my lungs were feeling distinctly better and cleaner now, and the headache from the noise was beinging to fade.
With the object not to get stuck down anywhere, and being rightly pissed about the zoo, i decided to head off up the coast to a coastal town called Varkala.
Welcome to Varkala
Local fishing boats. Travelling by train i had my first rail experience and without thinking to much about it, it just happended to conincide with 5pm peak travel times. Dickhead. So after fluffing around aimlessly for an hour attempting to buy a ticket to a place i knew nothing of, i finally found the right platform and consequently the correct train departing for Varkala (note this is not quite as simple as in Melbourne people).
With the usual tussle at train stations i managed to barter with a taxi driver (for a fee that no doubt was ridiculously large) to take me to my chosen guest house for the night as guided by the bible, 'lonely planet guide to India'. As we arrived at the beach and pulled up hovering high on the cliff, the driver had ignored my requests and delivered me to a hotel down the road to a selection of his choice, basically to cash in on teh commision. Not impressed, i told him basically in old fashioned Australian he was a NOB, and left it at that (subtle version). Mind you it just so happens that two doors down i stubbled across what was to be my home
Fishing with nets
A daily routine of bringing the nets in each morning from a kilometer at sea. for the next five days, a ripper collection of bamboo huts nestled in a garden high on the cliff. The perfect accommodation, in the thick of things, based on the cliff with the sounds of crashing waves meters away. I could hardly contain the excitement as Varkala, the people, place, accommodation took my beath away, this place was stunning, adn definiately not what i was expecting out of India. The town is based along a cliff edge, 20 mteres above the sea, with a winding coastal boulevard extending along the cliff for 1km, acting as the connecting path for which all restaurants, bars, shops, markets all feed off. Although a bit touristy here as the area is know for its yoya and massage treatments the people are all travellers, chilled and relaxed with a carefree attitude. The prefect way to obtain an understanding of Indian culture, or enjoy a holiday. Now to top off the ideal existence of this place, it just so happened that the 2nd test was also on at this period. Basically i had missed the first test and wasn't going to miss the second, and unfortunately i have found myself stuck here for the past 5
The mornings catch
Now the real fun, who gets what. Some how throughout the arguing they divide their catch. days, watching the test match in the morning and followed by swimming in the sea, and reading of a book while indulging in a couple of night caps at night. Really tough work.
Now you may have noticed i used the words 'read a book' which to many may seem strange and unheard of, as the last book i read was in year 11 for english 'The Great Gatsby', i just dont read. But with no job, no stress and bugger all to do i need a hobby and i promised myself that i would make an effort to read... or try to anyway. Now before you laugh i decided that it was time to jump on the band wagon and read that book that seemed somehow fashionable 4 years ago (i'm always slow) being, 'The Da Vinci Code'. Bugger me i couldn't put it down, and read the thing in 3 days. This (for those that don't know) is unheard of for me. I actually read a book and enjoyed it. And even before i watched the movie. ha.
So as you might tell i have down sweet fcuk all nothing for 5 days other than eat, drink
Sea Snake
The locals warned to stay away from this thing as they said it was extremely deadly, not sure if they were puling my leg through. read and watch an amazingly disappointing game of cricket. (England, what the bloody hell are you doing? I am almost ready to throw the British passport in the bin and sign up for Australia. Disgraceful. And with that we leave the subject alone).
But with the test over, it's time to move on and up and continue the journey as i'm looking forward to exploring and uncovering many more hidden gems and oasis'.
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Brendan
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Enjoy
Mate Glad to see your enjoying yourself - no deli belly yet??? I am getting quite envious and am planning escpaing the daily shite of work and so on and going travelling again!!!! Take care and keep up the travel blog - best thing of the day!!! Brendan