Kerala

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Hello everyone!

Made it to the beach for my birthday after a 2hour bus, then an 18 hour train then a 15 hour train then a 2 hour bus back to back! We got to a beach resort called Varkala. It was lovely there, we kicked back and chilled, drank lots and ate seafood! On the day of my birthday we spent the day on the beach, had a picnic and we burnt to a crisp! Helen got me a toe ring and some Jagnath god figures and i got a painted coconut. It was sooooo hot there, about 100 degrees everyday beautiful sunshine then the night of my birthday the heavens opened and it absolutely poured down! typical, nevertheless had a great night with a group of other travellers in a place called the 'rock and roll' bar with plenty of cocktails. The people who ran the place were such a laugh and by the end of the night there were arm wrestling and weight lifting competitions with the burly locals, me and Helen in our drunk state thought we could take on a 'Mr T' look alike but no such luck, he even took us on together and we couldn't win!! very funny.
We also found out about a local festival at a nearby temple so we went along to see what was going on.....it was mental and out of this world. Painted elephants, the loudest drums we have ever heard, fireworks, traditional dancing and boy do the indians know how to party!!! There was also an element of danger because health and safety as always is of no importance......the indian men lifted a 20 foot decorated tower and ran with it around the temple but the danger was that it could have tipped at any time and sometimes it was heading for me and helen or anyone in its path!!! crazy!!

After meeting the new group of travellers, we all went to Allepey which is famous for its backwaters. So we rented a houseboat overnight with our own cook onboard, had some lovely south indian cuisine, enjoyed the views and had a great party in the evening. Although we were sharing the boat with cockroaches, lizards and spiders it was still great and you just cant escape them in India!

Today we are catching a train to Bangalore to then catch a train to Hampi, another 2 day train expedition!

Thanks for your messages keep em coming!!!

Here are our new set of photos and we will try to upload a video too!

Love and miss you all x x x

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Photos

Birthday
on the beach

birthday
beach

birthday
helen painted this coconut for me

Birthday
Helen going for a dip

Birthday
My cake

Birthday
Varkala Beach

Allepey Back waters
View from Houseboat at dusk

Houseboat
British guy Pete we met

Houseboat
Sophie and Trina from Denmark

In Puri
Our hot wheels!

Puri
Wild thing i think i love ya!!

Puri
Helen in a pose

Varkala Festival
Drummers

Varkala Festival
The scrum of lifting the structure

Varkala Festival
"Steve" the elephant!

Varkala Festival
The tower of doom (health and safety at its best)

Comments

[Amy Pettingill]

Well done ladies
Wow thats was your best blog ever.. great to see some pics you both look really well and where you are looks amazing. Loving the hot wheels biker chicks in the hot heated sands of Puri. I'm glad you had a fabulous time on your birthday Laura, sounds like you had come good post cocktail moments! Fairwell until the next chapter xxx ps. News flash for you... £57,800,000 smashing the previous record of £40.5m from 2007. Comic Relief best on record and it's still more to come tonight... resession what ressesion!!!

[Sue]

Wow
Hi both of you. Happy belated birthday Laura, glad you enjoyed it. The sea looked very inviting and beautiful scenery from the house boat. (and from the towels). Well it's all been quite here (probably cause l've been away all week!! and your mum always behaves herself when l'm not here!!!!!! well thats what she tells me. Have all your bites now gone the photos didnt make you look too spotty. Both of you have well caught the sun though and the healthy diet of alcohol and indian cuisine seems to be having no ill effects. Well take care both of you and we look forward to the next blog and its lovely to see pictures. Love you lots Auntie Sue (Sorry Suzanne Young MCFHP MAFHP ..... yes l passed) and Mum xxxx

[Stu]

Hello there
hi girls - just a quickie to let you know the pics are awesome and we miss you dearly. The Kareoke party was funny, you would of loved it. the pub was delapedated with a leaking roof, peeling wallpaper, flat coke and beer that tasted of cardboard. We had a wicked time! The DJ was almost service user specail levels, he only had one song book that went from A-L and that was it (between about thirty people)- no Marriah for the girls or Oasis for the boys. Macca haggled him down at the end of the night and only gave him half the money. Me and Michael went to sing an Elton John song and Haddaway "what is love" came on? Lex is convinced he couldn't read. We all said you guys would have loved it. You pair love like you've lost a bit of weight on the old bombay diet! I'm telling you when we reunite in Jan we'll look like the cast of beverly hills 90210. Be careful on them bikes - them indians don't care for road etiquite and your lack of helmet is a concern. Loads of love Stu xx