Day trips around Kovalam

Rackman asking for directions from a local lady on our way home from Varkala

Firstly, I apologise to our families for being so slack in posting blogs.  I have become so relaxed (another word for lazy) these past few weeks.

It is amazing we have not gotten bored with sitting around on the beach these past three weeks but we haven’t.  We do venture out every couple of days to the ATM in Kovalam Junction.  It is a ten-minute tuk tuk drive to the Kovalam village centre.  We have been using the same driver, Rackman.  He is not that chatty because his English is limited and our Malayalam (local dialect) is zilch but he is helpful and a safe driver which is a big bonus.

We’ve had three day trips over the past few weeks with Rackman  – one to the harbour and the beaches south from here 20 minutes away, another one to Neyyar Dam and its sights, one hour inland and one to Varkala, another popular tourist beach two hours north.  That is a lot of time rattling around in a tuk tuk but good fun and natural air conditioning as they say.

The trips were reconnaissance missions to check out other places to stay.  We have decided to stay put. 

Rackman has enjoyed the day trips as much as us, helping us out looking for suitable accommodation and taking routes he hasn't taken before. 

Elephant rehabilitation farm on Neyyar Dam

Lion sanctuary on Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam

Carnival float 

Varkala beach - village sits on the cliff top above the beach

Rackman and I 

Enjoying the natural air conditioning