Vakarla Beach

Hello from my final stop. We arrived here after a mere tuk tuk to the bus from Kovallam, two buses and a second Tuk tuk. However following the train journeys we have had this was comparatively easy!
India is such a vast country that travelling from one town to another is always a mission. Vakarla itself is a small town still in the state of Kerrala but not quite on the coast so of course the bus drops at the main town and from there of rickshaw is required. When on the bus, well I use the word loosely as, if you can recall the depot where the oldest and most broken down old buses have laid for many years awaiting a miracle to resuscitate them back to life, well that is the bus! No windows of course, in fact I cannot recall seeing windows in many places here, just the occasional building and cars of course. The door is pulled close after use by the nearest passenger (on this occasion me) using a piece of string. We do of course attract huge amounts of attention as we travel, particularly from the younger generation. The little children take much pleasure in greeting us with a sweet 'hello' and a very large smile followed quickly by a proud glance toward their family. The young men, but rarely girls, are always so very keen to 'extend their conversational skills' as they so wonderfully put it.
So we arrived and a lovely place it is too. We have two nights at a 'couch surfer' which basically means free and have decided to stay here until I leave for my flight. We have found a lovely room to move to on Saturday night for 300 rps each night, a real bargain. It is very near the front and has a hammock to laze in outside. The 300 will of course be split between us and when you remember the rate is around 70 to a pound sterling it is one of the best we have found.
Vakarla consists of a very small beach, the beach extends as the months go on, they have the monsoon finishing around August Sept and from then the water becomes reduced which exposes more beach! Their winter is just beginning (which is also the high season for tourists) so prices will be increased soon.
It is 36 or 37 degrees everyday with the sun being very strong until about three in the afternoon. The food is wonderful with loads of fish and even a rum and coke.....so civilised! The high cliff , that requires tackling to access the beach supports the single row of traders including restaurants and travel agents. Well on the subject of travel agents we actually found one here who had a map of India, it brought such excitement!
So it is here in this rich and clean area, one where the locals no longer spit, they have learnt to wait their turn, they often are seen shaking hands (oh so very western) and to top it all there are no cows that I spend my last few days before returning to England.
I will leave here on Monday night to fly from Cochin at 07.15 and a direct flight from Dehli to UK departing at 11.45 I believe.
I may speak again..........
Chris x