Bryan's Travels: Varkala

Last weekend was a long one for both Maya and me (though I had to work this Saturday to make up for last Friday). So, we decided a weekend away from the noise and hubbub and pollution of Bangalore would be just the ticket.

We left early (very early) Thursday morning, and we were at the hotel by 9. We stayed at the Taj Garden Retreat in Varkala, which is nice enough, but not one of their top hotels. It was about a kilometer up the hill from the beach, but there was a nice little trail which went down there from the hotel.

Varkala is a small town about 1 hour north of Trivandrum and Varkala Beach is a community which is above the beach, and runs along the cliffs

to the north of the beach.

There are many lovely spots where one can stop for a drink, snack, or dinner with a great view. We went to Sunshine Cafe 2 nights and sat and watched the sun set,

while drinking Mojitos and Cosmopolitans.

Ocean eating sun seen from Varkala cliffs

Cindy and I enjoyed the former, Ari the latter, Anna was stuck with 7-up. Both nights the sunsets were absolutely the best. Two of the nights we ate at the Funky Art Cafe. The second night we went there because they were having local talent perform. First there was a band,

and then that was followed by a local boy of 16 performing traditional dances. He was really good, but unfortunately his cd gave out fairly quickly and he didn't get to finish so I missed out on a Photo Op.

On Saturday Massages and Facials were the order of the day. Here the ladies are going over the menu.

This lady's beauty spot was just above Varkala Beach.

Ari wasn't feeling too well, but Cindy, Maya and I went for a backwater tour on Sunday before coming home.

The backwaters (at least in this area) are mostly salt water which has come in through the beaches which separate the ocean from the backwaters, but they are not open to the Arabian Sea. They get fairly large in some places, and narrow in others. We saw a few people out tending to their land along the shores,