Kerala Part 4 – Varkala
Six nights on the beach in Varkala. Beer in mugs, narrow alleyways, fierce waves and whistle-mad lifeguards.
Six nights on the beach in Varkala. Beer in mugs, narrow alleyways, fierce waves and whistle-mad lifeguards.
Fort Kochi is a total contrast to the modern Ernakulam part of the city – a thriving port and centre of the spice trade, colonised by the Portuguese and taken from them by the Dutch, it’s a lovely & intriguing blend of cultures and architecture. Very grand houses abound, some converted into heritage hotels, others into arty cafes and galleries, or just private homes or homestays.
Our first ten days in Goa have been mainly relaxing on Palolem Beach, where the cows roam free and there are cocktails and curries every evening. No intrepid adventures yet, but a wonderful place to relax and recuperate.
A week’s diving on the island of Nusa Lembongan, a short speedboat ride off the coast of Bali.
For our final day in Ubud we had booked a private car tour to take us to some of the places that we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to get to. While they have a default itinerary they are very happy to adjust it to guests’ preferences. Bali Swing Thanks to Instagram, Bali Swings have become a thing and the “official” one near Ubud is the first and best (and most expensive). There are actually 15 swings there and…
Ubud was all about sightseeing and excursions. In the first couple of days we explored Ubud on foot, walked out into the hills and got mugged by monkeys.
“What better way to recover from flying half way around the world then lying by the pool or on a beach for a couple of days? If we are jetlagged and don’t know what time we will wake up then isn’t somewhere famous for brunch just perfect?” That’s how Debbie persuaded me that our first stop in Bali should be Canggu. 42 hours after leaving home we arrived in Canggu at Theanna Eco Villas and Spa. First impressions were…