Preview of Emex's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/emex/1/1220604540/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Varkala, India Entry Title: "Cliff hangers in Varkala" Entry: "After a nightmarish train journey (10:30am til 2:30am urggghhh) characterised by sore bottoms from sitting too much, sore eyes from reading too much, and feeling very very grumpy, we finally arrived in Varkala. We quickly realised that arriving in the middle of the night was not ideal, as everything closes fairly early and India is difficult enough to negotiate at the best of times, let alone in the pitch black cover of night. Therefore, our tedious 18 hour journey was followed by a stressful 45 minutes, during which we tried aimlessly to haggle with a rip-off merchant rickshaw driver who was charging an extortionate amount to take us from the station to the accommodation near to the beach (he was one of few drivers out at that time, and the only one that was prepared to wake up so we had little choice!), coupled with the rapid realisation that we were never going to be able to find the hotel with whom we made a reservation (we still haven't found it) or indeed, any hotel at all that was open! Eventually we found a nice place and woke up the watchman to let us in, but not before we had driven around the cliff front multiple times, cursing the lonely planet for its rubbish directions (admittedly Al got his own back on the LP as he managed to drown it in a puddle of muddy water when the rickshaw bounced over a pothole). Anyway, after a good night's sleep and a shower our second impression of Varkala was decidedly more positive. Described by the (now soiled) Lonely Planet as the "new Goa", benefiting from just enough commercialism to make it relaxing and enjoyable, but not so much as to ruin the beauty of the resort, the guide claims (a bit cheesily) that "long-termers love this place". After four days here we can add that short-termers think it's not bad either. The bars, restaurants and guesthouses line the steep cliff front that gives way to a fairly small stretch of beach - a beach that perhaps does not compete with its Thai equivalents, but for us represented the resort that we have been looking for. Varkala (and India in general) seems to attract a much more diverse crowd of travellers of different ages and nationalities, so it was refreshing to share the beach with someone other than Leeds University graduates and groups of lads from North London. Additionally, Indian tourists and locals also spend time on the beach (albeit fully clothed in saris and trousers and shirts), which gives the sense that it has retained its authenticity. Another positive to Varkala has been the food, particularly the seafood, which has been amazing. We have indulged in barracuda and swordfish curries so far (which just about beat the frozen sausage curries we were knocking up at home last year) - and all for a couple of quid - it would be rude not to really, Today is our final day on the beach (but out of the sun - factor 30 and sun brollies do not seem to have much of an impact here). Tomorrow morning we are taking the train to Kollam to take a boat through the Keralan backwaters - the reported highlight of a trip to this region. Until then, byeeee xx" Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/emex/1/1220604540/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "View from our room" 2. "Varkala" 3. "Paradise" 4. "Cliffside view" 5. "Brolly on the beach" 6. "Lazying on the beach" 7. "Sunset" 8. "Team in action" 9. "Cliffside sunset" 10. "More sunset" 11. "Blue sunset" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00c9-e08e-2582?ytv4=1

• published: 15 Feb 2011
• views: 191