Kavitha Beach Resort Kovalam

... The owner is a Swiss person who lives in Chennai now. It is outside Kanyakumari, which was fine with us. It was very quiet and lovely. The place we're at tonight has a big pool too, (larger than the one this morning?) but this is Kerala. Along the way here we stopped at a palace that had 14 buildings. It is called, Padmanabhapuram Palace. It is in the style of classical Keralan ...

... and fabulous. We didn't think we were quite ready for the spiritual naming thing so passed on that one. After the satsang sessions there was always arati,a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) is offered to the gurus and deities. Arati also refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when the lamps are being offered. At the end of the arati the flaming lamp would be held up to us and we would cup our down-turned hands over ...

... where does *ll this toe k*rm* come from? Yes, be*ch *g*in the next d*y *nd we *ll re*lised in shock th*t we h*d been in V*rk*l* Be*ch for * week now. Just e*ting food, t*lking cr*p *nd sitting on the be*ch. We hired *n umbrell* *nd people w*tched. I s*w *n Uncle Pervert t*king sly photogr*phs of *ll the l*dies on the be*ch *nd very ne*rly h*d * go *t him. There were some Indi*n l*ds we*ring their motorbike helmets *nd w*lking on the be*ch, *lw*ys so r*ndom. L*dies ...

... here? I'm not sure what I expected when I came here. I think I expected to do some yoga, become a bit healthier and be in a serene environment, but I've found so much more. The ashram itself is indeed in a beautiful setting. There are lush green trees of various kinds (including giant beautiful palm trees), there are flowers and rich red leaves on some, there are a few brightly coloured temples within the complex and when you stand and look out from one of the roofs you can see ...

... zo snel zou verwachten (neen, ditmaal geen wist-je-datjes). Bizarre zichten en situaties: - een gast met een bed op zijn hoofd (ze dragen hier echt ALLES op hun hoofd) - een doodskist die per auto wordt vervoerd. Met beide kanten die uit de ruiten steken. Of er een dode inzat of niet, kan ik je niet vertellen. - luidsprekers die tussen de kokosnoten hangen. Als er hier een tempelfestival is (en er zijn hier veeeeeeel tempels), mag iedereen ervan meegnieten ...

... inside out Close your eyes and you will see a version of eternity Despite this fact I'm off my back, I look around and go Am I in a yoga class, or is this a fashion show? Yoga this and yoga that, brand new clothes on your back, expensive bag, stylely mat, I think I need a yoga hat It seems that yoga's westernized, everyone accessorize! Logo's here to catch your eyes, you're looking good, but it's only lies When I think these unpure things, I stop ...

... went home. Yesterday (Saturday) we spent the day walking around the neighborhood. We checked out the local markets and bought last minute souvenirs. It was about 100 degrees there! We ate dinner and headed to the airport. Our flights left in the middle of hte night on Saturday and I arrived back in Chicago at 1:40pm today (also Saturday). So, I guess it was kind of like we travled back in time-two Saturday nights! We had such an amzing adventure. It ...

... your totally naked body and procedes to race his fingers and palms up and down the entire length of your body. Today during a lull in the action, he drew a detailed map of the state of Kerala on my chest and explained the best way to get to our next destination. Tomorrow I'll have a steady stream of warm oil drizzled on my forehead for 30 minutes. Wish me luck. We are off to the cardamom hills where I hope to add to my knowledge of ethnobotany. My best to all!

... scenery, lots of kingfishers, cormorants, ducks and water snakes and avoid the hassles of being a tourist - beggars, touts, hawkers, children demanding pens/money. I'd recommend it. And we saw elephants on the way back - Jon's first. Most exciting. Only 2 more more days before Jon flies back to UK and I get the train to Cochin. Kovalam will miss us. If I go out on my own all the restaurant/bar ...

There was plenty of warning that India was an unpredictable country so it wasn't too big a surprise when, during the daily stroll in search of breakfast, a bus-load of police arrived in Palolem. They came to enforce a previously ignored licensing law that permitted businesses to open only after mid-October. Within a few hours virtually every shop, restaurant and Internet cafe was being dismantled, making the entire resort resemble a building site ...