Lomography

Varkala, Kerala's Goa
written by -a-l-b-e-r-t-o- on December 3rd, 2008 (1 vote)

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In Varkala it had just stopped raining when I arrived with a crowded bus. Four hours standing with the ticket inspector that walk on human bodies to be paid from everyone. This is the price to pay if you don’t book two days before or more a train especially at the end of August when in Kerala there is the Onam festival.

Every native from Kerala try to reach the country for this 10 days festival…but of course I didn’t know about that…it was night and I could hear just the noise of the waves against the cliff that I discover to be red the day after…Varkala beach is a village built up the crest of the cliff: if you take a false step you could be on the rocks after a jump of 100 meters. After a little walk on the cliff I understand that it’s very touristic, tens of restaurants with fresh fish struggle to attract more tourists, but maybe the right place to take a rest of few days.

The day after it’s a beautiful day the cliff is red and nibbled by the monsoon, the view of the ocean is amazing. It’s early in the morning and I want to discover if there is more, not only bungalows, bars and ayurvedic centres so I walk over the cliff and after a parking place where there is a cricket match, I arrive in the fisherman village where everything is more “India” for me. It’s the 15th of August at 7.30 in the morning and the beach is full of people praying Hindu gods with the help of four “priests” with their “office” sign-board with their mobile phone number on it. They tell me that it’s a special place and a special day to pray for parents, no matter of what religion you are or if you believe or not…god is one for everybody, I smile and takeout my LC-A…It’s also nice the other side of the cliff…so it seems that the best tip is to walk a lot on both sides of the cliff to find places less touristic…After the mosque, on the west part of the cliff, it’s possible to see all local fisherman activities. But when they look at me they stop working and they ask me if I want charas…on our heads many eagles or at least I think so (they have white neck and brown body) fly exploiting ascensional current and it’s a nice sight…I ask to the fisherman if he is afraid that the cliff can collapse, the answer is cheerful and ready “it’s very strong, no problem” but from the main beach my impression of the cliff is another…the ocean is very funny with its big waves and maybe also very dangerous, the current is very strong, but don’t worry two policeman bay watchers will take care of you…after a bath of two hours I drop on the sand and I roast myself with the sun…Incredible India!