What a weird and wonderful day.

6.2.19

After yesterday’s shenanigans we were adamant we were having a chilled day today.

To be honest once you’ve seen the backwaters there isn’t anything else to do here. Looked online for an ayurvedic spa or cooking school but nothing nearby.

I suggested to John that we get up when ready, go for breakfast, take a pack of cards and rummikub and stroll down to the beach and visit the lighthouse (yes it really is an attraction) #6 on tripadvisor – that gives an idea of how much there is to do here.

We did some washing in our bucket and went for breakfast in our nearby cafe. Lovely scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and juice.

On arrival at the beach we spotted Amaze World. It looked like a park complex from outside and I wondered if it might have a pool or somewhere nice to sit. Asked the ladies at the desk if there were any seating areas in the shade. They looked totally confused and said it was for children. The adult price was just 20 rupees each so we decided to take a chance and look inside.

Not another soul in sight, but over at the eating area we saw some staff and ordered drinks and proceeded to play rummikub. They were very interested in the game and chatted to us and wanted to learn.

One of them does a magic show after 2pm when the children arrive and they said that we should stay and watch and that he’s in the Guiness book of Records.

Suddenly 100’s of children piled in from various schools, some were there for a party and to play, some for the magic show and we had a crowd around us wanting to know our names and where we are from. They were all so lovely.

Indian time is a bit like Turkish time but eventually the magic show was about to start.

We got so many beaming smiles and children wanting us to take their photos.

Then the show began. We weren’t expecting too much and only stayed to be polite as he had been so friendly to us, but wow!!

It was fabulous. Smiled all the way through and the kids and their teachers had a wonderful time for over an hour.

After the show the children were going off to visit the lighthouse before coming back and the party children had gone so we repositioned ourselves and just enjoyed chilling. The magic guy said he has to do another show at 5pm. The other guy said there would be a rain dance when the children came back so we decided we would stay for that.

The rain dance hadn’t materialised by 5.30pm but the kids had and they had the music on very, very loud and inflated the bouncy play equipment right near. It was mad!

We decided to leave, said our goodbyes and went off to the ATM but got waylaid in a bar.

It seemed really seedy but maybe it was ok, just very male dominated, and there was a bit of an autication going on opposite on the beach which ended with an old boy on a pushbike being waved on his way by a policeman.

Onwards to the ATM.

Outside it a group of lads were laughing and pointing to their mate, telling us he is Indian Spiderman.

You can see the mess on the floor! Branches were falling down as the guy violently shook the tree, people were rushing to pick up some tiny little fruit. They insisted we try them, John was brave and tried one and said it was very sour. I didn’t eat mine.

We saw the sunset before having dinner at Dreamers again.

It’s such a shame about the ugly flyover and all the associated mess.

Dreamers didn’t disappoint, I tried paneer butter masala for the first time, it was lovely and Johns biriyani was one of the best he has had.

We got a tuk tuk back and have just finished packing.

We have a 7.15am ferry in the morning, 2 and a half hours to Kottayam followed by a bus to Kumily. We will be staying in Periyar by the national park for 3 nights.

Just hope we get on the right bus….