My October Holiday in Kovalam, Kerala

Hello my friends
It's been three weeks since I got back from my Oct break in Kerala! If I don't get on to my blog immediately, work here takes over! So...if you're sitting comfortably I'll begin!!
I went to Kovalam with my Irish friend , Rhonda, plus her four girls and another pupil from school. Indeed Kovalam was 'taken over' by Hebron School! Three bus loads left the school on Fri 8 Oct ( I think that date is correct) We took off at
4 .30pm bound firstly for Coimbatore Station. Twas 3 hour drive down the mountain but we arrived safely about 8.15pm. Our train was an overnight train to Kerala which we boarded at 11.30pm. We were booked in an a/c sleeper carriage so we literally went straight to bed and arrived at Trivandrum, Kerala the next morning at 7am. We got a taxi to the resort which was approx 20 min drive. Oh how nice it was to arrive at Kovalam at 7.45 am and get the SHORTS on. Sunshine and heat...WHAT a change from Ooty!!
We were at a nice hotel with pool , a/c rooms, big balcony ...just luxury. There were three other families from school at same hotel-all staff families.Hotel was 2 min walk to the beach. The beach was not a huge beach but the setting was beautiful. There was a paved walking area and then the ocean. All the restaurants were right on the beach- no road -it was restaurants, walkway then sand and sea. Idyllic. We had NO RAIN the whole week which was another joy. Our hotel was room only-no meals so we ate out the whole time . There were plenty of restaurants to keep us more than happy. Despite half the school kids being tnere it was a very pleasant break. They didn't disturb us and we certainly didn't disturb them.
We went on a backwater boat trip one day (Photos below) That was extremely relaxing as we got punted down the river. Lots of coconut trees to be seen and we also went off the boat and on land to a wee local village. Twas very interesting, the people were very poor but all very happy. They showed us how to make string from the coconut! (There's a pic of me making string below. Weird contraption!!)
Main work in Kovalam is fishing and we would watch the fishermen bring in their haul every day. It was quite a feat for these guys to first push their boats out and then to haul them in !! The other thing we watched was the men hauling in the net. I think I've put a photo of that below as well. They dragged the net in about 5pm and all the local restauranteurs would come along and buy the fish FRESH ...ready for evening consumption.Loads of fishing went on and freshly caught fish were on display outside the restaurants every night.
I had never heard of Kovalam before but apparently it's a popular resort for Brits-well English- Direct flight from London to Trivandrum.
I loved it and would def recommend it. Might even go back in April when we only have a one week holiday.
The journey back to Coimbatore was a day journey That was nice because I was able to see a bit of the country. Every time I have come UP or DOWN the mountain to Coimbatore it has been DARK and I've seen nothing!! This Oct break was the first occasion I have had to travel and see a bit of India. Bring on the next holiday!!We got back to Coimbatore about 5pm and got a taxi up the mountain It was busy busy with traffic and we only got back to school at 8.45pm - nearly four hours. The drive up the mountain is a MUST for all visitors THe hairpin bends are great!
And so now it's back to the grind again. But we break up round about 17 Dec so it's not long to the next holiday.
Hope ya enjoy the photos Keep sending the comments ! EICH--EE--VA