Chilling out in Varkala

Varkala is the perfect place to chill out and take a break from the travelling. It is a great feeling to stay in one place and to be by the sea.

I checked out of the Lungi Vibe hostel after the new year celebration and found an excellent homestay where I plan to stay for a couple of weeks. I’m renting a simple cottage which has a kitchen and bathroom downstairs and a bedroom, desk and balcony upstairs. It is great to have a place to myself after sharing dorms in the hostels and even better that the place is costs less than £6 per night.

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I’m enjoying being able to unpack my rucksack and organise clothes on shelves rather than rooting around in my bag every time I need something.

A have also met up with Nico who a friend I know from London. He is also staying in Varkala for a couple of weeks along with his friends Mithru and Jane.

Varkala is very popular with yogi’s and the homestay is next to Pranam Yoga Joseph studio. Joseph is an amazing 58 year old yoga teacher with amazing flexibility and a great sense of humour.

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I’ve attended his 8 am yoga class each day which is helping improve my practice and master more advanced yoga positions such has headstands and arm balances. My flexibility and body strength are slowly increasing but I still have a very long way to go!

My days are spent having long brunches after yoga in the cafes along the cliffs either chatting to friends or reading a book. I head to the beach for a swim around 3.30 – 4 pm as the sun starts to weaken and stay for the stunning sunsets at 6 pm.

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The sea often has large waves which are fun to ride and it’s a great place to people watch.

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Varkala is also an important religious site for Keralans with many temples scattered around the cliffs and the beach. Varkala is busy every morning and evening with pilgrims worshiping at the temple and making offerings on the beach.

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It is also interesting to watch the locals catching fish in the evening with nets pulled along the shoreline.

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After the beach I sometimes stop with friends at a coconut shack to drink fresh coconut juice and to eat creamy white flesh inside.

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I plan to stay in Varkala and relax for a couple of weeks before starting to journey north through India to Nepal. The break has also giving me the opportunity to speak with other travellers about their experiences in Indian and share suggestions of places to visit.