Kovalam

Madurai to Trivandrum, 300 km, then 16 km to the beaches at Kovalam.

It was a good job that we booked the 23.10 train. Sleeper class, discount for over 60's. About £5 for the pair. Every place was occupied. We had upper bunks. Takes 6.5 hours.

Mike had one Street chai too many, which resulted in an explosive bowel. The prospect of a lengthy rail journey with toilets not much better than a Weatherspoons pub, was not an attractive idea. Out, or should I say in with the imodium.

On the upper bunk, adjacent to Yvonne's, and next to Mike's, was a rather large, in the obese sense, gentleman. He seemed to have melted onto the mattress. It was almost as if he had no bones.

Now Indian trains are not the quietest of vehicles. The wheels clatter, the ceiling fans whirl, and every join on the track bounces the carriage.

Then the gentleman went to sleep. How could we tell.... He could snore. He could snore for India. He could snore for the human race. He could snore for our arm of the milky way.
To say he was loud would be polite. Reminded Yvonne of the large male sleeping seals in New Zealand, in sound and form.
Both had never heard such loud snoring. At one point he suddenly stopped, Mike thought he had died, or swallowed his nasal tissue. Alas, no, after a brief interlude it started again.

Even so, both managed to grab some sleep, and so we arrived.
Caught the local bus to Kovalam, then a tuk tuk to 'The Ganesh House', our Homestay for the next 3 nights. It has a kitchen and a washing machine we can use. In fact so impressed that we extended our stay by a further night. Just to laze on the beach, replenish bodily fluids the traditional way (beer), and generally doss.

Beer can only be brought in two places. The first is in restaurants. If it's not 5 star then you have to hide the bottle under the table. You can also buy beer and wine at the government outlets. Understandably called 'British shops' by the locals. Half the price, and the Ganesh has several fridges on the premises, win, win.

Leave you with some photos; Yvonne on her upper bunk; Ganesh Homestay; Yvonne on the balcony; Mike's feet on the beach.