Mararikulam beach

The sea was too strong for swimming at Odayam, so after a few days I left for Mararikulam in the Allepey district of Kerala.  I'd been here before a couple of years ago and knew it to be a quiet area with a big beach that was safe for swimming, even with an early monsoon causing rain every day.

Two french people Aimejah and Jhiene were also staying at Dominics.  It was their first time in India, so I took them to the local temple one morning to meet Uma Devi the temple elephant.

The temple band sounded like Pharoah Sanders and his band, great drums and horns.

Check out the carved figures.  The image of the god looks unique to Kerala, I've never seen one represented like this.  I think its a local form of Vishnu, but there's tridents on the railings which relate to Shiva. 

Daily life goes on in Mararikulam...

...including lunch at the new Hotel Joy.

 

This is the beach at 2pm.

My room at Dominics and the view from the room to the beach.  Not bad for £10 a night.

Like a lot of villages in Kerala, Mararikulam has a great toddy shop.  Bhaskar is the owner and he recognised me from my last visit. 

 

Bhaskar at work decanting the two different types of toddy on offer.

 

Inside the bar with Bhaskar and Mano the waiter.

 

The sea got rough in the afternoon, but I still had a swim much to the amazement of other beach-goers.

And if you get up at the break of dawn, it's calm and sunny until around 8am when the fluffy white clouds turn black and it all kicks off.

See you next time.