05.01.2005

Captured by Kerala

So Dad and Jo were flying in to Mumbai from London on New Years Eve and we still didn't have a plan. The Asian Tsunami took away our two week trip to Sri Lanka, and our troubles seemed oh-so-insignificant.

Two days of determined research and phone calls by Jo once again proved she has no peers when it comes to industrial-strength holiday planning. Goa was all full but Kerala was the ticket. Was it what!

A lazy land full, and I mean full, of coconut trees and old 50's style big-bonnet cabs cruising down dusty red backroads to beautiful deserted beaches. It feels like Cuba might when we finally visit that side of the world. Not that Cuba is full of Indian Ayurvedic health resorts.

Kerala certainly is. Our first introduction was to the Surya Samudra resort, a fabulous little utopia tucked away along one of those dusty red back roads. Perched on a headland commanding a view of paradise lost, it was exactly what we all needed.

Dad and Jo had just finished a non-stop trip around Egypt and Turkey, visiting Gallipoli with my grandfather and brother so three generations could see where my great-grandfather fought. By all accounts a fantastic and packed journey. At the same time Danielle and myself were racing around Rajasthan, so we were all ready to have a real holiday. After seven months of travelling we felt we *really* deserved it :-)

Early morning beach runs and swims gave us a taste of that Sydney summer we'll be missing once we hit London, and fabulous meals in between idle pool-side chatter and ayurvedic massages kept up the energy levels to continue relaxing.

Kerala really is a magical place - and it seems like the rampant tourism monster hasn't stopped by to devour the place just yet.