Trip to Kovalam and Poovar

Mighty Arabian Sea

Kovalam Beach

Kerala... here I come again. When People asked me about places  to visit in Kerala my answers are normally backwaters and Munnar. There is a new recommendation... Kovalam. From Kovalam you can go to many other nearby places. Kovalam beach is one of the cleanest beaches in India. Water was so clean I didn't mind getting completely wet in the waves. After having a cold refreshing time in the sea I went for a hot oil full body spa which was followed by steam bath. What else do you need to rejuvenate your body and mind?

Kovalam Beach

Villa Maya Heritage Restaurant

If you plan to visit Kovalam, you must also visit the heritage food place called  Villa Maya Heritage Restaurant.  The place looks so royal,  looks like a palace which got converted into a  restaurant. Ambience is too good. Food is out of the world. We were welcomed with a complimentary welcome drink along with something to munch. The drink was unique and very tasty, I wanted to ask the recipe of the drink but I got so lost gulping the heavenly food I forgot to ask.

Villa Maya Heritage Restaurant

 

Welcome Drink

Our driver took us to a point which was breathtaking. Mighty Arabian Sea and its mighty waves took my breath away. What amazed me more were two tiny boats sailing in that tide... mind blowing! I got scared seeing them but they were experts, they knew how to face the waves. The view reminded me of the movie Life of Pi. It was in fact much more thrilling than the movie.

Poovar Island and Backwaters

We went for a Boat ride to Poovar island. We went through the backwaters and canals surrounded by jungle. I was surprised to know that many portions of Hollywood movie Anaconda 2 was shot there. Jungle  was surrounded by mangrove trees. Mangroves  look like mangoes, but I got to know that they are highly poisonous fruits. We also saw different types of birds throughout our journey. Some canals are very narrow we could touch the wild plants and trees , it was indeed thrilling. 

Jungle Backwaters

 

Houseboat

Golden Sand Beach Poovar

Poovar Beach is also called Golden Sand Beach because of the golden color of the sand. Near the beach in the sea there was a beautiful rock in the shape of elephant, it indeed looked like an elephant with it's half body inside the sea. Poovar Beach is the connecting point between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. It was amazing to see quiet  and calm backwaters at my left and violent and mighty Arabian Sea at my right. Another beautiful view was of the floating cottages at one of the islands nearby. I told myself that in my next trip to Kerala I would stay in one of the floating cottages. 

Floating Cottages

Elephant Rock

And I thought I was a Solo Traveler...

How to be a Solo Traveler

2015 was coming to an end. This time I had plans of spending New Year with some special members of my family with whom I have never celebrated my New Year. However, God has a separate plan for me. Last minute I got to know that my special family who lives far from me could not join me. And I have denied all other plans made by my friends. Do I have to spend my New Year alone? No way! Nirmala, go for Plan B.

 

Life has taught me to always have Plan B whenever you plan something. Plan A doesn't work all the time. My Plan B was going to Manali with a bunch of 100+ unknown people. Solo traveler which I am, was excited about it. Safety was my main concern which was void as I know the trip organizers very well. 

Difference between Traveler and Tourist

I am a traveler, not a tourist. I do not need a tourist guide, neither do I need a DSLR camera. I do not set expectations when I go to new places. But yes, I have some minimal checklists. For this trip, trekking in the snow and making a snowman are my wishlist. 

The day of my exciting journey came. I met Deepti who was another solo traveler, who was my room partner in the hotel in Manali. Journey had not started yet,  but I was already liking it. I enjoyed the company of my newly found friend so much that I wondered myself Are we seriously meeting for the first time or do we know each other for years?

First impression is the last impression...  I totally disagree with this. I was pissed off with the Jing-Bang group sitting next to us in the bus. They were so loud and noisy and cranky, I wished I could throw them out of the bus. God, give me some peace...  I prayed. But later  after talking to them, I realized, perhaps I was being too old fashioned. They were just bunch of harmless energetic young people who came to enjoy and celebrate New Year, far away from city life. They had full rights to go crazy and be crazy.

Happiness is when your wish comes true unexpectedly. I always wondered... I have friends from almost all corners of India but I don't have a single Gujarati friend. I wish I have one. I was surprised to know that my third hotel room-mate cum trip partner is a Gujarati. Neha reached Manali 4 days before us. She had her extended plans of visiting the nearby villages which sounded super cool and exciting. I have seen my parents watching Gujarat based Indian daily soaps which I hate from the core of my heart. But this fascinated me to know about the people of that part of India. Neha turned out to be totally different from the Gujaratis I saw in TV serials. She is a sweet and sophisticated woman, a rare breed, I must say.     

 

The best part of traveling Solo is you do not return Solo.  You come back with some fond memories, some good friends, some learnings, some souvenirs. I come back with a story as well. There is definitely a story to share from every solo trip I make. So, what is my next story...???