STARBUCKS!

This post won't be any fun if I can't get the picture loaded so trust me I am trying! After arriving in Varkala we went looking for a hotel and decided to stay in the first one we came to. It was very nice, freshly painted, bright orange with paper lanterns hanging everywhere. The room was on the second floor and it had A/C. I'm realizing over here that they don't offer things, you must ask for everything. This includes soap, toilet paper - which the locals don't use. There are sprayers near every toilet, like the ones in our kitchen sinks and the locals use them to clean after using the restroom. We also had to ask for a blanket. They are always happy to get these things for you and as much as you want, but you must ask. After getting settled, we went for a walk along the cliff where all the shops and restaurants are, and came across an actual American style espresso bar. Being this is the first one I've seen since Heathrow Airport I just had to have a latte. Made just like back home and tasted almost as good. the cost in US$ was 1.10. If I can't get the picture uploaded, the reason for the headline is they actually use discarded Starbucks cups. The kind that go through the making process where to logo is upside down, or sideways, something like that. They are perfectly good cups, they just don't look right. We were using the holiday cups from this year. The next morning while Daren was still sleeping I went for a walk again and of course just happened to find myself at the bar. I know hard to believe. While I was walking around with the drink in my hand, many people came up and asked where I go that - as they could see the Starbucks logo.....It really is a small world.
The beach in Varkala is about 80 -100 feet below the cliff shops and the only way down are some nice concrete stairs. The beach itself is great, the waves were very strong and fun to play in. In Kovalam the beach is somewhat protected by a cove, but in Varkala the beach is wide open to the Indian Ocean so the waves are larger and stronger. Dinner that night was good. We ordered guacamole for starters and when we got it, it was only fresh salsa so we sent it back and it came back with very small chunks of avocado in it, but still looked like salsa. Shopping in Varkala is better than in Kovalam because they don't pester you as much, they let you actually look at things. I think if Varkala wasn't as far as it is, we would head up there more often, but alas, the taxi ride is way to much on the nervous system. After a late breakfast that morning, we found our driver and headed up to the ashram.