Fully rested and recharged after our wonderful backwater cruise, we heaved our trusty backpacks back on and headed south for the little beach town of Varkara. Three buses later and after paying yet another autorickshaw driver twice what he quoted (although only half what he demanded..."that price was for the bottom of the hill, much more to the top of the hill!") we settled into our gorgeous little bamboo hut on the clifftop and proceeded to do what it seems everyone does here...absolutely nothing! We met up with a British guy we'd met in Cochin, Mark, and he has introduced us to the laid-back, multi-national group of travellers who are taking a little India-respite here (it feels a million miles from India with all the little cafes and boutiques). The weather is absolutely beautiful at the moment and it's the perfect spot to just chill out and enjoy it! Yesterday we wandered along the beach and through the little trinket stalls; Nige and Mark bought lungis and then we headed up the 5-star Taj Resort and paid 150 rupees to use their magnificent pool overlooking the ocean, which we had all to ourselves! After a couple of beers in the pool bar, a lesson in lungi-tying for the boys and a game of cards under the shade of the palm trees, we wandered back to the beach for a masala dosa and to watch the sunset over another couple of beers - hard life... After a very late night, we wandered down for breakfast this morning at about 11am and have spent the afternoon doing a Keralan cooking course - we are happy to announce that the next time you come over for dinner you could be sampling Fish Mollee (coconut curry), Onion Pakoras, Fish-fry, Poorees and Chapatis!!! The only problem with Varkarla is that it's proving pretty difficult to leave - we've postponed it for yet another day...