Day 12 Wed 7th Nov - India houseboat and Kovalam

Sleeping well in our houseboat I awake around 7 to the sounds of the birds. I quickly dressed and went out to the lounge and deck area. A fresh pot of milky hot coffee already prepared and waiting for us. I sat drinking it watching the bird life the villages opposite emerge for the day ahead. I thought at one point I was seeing things. A long neck was rigging in the water making its way towards me. I quickly put my coffee down and grabbed my camera. As it got closer I saw a beak but no body just a very long neck. It couldn’t be a snake, one of the men came out to wish me good morning and he told me they call it the snake bird as it always swims with is whole body emerged! It was most bizarre! Breakfast is served around 8 and we head off back to base, I so wish we had booked longer, I could have sat there all day.

Still, off to our next part of the holiday. The relaxing part at the coast though Kerala has definitely been a chilled time with some fantastic memories.

Our driver is there to load our suitcases, I sit in the front and off we go, travel tablets taken, for our 4 hour journey to The Leela hotel in Kovalam.

I sleep the majority of the way, think its the tablets that do it! Though Russ stays awake for another hair raising journey on the chaotic roads!

Arriving at The Leela around 2, we have already upgraded to The Club, a quieter infinity pool on the cliff edge with its own restaurant area, a Living Room with lush settees and rooms overlooking the sea. The staff meet us, welcome drink and a shell necklace, there are 5 greeting us and as I approach the check in desk they start singing Happy Birthday to me! How lovely, my birthday feels like months ago not a week! We are shown to our room, all staff passing us wish me a happy birthday, it appears the whole hotel knows! In the room are balloons and a cake, yes another cake!!!

The rooms are lush with balcony overlooking the sea, waves crashing against the rocks. This time we will fall asleep to Alexa’s Relaxing Sounds of ‘Ocean Waves’!!
We kind of unpacked and grabbed our costumes and made our way to the pool, lush from being so hot in the humidity, thank goodness it is cloudy! Still 33 degrees but with the heat of the sun as well I think it would be just toooooo hot!

At the poolside restaurant we have high tea, a small selection of light bites and cakes, part of The Club package. The staff are extremely friendly and see to our every needs. We read, I blog and swim.

Russ is feeling the effects of traveling in the back of the car and after our high tea at 5pm he skips tea and I have a small risotto. We retire to our room and sit on the balcony watching the lights on the horizon of the fishing boats. There must be at least a hundred of them fishing for tuna and mackerel.