On the beach

It was just what the doctor ordered. Total peace and relaxation, wonderful food, discrete but attentive service in our secluded private garden in the mornings and evenings and our private area of the beach in the afternoons.

We were entertained watching the never ending struggle between predator and prey as the crows and kites attacked the crabs which were trying to get from the waters edge to their holes at the top of the beach. When the crab spotted a bird swooping down towards it it would run for the sea ( and when they pick up their skirts they can move pretty quickly). If they can make the sea then they are safe for the moment. However, if they calculate that they can't make it to the sea then, at the last instant, they turn around to face the bird and wave their claws in the air. Surprisingly, for the kites' talons are big and sharp compared to the crab's little claws, this tactic worked every time and we never saw a crab taken all afternoon.

Fishing is the important activity on the beach. There are big boats with a crew of 4 or 5 and single handed fishermen who go out with nets on a polystyrene raft. The single handed guys go out for a few hours at a time throughout the day and catch small fish. The main hazard for them is making their way through the surf as they set out and return with their catch. While we were there the waves were very big and we witnessed one small craft overturn in the surf with the loss of the nets and the catch. The larger boats go out in the small hours of the morning,when the surface water is cooler and the bigger fish come up from the depths to feed, and return at dawn when their catch is offloaded by swimmers who bring the fish ashore in baskets. There is a lively market on the beach with much haggling over the price of the catch. We had local fish twice for dinner and they were delicious, however, fishing is a dangerous game and several fishermen are lost to the sea each year.

With our interest in yoga we couldn't refuse a class from a local master of the art. Krishna has been practising yoga all of his life. Retired from his job as a headmaster for 11 years he now makes his income giving yoga masterclasses to tourists. Krishna is a tiny man with sticks for legs and twigs for arms but all of his joints just seem to swivel in all directions. He was quite impressed with Susan's yoga abilities but referred to me as a creaking door that rarely gets used. If only he knew how close to the truth that is! Check out his picture in the raised lotus position. It'll take me another 2 weeks to get as good as that.

Our sojourn in paradise is almost over. In a few hours we return to Kochin where tomorrow we will catch the early morning flight to Delhi. Hopefully our arrival in Delhi won't coincide with President Obama's. Can you imagine getting through security at the same time as him!

PS We have spent this afternoon at Orchid's sister villa Bougainvillea, where we have had lunch with Rupert and Olga who manage these wonderfull properties. Yesterday the beach was 20 metres away from the front door. Today, after being battered by the largest waves in living memory, the beach is only 2 metres from the gate and 15 palm trees have been washed out to sea.