Hey everyone- have to do some serious catch up on the log. Have been in Varkala for the last two days. Just north up the coast from Trivandrum, Kerala. If you can imagine Indias answer to Newquay, it's pretty close. Very bizarre feeling to have spend the last 5 weeks sticking out like a sore thumb to suddenly unnervingly fitting in. We arrived to the bamboo hut we'd booked, and it is so cute. Complete with star light, antique carved wood furniture and the icing on the cake pink mosi net!! Varkala basically consists of a long cliff top lined with bars and shops (all very keen for you to go in- they don't like you saying no!!) We've basically had a very lazy couple of days recouperating a little and generally doing nothing. We didn't even make it to the beach- but to be fair the tides up really high and apparately there wasn't any room. We did however fit in time for a little pampering. Me a full body massage (and they really mean full body) and emily for a rather brutal pedicure and manicure. Met some very interesting characters. Ross and Elaine who kindly told us the meaning of life love and the universe, is all about the anna key? He didn't like me and em findly a few massive loopholes in his theory but nice enough guy. A group of students who we met 3 times and not once did they remember as they were off their heads on banging lassi's (fruit punch with a local herb!! added) and a couple of waiters who tried very hard to convince me and emily to be their honeys!! Lots of good food and drink. Oh yeah, there are very expensive licencing laws here so the bars tackle this in one of two ways. Either you have to ask for a beer under your breath and it's brought to you in a teapot and cup (brilliant!) or the bars pubically advertise drinks and you can observe the police and their heavies coming round on a thursday to receive their bribes. A random man in a cafe told us something which has become the theme for my trip. India does have laws, but no one follows them. Instead we let God decide what happens to us. This is definately try of the tuck tuck drivers!!