Although Cherai Beach had been a
wonderful relaxing place for Ippy and myself, Peter's teenage
children decided, after having had so much fun on the bikes, that
there really wasn't much for them to do!
(Apart from swimming, playing with
friends, chilling out on the internet in cafes and eating pizza!)
Peter and Ippy sat down to discuss the
options. The children wanted to to Om beach near Gokana where, three years ago, they
had spent two weeks during a two month trip to Goa.
Ippy and Peter were happy about this so leaving the children
to relax and play at the Homestay the three of us set off to go to
Aluva Train Station to check out the trains.
The walk to town was refreshing so
early in the morning but the two buses we had to catch were filled to
bursting point as people headed into town for work or early shopping.
At the Train Station, Ippy and Peter
queued with the thirty or so other people at the enquiry desk to ask
about train times.
Things seemed to be going quite well until they
discovered the journey would involve a sixteen to twenty three hour
train trip there with NO direct train back on the 29th for
them to catch their flight on the 30th!
We stepped to one side to discuss their
options.
Peter had 17 days before he had to go back to the UK with
the children, to go to Om beach would involve at least two days of
solid travel with no guarantee they could get back in time for their
flight!
An elderly German gentleman stepped up
to the desk trying to find out which platform the train to Varkala
departed from.
Between his difficulty in hearing, the surrounding
chatter plus the translation difficulties, Ippy noticed that he
needed some help. She stepped back to the hatch and helped the
Gentleman sort out his enquiry, while Peter and I chatted.
Having helped translate the information
the gentleman needed, she exchanged pleasantries and said goodbye
before turning to Peter. “We could always go to Varkala?”
Varkala was four hours away and a place
the children would definitely enjoy. Cian had been there before but
it would be a new place for Angarad to explore.
We all returned to
the Homestay to discuss it with the children.
Back in Cherai Beach preparations were
being made for Ashna's 5th Birthday Party. Ippy had picked up
gifts not only for Ashna but for all the children that morning as we
had made our way to Aluva and back.
Cian and Angharad, once they got over
their disappointment about not being able to go North, agreed that
Varkala would be a good option for the rest of their trip and plans
were made.
Ippy contacted her friend from Wales, who was staying
Varkala until January, to let her know we would all be arriving on
December 17th. Varkala isn't that big and she was sure
they would be able to find each other once we arrived!
That evening Ippy dressed in her
special sari as we joined in the Birthday celebrations.
The cake plus gifts were presented
before dinner much to everyone's pleasure.
Ippy found the candle to be quite
amazing.
It was one candle that burst open to
reveal five canles once the first one burnt down.
The Birthday Girl was the first to taste the incredibly gooey cake
With everyone now on a sugar rush, happy chaos erupted in the form of
dancing, indoor football and games!
Eventually it was time to eat and our
family was given pride of place at the table. Incredible vegetarian
food was piled onto banana leaves to be consumed with fingers.
Peter struggled for a while dropping as
much as he ate back onto the banana leaf but he soon got the hang of
it.
Angharad was having so much fun
scooping food into her mouth, she decided that every meal should be
eaten with fingers from now on!
More games followed our meal until
everyone was totally exhausted!
As the evening grew late we all retired to our room
to allow the rest of the family to bring order to the house. Tired
and giggling children could be heard going to bed and soon quiet fell
upon the Homestay.
Tomorrow would be the last day at
Cherai Beach for Peter and the children but Ippy and myself planed to
return before we flew out at the end of January.
We had had such a wonderful time being
part of this amazing family that a three or four day visit before we
left for Singapore was a must!
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