India. The names conjures up a dichotomy of images from the peaceful, spiritual ideal of yoga retreats and ashrams, to the chaos of crowded cities overflowing with crime, garbage and slums. Michael and I have been in the southwestern village of Mararikkulam North for almost a month, staying at a rustic, oceanside homestay called Arakal…
Category: Kerala
Mararikkulam North, Kerala, India – Sun & Surf & Crows & Eagles & Puppy Play!
Doing our five minute walk to the beach from our homestay, Arakal Heritage we were joined by our friends Popeye and Olive! Another friend joined us! She is younger than Popeye and Olive, lives at the beach under this cart and is full of feistiness!!! Michael was excited to play in the surf! Popeye wasn’t…
Kochi, Kerala, India – Into the Big City!
Michael and I were up and on the road early, to first have breakfast before starting the hour and a half scooter ride into the city of Kochi. On our way to have breakfast, we had to wait at the train crossing. The safety barriers are manually, well to be more literally correct – womanly…
Mararrikulam North, Kerala, India – Teaching Me About Gratitude and the Essence of Beauty
I’ve been struggling the last few days during our third of six weeks in this small, southwestern coastal village in Kerala, because I’m missing the western standards of cleanliness I’m accustomed to with the added ugliness of garbage littering the sides of roads and beaches. It’s not like I didn’t know India was this way….
Arthunkal & Chethy & Mararikkulam North, Kerala, India – Moments
During the third week of our six week stay in this southern part of India, Michael and I started to tire of the non-western standard of living and the garbage. However, we’ve heard the further north you travel, the dirtier India gets. So, we’re grateful to be in the “cleaner” part of India. Except, further…
Mararikulam, Kerala, India – Mararikulam Beach – Waves, Hot Sun, Garbage and a Curious Crow!
Michael and I returned to Mararikulam Beach the following day to play in the waves! Walking through the shanty huts selling various drinks, snacks and touristy items…. A young woman prepares a coconut for drinking: This area has a mix of Christian and Hindu religion. Not far from a Hindu shrine further up the beach…
Mararikulam, Kerala, India – Mararikulam Beach – Lovely Families, a Beautiful Sunset and Garbage
Michael and I discovered a family beach that is a ten minute scooter drive from our homestay, Arakal Heritage. Mararikulam and Mararikulam Beach is a popular tourist area. The beach itself is beautiful. However, the garbage that litters the beach is not. The shanty huts selling Indian teas, cool drinks and snacks would not pass…
Arthunkal, Kerala, India – St. Andrew’s Basilica & St. Sebastian’s International Shrine
Michael and I stumbled upon this lavish church while searching for a restaurant to have supper. To me, what makes this church lavish, stand out even, is how pristine it is amoung the humble living conditions within the village. It is very apparent that money to the church takes priority over infrastructure and garbage collection…