Sweet

Will Hassall aka Haching on the 23rd of November.

On this day all the coolies headed down to the beach at Kovalam about 25 minutes away from Trivinandrum on the coast. Me and a few others woke at around nine o'clock to go to a buffetbreakfast at 'The Residency Tower' (say with a posh accent). Not bad for five bucks Aussie a head, personally i njoyed the french toast and the prospect of a coffee nmot from a street stall, the others enjoyed their customized omeletts Will Dillaine in peticular got a simple but equally tasty combination of just cheese and egg. After confusing the waiters (who tried so hard to impress all the westerners) with the fact that we didn't stay there we headed back to base the very stinky and small 'Omkar Lodge' in the heart of Trivinandrum where we proceeded to gt ready for a day at the beach.
Kovalam is the nearest beach to 'Trivi', about 25minutes south. It is a lovely place with many Europeen tourists and inflated prices. There are three main beaches a couplle have Ok sand (by Australian standards) while the other two are a mix of a dark black muddy sand and your regular beach sand (talk to David Antonborough for more details). Theeach are just of mostly hilly terrain and are seperated by rocky outcrops and even a cliff (which will return later in this blog). After a walk along the 'boulevard' looking at some shops most people hit the water running in screaming, playing (aagh) and attracting attention. While me, Madaf, Jock and Penny went to get drinks and some food. While we waited me and Penny went to check out the nearest Henna Tattoo parlour though we didnt buy any right then we did see some we like and if it lasts expect to see it when i get back. The restaurants that line the beach are very relaxed and make you feel like your somewhere else (not in India) playing old music chilling music like Bob Dylan, Beatles, some 70s and 80s rock and then later on even some nineties dance...if only they had a D-Floor. Our waiter at this place was an absolute MC and already knew Jock from the day before learning all our names speaking like a Jamaican (even though he is Indian) and giving us nicknames we didnt quite understand, nevertheless the perfect salesmen. It was also at this time that telling me the alchohol he had on the menu the whole mood took over me (i may have blacked out) and i had this urge to invent a new drink. I ordered i Pineapple Lassi - (an Indian milk drink that can be flavoured either sweet, sour or fruity) with some rum (they didnt have white). They came seperately but i lowered the lassi and added the rum ctreating an all new experience which after tasting the other guys were enthusiastic about trying.
After my oversized shot of rum i headed the only place i knew would be safe, the water. Armed with a 12rps cricket ball for skimming cross the water we joined the others already out there. We played and plashed around noticing the new creatures from a distant past in bikinis as well as body surfing with style. The water was pretty warm and after an afternoon of swimming I felt as if i'd been coated in some sort of oil though i was sure salt water couldn't do that.
When we got sick of the green tinged water a group of us headed back to another resaurant overlooking the water for an avo snack and some beers. After re-energising we went shopping finding out the power of impulse buying on the wallet and Mum and Dad though i have got you pressies i am now feeling a bit guilty, i think. Then we had another swim as Bro. D, Peppe and other had arrived deciding following the cool cats to the beach for dinner was the way to go. I never thought such a nice humble Brother like Terence could be so scary but in those Budgy smuglers even the Lungi - wearing Indian men were taken a back, Peppe managed to pull his boy-legs off having aged a little more gracefully. More good times in the water trying to catch waves that were bigger than a metre, we did have more luck than the rediculous Brits on surfboardsn though and before long were sufficiently tired enough to quit and head in for a night of cocktails.
After stealing a quick shower in a hotel courtyard me and Matty O'Shea had to build up our funds for the rest of the night which was destined to be expensive. The whole coolies group had pre-dinner drinks at the lunch bar served again by the cool waiter, this time a few others tried my invention and surprisingly werent as impressed but with pride in tact, convinced the bartender ruined it i followed the group on to dinner. We split into to halves to ease the pressure offf the would-be poor chefs and waiters, they st-ruggle enough. I was at 'The Beatles' with about eight others inlcuding Peppe and the cocktails kept coming with Spanish Punches and Aloha's they weren't as good as the meal but for those back home they are about 6-7 Aussie dollars (thats cheap). I had the Prawns in coconut and spiced sauce on rice, but only after finding out their half kilo lobster wasn't available for me and Dan Rodway to share, the prawns were beatiful though worth the eleven aussie dollars. We ate well talking about De La, times like the blueslip skeem and Mr. May's, and Mr. Hewit's musical prowess.
The 'piece de resistance' though came last in the ight as we headed for 'The Leela', 'The Essence of India' (ha) a classy, illustrious and extravagant hotel that dwarfs all others sitting atop a clif that seperates two of the beaches. Rooms we guessed would have to be around 3-400 Australian but we were just there for the Salsa dancing which Peppe had scouted earlier 'accidently' walking through. Though we didnt fing a salsa dance floor a great dissapointment to us (well me anyway) we did find an amazing bar with plush white seats and lounges overlooking the Indian Ocean. We saw at least three great pools one of which was of course an infinity as well as day spas, toiletts and even a gym that would make Arnold (the Governator) horny. We lay down blown away and ordered high class cocktails that you wouldn't find anywhere else in India a few of the boys decided to go undercover with the 'James BOnd Classic' while i stayed tropical with a Mai Tai and Peppe got his Capryosca, made to perfection. But the highlight for me anyway was ordering (sorry parents in advance) with BFO and Will Dillaine one of their expensive and cased cigars. We had the Hoyo de Monterry ( i think), a churchill ("darling") and yes it was wonderful, absolutely, and went perfectly with BFO's Vodka Martini ("shaken not stirred", also smooth as you like) aagghh the high life of a Coolie. Did I mention we finished work at G-Kaliputi last thursday, we deserve it. We decided we better head home after a second cocktail and some great mood making guiter playing from Penny, oh and paying the rupees 10, 000 bill wow!.

Thats enough from me i hope you enjoyed. Good Samaritans and party animals signing out.