My time in South India is winding down, and I won’t be sad to leave the heat and humidity behind. Two short months ago I was freezing in Kathmandu and looking forward to Goa. At some point in the coming weeks, I’ll hit the sweet spot…mid 20s during the day and high teens at night. It may only last a few days, but I’ll try to make the most of it by not whining…
I took an auto rickshaw out to the boys’ gurukulam in Vattiyoorkavu yesterday. The driver was hilarious, regaling me with stories about his rickshaw woes and the tourists he has met and his religion (Anglican) and how he knows the Canadian flag because it has an olive leaf on it. Sometimes, he even paid attention to the road.
Despite being in hospital for ayruvedic treatment this week, Swamiji was waiting for me, and we had a good meeting about how I can help with the revamping of their website. I had lunch with the boys before heading back to town and hitting the beach for a quick swim before the sun went down.
I returned to the beach early this morning for a big mug of excellent coffee and to watch the fishermen bring in their catch. They must set the net out in the evening, then they haul it in by hand in the morning. It’s a huge job requiring many hands and looks like a tug-of-war between man and the sea. They sing as they bring in the catch, and it is quite beautiful. Kovalam is certainly not one of my favourite beaches, but it’s the only one I’ve seen where fishing coexists with a thriving tourism industry. May it continue.
