Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Trivandrum/Kovalam - Kerala Day 3

Blissful overnight splendor experience. Honestly, I loved the whole lock, stock and barrel of Alleppey Houseboat. Except, mind you, no one for the matter I think will enjoy blood suckers mosquitoes and water rationing. Speak about water rationing? God, can you imagine not showering? Before night-night time and hopes were also dashed down again next morning when I realise substantial water is only enough for brushing teeth, washing your face and down there cleaning up as well. Yuks! Then again, anything else possibly? Nothing. Unless you wanna chance yourself into Allleppey backwaters itself? Tipping the houseboat guys, yes we did, not necessarily you must or should, do it only if you feel they truly extended their warmest Kerala hospitality, we moved on for journeying and Kovalam sightseeing. Four hours on the road if I am not mistaken, Kovalam is another must do. In fact, if you are tour travelling, Kovalam will be included because its marketed as “must-see-must-experience” destination for International tourists (Colombo Sri Lanka). Yet to be known to us whether Kovalam will be joy of Kerala, hopefully, we definitely kept our fingers crossed it will add another feather on our traveling cap as another Kerala gem. By the next two hours most to most whilst we travelling, we I think already concluded that Kovalam won't be let down once we passed by the serenity and nature given beauty of Kerala as a whole.   


Padi fields, mountains and country living, absolutely, in between the journeying hours, a comfort break, mutually agreed by the three of us, took place at one of the road side stalls for a quick bite as well. Obviously, for tea lovers like us, it had to be Masala Chai/Tea, we also munched a piece or two of the just fried vadai and “Palam Puri/Kerala Banana Fritters”. No doubt we sincerely appreciated the fluffy-soft Vadai, but fritters, an identical cousin of our “Pisang Goreng” or “Goreng Pisang” whichever, compared to our Malaysian crispy, crunchy, batter crusted soft-gooey bananas, these palam puri enveloped with dense, rubbery and  thick batter were hard to swallow.  Ahhhhhh!!

Still, we ate, we drank up the tea and next, on the road again prior to arriving in Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, way past 1.30pm for a night’s stay. Given a hand for carrying our luggage and bags to the 4th floor room, we returned to the ground floor for lunching in “The Courtyard”, across the lobby and facing the pool.  



Thumbs up yum factor. Coconut milk and coconut oil cooked, bolstered with spices and all local produce Kerala nice. We devoured in, simultaneously we glanced at the far and beyond surrounding of this 5 star hotel. The only complete wellness resort in Kovalam and breach surrounded, Uday Samudra Hotel nestled in palm groves arguably is a luxury at its own ultimate right.  

After  heartily helping ourselves to the unlimited ""eat all you can" buffet lunch, we embarked on a city tour to Trivendrum. Lined with trees and red tiled roofs avenues, bounded by Arabian Sea in the West and covering Kuthiramalika Palace, Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum and Sree Chirta Art Gallery. No pit stops at any of these places. Instead we went along with the tour guide's suggestion for “Poovar Backwater Cruise”even though we have already conquered Allepey tranquility

Suffice to say, not at all a regrettable decision because this wondrous nature awing cruise via the unspoiled and picture-postcard Poovar Village, a small coastal village so close at the southern tip of Trivandrum stretches your eye sight to some good tourist resorts. Moreover, for travelers like us, it was our moment in time for basically sitting back and marveling at the well preserved local plants alongside hundreds of species of spices, birds and exotic flowers, complimented by banana and coconut groves. 




True enough. Nature remaining as a rare-natural paradise and a 20 minutes stopover was also included at Golden Sand Beach across the Arabian Sea where we transported ourselves to our childhood years by having all the fun under the sun. “Poovar Backwater Cruise", I won't, no, I won't say Poovar Backwater Cruise is better compared to Alleppey Backwaters, yet, it must forever be cherished as a “heartwarming” memory. 




Next in line for us was Kovalam beach for sunset watching. Packed with thousands of locals who jammed up the narrow street, likewise at the beach on this Sunday, honestly I really didn't feel comfortable because they kept staring and looking at me. So, I stood far out and spend around 15 minutes for viewing the considered as a charming coastline and sun going down too. Sunset watching obviously calmed my inner peace, but seemingly one which I tend to value for whatever reason only while holidaying and street shopping at Kovalam beach didn't lure my attention. Additionally, we opted out from viewing the lighthouse at the southern end of the beach and on a cape since it was already getting dark.




Finally, back to the hotel for dinner before calling it  a day. Stay tune yea. Next change, Cochin. 








12 comments:

  1. Probably the flour they used is different.

    The hotel looks good.

    Lol...locsls kept looking at ypu maybe thinking got film star visiting them . You look gorgeoud

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  2. Such a nice place to visit except for the climate which turns too hot sometime. A very beautiful place to enjoy

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  3. Aha...so you are in Kerala..Happy trip dear.Enjoy!

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  4. I totally agree with you... somehow our people keep staring, I really don't understand why... :/ Beautiful pictures of my pretty land...

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  5. Such a lovely tour of the land that's so beautiful! Enjoyed going through your post, Nava.

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  6. Haven't visited Kerala yet.. on my wishlist.. I just love medu vadas .. yummm

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  7. Kerala boat rides,will have to try some day..

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  8. I love Kovalam beach and the back water boat rides

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