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India: Varkala

The beach at Varkala
Looking south along the beach at Varkala

If you're looking for a peaceful beach experience that has yet to be completely spoiled by mass tourism, then Varkala is a little piece of heaven. I loved it; sure, it's a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the real India, but this means it's a great place to relax, get away from it all and recover from a long flight. Evidently I'm not the only person who thinks so, because Varkala is, basically, white (or, to be more accurate, salmon pink), and the only cultural experience you're likely to get is from bumping into fellow Europeans. Still, it's a great place to do it, and the locals are completely charming, and not just because that's the best way to relax their customers into spending a few more days chilling out in the restaurants, shops and guest houses that make up Varkala.

The beach at Varkala
The beach at Varkala

Decisions, Decisions

The beach at Varkala
Looking south along the beach at Varkala

The most challenging part of waking up in Varkala is trying to decide what to do with the day. Perhaps an afternoon at the beach? Or maybe a morning spent wandering around the tie-dyed boutiques, looking for bargains on kaftans and slippers? Or even a day guzzling seafood in front of the dazzling Arabian Sea? Ah, the decision is difficult, but Varkala is the kind of place where time stretches out and you end up spending days doing what feels like almost nothing.

The northern end of the beach at Varkala
The northern end of the beach at Varkala
The beach at Varkala
Looking north along the beach at Varkala