It was close to 2 PM that we started our forward journey towards Kochi.We started looking for restaurants on the highway.Too much of excitement and activity on the beach made us hungry. But surprisingly we did not found a single restaurant where we could get down with the kids.By the time we reached Neendakara which has an harbour and a beach as well, we found our hunger saviour - a man selling ice cream.
Neendakara has the biggest fishing harbour of Kerala. Since it was hot and we were hungry we did not get down.However the harbour is too big to be missed. Bright deep navy blue waters glistering in the sun and at least two hundred fishing boats parked in the harbour it is worth spending some time.The best time to witness the massive fishing action at the harbour is early morning, by noon all fishing activity is done for the day at the harbour.And evening is a good time to catch the sunset with the fishing boats on the foreground.The famous Ashtamudi Lake which is the most visited backwater lake of Kerala joins the Arabian Sea at Neendakara Harbour.
Soon after we found a restaurant just on the highway. We stopped at Sivaa beach hotel. Although the name has the word 'beach' but one cannot see the beach from the restaurant.However it was a very good hotel, food was extremely delightfully good and very reasonably priced.The best part is that the restaurant has a fish counter from where one could choose the fish and they will get it cooked for you as per your liking.Along with our thali, we got a huge red snapper close to 1.5 kg. The fish was not only super fresh, it was too tasty. Do check the video given below.
Extremely content with our lunch, we did a quick fuel refill at a close by fuel station and started again. If everything goes by our plan, we will see the sunset at Alappuzha Beach and then again move forward.
Reaching the beach is pretty straightforward as per Google Map: Get down from the highway, go some 1 km on a road till you hit a level crossing.Cross the level crossing, go another 1 km and you are at the beach.Things were going great, everything was right on time until we got down from the highway on the town road that meets the level crossing. An uncle with his rickety scooter would simply not let us overtake him, on an otherwise empty road. No matter what he will drive right on the middle of the road.Not sure if that was his driving style or not, but when we reached the level crossing the gates just came down.
We missed the sun going down while waiting on the crossing.The road road on the other side of the level crossing is chaotic as hell.People parked cars in all random ways possible, huge crowds of people with children, confused which way to go, two wheelers trying to break all traffic rules.Parking fees is
Rs 50 even though there will be no one to assist while parking or leaving. Someone with a printed slip will come and collect and then vanish...now that we have experienced it, we would say its better to avoid this spot, not worth so much hassle.
By the time we reached our homestay it was 7:30 pm, we were really tired and fatigued because of the long day. Also night driving is stressful in Kerala, somehow people drive recklessly even though daytime driving is okay. Our next 3 nights are booked at Nambiar's Homestay in Ernakulam. So we have finally reached Kochi. And so our Kochi stories will follow soon..
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