After our attempts in Ooty and Cherai we decide to try again to camp somewhere. We continue to follow the beach road looking for a small beach where we can set up our tent. We try a dirt road and suddenly we are in the middle of a small fishermen’s village. The people come to greet us and a young man who speaks English shows us a place where we can put up our tent. It’s an ideal spot: shade from the trees, sea view, ten steps from the beach, a fresh water tap and a shop within walking distance. It seems like we have truly arrived in paradise!

Our Paradise

Everyone in the village comes to take a look at us, almost every day. It was sometimes a bit uncomfortable, especially when there is no one around that speaks English, but the smiles and kindness of the people makes us feel welcome.
We had bought a UNO card book on the road and when we start playing, the youngsters from the village soon offer to join us. They really seem to like UNO and we play it every day.

Playing UNO with the Youngsters

While we take our first dive in the early morning, the fishing boats return from their night fishing. A fisherman motions for Kevin to come and help to push the boat back on the beach, which he does with great pleasure. The fisherman asks Kevin if he wants to join on a fishing trip the next night, which he friendly declines, as we are leaving the next day.

Pushing the Boat back on the Beach

On our last evening we are accompanied by two kittens who stay with us the whole evening. They even follow us in our tent, but we don’t allow them inside. The next morning we wake up and see four eyes looking back at us from the ceiling. The kittens apparently made their nest between the inner and outer tent, the inner tent serving as a hammock.

How Cute is This?

They stay with us throughout the morning and when we brake down the tent they are still there. Once the tent is completely gone, they crawl under the motorbike.
The people of the village accompanied us to the main road and wave us warmly after.

Never Alone in Vadackal

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