Varkala, Kerala: December 30th – Last couple of days of 2018. Smritika and I were taking one final walk along the Varkala beach, a precious spot in the state of Kerala.
The day was filled with tandoori seafood, real coffee, a couple beers, swimming in the ocean, Ayurveda massages, mellow hash (which I bought at the local grocery store), and meandering, tangential, flowing conversations filled with laughter. It was sunny, low 80s with a soft breeze. We had a 9pm plane to catch. Initially we were supposed to leave at 5pm but one of the deities had blessed us with an early morning text from Air India that our flight was leaving later than expected. Thank you Air India.
So at 6pm, sunset happening, warm ocean water and sand underneath our feet. Endlessly walking. The beach was crowded but you had plenty of room. What was magical was everyone seemed so present. It was as if you had multiple universes and multiple realities at one common venue with many parallel universes converging in that space. All doing their own things and everyone seemed so damn happy. I swear, I was completely sober when I was thinking all of this. Ok, maybe a little buzzed.
There were so many kinds of people at the beach all lost in their own world. A group of young boys wrestling and throwing each other into the ocean. Their own expression of love. Traditional looking Indians fully clad clothes in water, right next to them European tourists in skimpy bikinis. Local men wearing their lungis (like a scottish kilt). Present, big smiles, nothing seemed out of place. Auntys and Uncles and young kids. Bulky life guards blowing their incessant whistle to come in from the choppy water. No one listening. A tourist couple doing acrobatic yoga. A young guy meditating. Locals, tourists, old, young…Everyone was in their tiny little bubble inside the big bubble. A perfect day. The video gives you a little taste.
To be clear, not everyday looks like this. Most don’t. We all know that. Another post I might share some of the tougher & mundane moments. But with one month down into 2019 we have to remember these perfect days!
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