The next two nights we were in Kovalam, where our simple hotel had beautiful views of the water and a beach. My morning started with sitting on the balcony and reading my book, listening to the sound of waves which always gives me a sense of the reassurance of eternity. I was able to watch fisherman drop their nets across an arc and then return to shore. It looks like they dropped off one member who had to walk through the water to shore and then returning to their nets. Unfortunately, I missed them collecting the nets as I was so engrossed in my book.
Part of this peaceful morning was seeing two birds, one a falcon (I think or maybe a hawk?), a crow as well as listening to the caw of a peacock which framed the scene. The birds perched on the branches, move their heads step by step looking for a meal: the crow for scraps, the falcon for worms. What I took from these photos is that up close, even a crow looks beautiful.
Then it was time to meet downstairs for the day’s touring. On the way we saw the local goats, which we regularly passed going to and from the hotel. It took me a while to orient myself and realize they were the same goats!
Our first stop was the Rock Cut Cave Temple. I was pleased to learn Biju our driver had never been to this temple, I found something off the beaten track and was able to give this devout Hindu an experience! This shrine dates back to the 8th century, at least the sculpture does, and is one of the oldest carved temples in India.
Then Biju returned the favor and drove us to another temple and statue complex called Aazhimala that we didn’t know about! This is one of the colorful southern temples and it was interesting to see it being worked on, the paint being updated and repaired. Aside from enjoying that, I loved having the time to look at all the details of the various gods and goddesses represented. Inside, you can see there are three temples, the center temple is to Shiva. Ganesh is on the left and Parvati is on the right.
Recently added to this complex is a giant statue to Shiva, finished in 2021 after six years and six months of construction. His hair with a woman floating out of the locks represents the Ganges River, symbolizing that the male and female principles are inseparable.
The local legend is about a wealthy woman who was at the temple to pray for a safe delivery as she was pregnant. She was murdered for her gold. Then there was a period of unrest and Shiva came and sat there to return balance to the area. Connected to that legend is the tree with mini-cradles attached to it, where families offer thanks for healthy babies.
Kovalam and Thiruvananthapuram (the towns seemed to be connected with each other somehow) was a coastal town so seafood is a big part of the economy.
Our next stop was an unexpected gem: the local aquarium. A small, unassuming building with around 50 small tanks where I thoroughly enjoyed looking the fish and getting some wonderful photos. One of the highlights was watching the graceful movements of the Lionfish, who danced like a ballerina as well as learning about upside down jellyfish.
Outside the aquarium was disapointing as the turtles were in concrete tanks. Having observed sea turtles in the wild while in Ecuador, seeing them in captivity was sad. On the flip side, getting close to see their intricate designs and coloring was nice as was listening to the mothers with toddlers thoroughly enjoying seeing ‘real’ animals.
Next was our meal of the day, where I enjoyed more delicious seafood. Bijou wanted a photo of the real me: with glasses and camera. I then returned the favor and took his photo.
My day ended with a short walk to the local lighthouse with its scenic views and very familiar design. The elevator ride up to the top was a bonus!
My location:
