I woke up early – at 5 am to go to the airport to pick up my arriving companion. The flight arrived on time and soon we took a subway to the city. Then all day I was guiding him though the main attractions of Singapore. But the highlight was in the evening, when we were watching two fantastic light shows:

First one too place at 19.45 in the supertrees grove – next to Marina Bay hotels. As you can see on the pictures above the crowns of the trees were covered by flashing lights in different colors. The music from Bizet’s “Carmen” accompanied. Wow! After 15 minutes we quickly moved through the hotel and Sands Commercial Center to the terrace on the shore of the bay to see the fountain show accompanied ny contemporary music. In the background was a skyline of Singapore:

There were laser lights and the projections on the courtains of water. Another great show lasted also for 15 minutes, but was excellent… Colors, music, scenery… I have been on Singapore many times but I had for the first time chance to attend both shows!

And everything was for free!

Every time I am here I see more skyscrapers, but also many nicely restored colonial houses.

Today I discovered huge and new Buddhist temple but built exactly like those old monasteries. Everybody is welcomed to see the statues, to listen for praying and music. I was just enchanted by the atmosphere:

It is officially forbiden to take pictures in the main halls, but if you alre alone and discret…

Near the temple the young local couple in the national dressing were posing for pre marriage picture – it was nice occasion also for me to save their image:

I was hungry in the afternoon. A loaf of bread in the 7eleven costs 4 singapore dollars, and kilo of bananas – 3 SGD. Other tropical fruit cost more.

The immigration control in Chiangi airport is now automated, but to enjoy it you have to fill online arrival card 1,2 or 3 days before. Going to downtown you must take green subway line to Expo station and change to blue line to Chinatown. Chinatown changed for better since my first visit in 80-ties.

In the hostel I am waiting till 3 pm for registration… No mercy! The Beary Best! Hostel seems to be one of the best accomodations of this category. But… This is the hostel, not a pension or inn. For 20 euro per night you will get the bed in the 10 person’s bunk beds dark and cramp room, without any chair. But it has the extras: towel (if you ask for) and private locker under the bed – like big a suitcase, but bring little lock with you.

If you are after long night flight you will be still happy. Shared toilet and showers are clean!

I spent great 8 days with a lovely Indian family in Trivandrum, making day trips around, but it is time to say goodbye. The best air connection to Singapore – my next destination offers Malaysia Airline. In the past they cancelled my flight, the same repeated now – they rebooked me for the flight 2 days earlier – but I was forced to modify plans.

My host delivered me to the airport terminal 2 and the theatrum began: it is hard to imagine Indian bureaucracy, the service goes so slow,any controls on the way, a lot of papers must be filled. New terminal 2 is very elegant. But tonight only 2 flights of 8 departed – the rest did not arrive from the Middle East war area.

We started just after midnight. The only meal they offer was poor, spice and without any bread. We landed just before sunrise in Kuala Lumpur. I had 1,5 hour for the connection to Singapore…

Varkala or Varakala lies on the coast, some 50 kms from Trivandrum. It is popular seaside destinations in Kerala state.

I went to Varkala by train, paying just 35 rupees for one hour journey in 2nd class. Station is located 2 kms from the cliff. Once on the cliff you will enjoy edge path with the views and long line of little shops and restaurants. Many westerners is coming here, as the place has the stmosphere:

There are numerous paths going down to the beach. The beach is flat and wide. Sorry, only few palms under the cliff. Waves were high today so few people decided to swim. The guards care about the safety.

I was walking on the sand to the southern end of the wide beach where they have water sports facility. But it is possible to walk further south. The beach is more narrow there and has no facilities – it is more “wild” – an interesting goal for nature lovers. Take a lot of water with you!

I returned to Trivandrum just before tropical storm. But it was great day!

Yes, Trivandrum has a city beach on the other side (seaside) of the airport. To have a full scope I decided to go there by foot – it is some 4 kms from the city center. First what you will see will be a row of fishing boats and some stalls whete the ladies accompanied by sea birds are selling fish. Bad smell, garbage – I took few pictures and escaped to the Terminal 1 (domestic) of the airport.

The beach you will see 100 m further north was completly empty if you don’t count wandering dogs. Another boats are parked on the sand an there is a lot of garbage around. Only the 5-m strip kissed by silver waves is clean.

I walked in the heat further north to reach after half kilometre two lonely guys from life guard. There was a restairant above the sand and some food stalls. The owners told me that people are coming here only in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset. Maybe. But due to the lack of palms it is hard to say it is romantic place… Bus 9A goes here from East Fort. The stop is easy to recognize – there is monument of army helicopter. Nearby the monument of the sirene was more interesting for me:

Summary: the capital of Kerala should have clean and developed beach!

Kovalam has the opinion to be the best beach resort in the State of Kerala. It took me only 40 minutes and 25 rupees to get there by city junk bus from the East Fort bus station in Trivandrum.

From the final bus stop there is little alley going down to the first beach Hawa or Rock Beach. Few fishing boats operate from there. Also water sports are offered. Water is shallow, guards are present and are whistling often. On the other end of this cove there is something like junk observation tower. Once you will pass this tower you will enter the next cove, housing the palms: palm-fringed Lighthouse Beach. More tourists here, more shops and restaurants under the palms. Red and white lighthouse stays on the rocky hill on the opposite end of the cove. The lighthouse with surroundings is the highlight of the Kovalam.

If you decide to pay 50 rupees entry fee and start little hike up, already from the stairs you will see great view of Lighthouse Beach (photo above). Once in the lighthouse you will take a lift up and hike to the balcony for the fantastic panorama:

There is one more beach after lighthouse: Rocky Beach. With access by narrow stairs only few people go there. Therevare big boulders. I went there for the views – it is worth, but you will return the same way.

Fantastic day and only limited number of tourists. But it is very hot and the sun is stron so bring a lot of water and a sun screen!

I have been in India many times, visiting different parts of this wide country – from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, but I didn’t reach Cap Comorin.

I booked last expensive bookable coach a/c sleeper expecting a crowd and this was a mistake – no crowd and because cold after 2,5-hours journey journey I was already sneezing. From Kanyakumari station there is only about 1 km walk to the Cap. Pilgrims are coming here for ritual ablutions.

On the rocky island nearby they built enormous monument of biggest Tamil writer. On the second rock there is menorial house of the other Tamil hero. Locals are going there by ferry for tge picture. On the land there is Memorial of Ghandi (take a shoes off). Ashes of Ghandi were kept here before they spread them above the ocean…

Goddes Amman Temple is closed every day from 12 till 4 pm, so I hadn’t a chance to look inside (photos are strictly forbidden anyway).

i recommend you fishing village east from the Cap – in two sandy coves there is more than 50 colorful boats… In the same quarter you will see few lovely catholic churches. Leave the shoes outside!

Back in the station I bought regular 2nd class ticket to Trivandrum for just 25 rs (yes 25 rs instead of 520 for reserved a/c). It was raining on the way, so we were sprayed through the windows, but this was another adventure!

They announce feeling of the temperature for today of 40 deg Celsius… No need to order Uber ride – most of tuk-tuk (3-wheel moto taxi have installed counters) just make sure that it is switched on! I went in the morning to the most important museum of Trivandrum – lord Napier Museum:

Locals pay here for entry 30 rupees. From me they wanted 6,5 times more: 200. Scandal! Inside there ic collection of artifacts from colonial periods. Building itself is also interesting – mixture of orient and oriental style. The park around houses zoo and many flowers. From the museum I took a walk along main street to St Joseph’s catholic cathedral. Just opposite there are other, but closed temples: The mosque and hindu Ganesh temple:

There were peaceful manifestation in the main street but I don’t know what they are fighting for – not that language:

Then I went to the central station to buy a ticket. In the 21st century it took me more than an hour to fill the forms and stay in the line. Finally I got only one-way ticket and info that they do not accept credit cards issued outside India. But I was waiting with very interesting people:

I returned walking, to see more… Just see the flower necklaces produced by street vendor. The ones in my my national colors I liked most:

Trivandrum where I woke up is a biggest city of the State of Kerala. Around million people live here including suburbs. I live in the little pension Dwaraka Villa hiden in the little lane and surrounded by bananas and palm trees. If you are good walker it is walking distance from International airport, but you must be heat-resistant and it is difficult to navigate in the dark.

Junk Tata city buses (no glass on the windows, no routing table in English but only 18 rs per ride) are cruising main streets. I took one to get via Kerala University to the main temple.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the main hindu temple in Trivandrum. Well guarded by the police from all directions (no photo inside) is frequently visited by pilgrims. I do not know all those myths and their gods but they are coming with the families to wear special clothes and plunge in the holy bassin. Very nice people!:

The main temple photo below) from the distance looks like a gold – covered. But if you come closer you come to the conclusion that the bottom of the temple is original stone but the upper roof is covered by carved plastic:

In the sanctuary there must be a god, they are selling his image on the souvenir paintings – there are many stalls around the temple. The heat wast exhausting. I bought a kilo of tomatoes for 40 rupees and a loaf of bread for 45 and returned home. It is time to write about exotic India… Imagine: today I did not see any other tourist!