Reunions on the beach

We were almost giddy as we left the ashram, turning in our 'exit pass' at the front gate. We were all ready to determine our schedule for the day...and eat some exciting (spicy!) food. We made our way down to Varkala, a beach on the Arabian Sea. It is a very touristed spot, and we quickly found out that it was crawling with folks from the ashram. Everyone had the same thing in mind...a few relaxing days at the beach. The beach is simply beautiful. A long white beach defined by the tall cliffs that prevent any development from encroaching onto it. Our days disappeared swimming in the beautiful turquoise surf and watching our last dramatic sunsets over the Arabian Sea. The highlight of our time there was the reunions we had with other travelers. Fellow travelers that you have spent quality time with quickly become dear friends, and seeing them again is like running into a long lost friend...especially when you hadn't planned for it. Thus we were pleasantly surprised by several friends from our earlier travels in India.