Today is the last Koninningedag (Queen's birthday) in Holland. Queen Beatrix had kept this day instead of her own birthday to honour her mother Juliana. I always enjoyed the celebrations on this day; festivities at the school, singing patriotic songs at the local nursing home and the flea market in the afternoon. It was a national holiday and everywhere Dutch flags and royal orange wimpels were hung. Living in Australia I always felt Dutch on this day. My birthdays never felt the same without the full Koninninedag experience. Now on my 40th Birthday Holland gets a King as Queen Beatrix abdicates in favour of her son Willem-Alexander. From next year Holland will have King's day on or around 27 April when it is Willem-Alexander's birthday.
from dutchnews.nl
Today we travelled to Varkala, stopping at Kollam long enough to do some quick shopping at a supermarket. I was in search for wome more bangles but the ones I found were too snall. I did buy a tiffin serving dish, small metal serving dishes and 2 tali (divided) plates to use back home in Australia.
saying goodbye to the lovely family who took care of us at Venice Castle Homestay
Dave trying to blend in (dhoti worn Gujarati style)
In Verkala we wanted to eat at the Abba Restaurant and German bakery in search of birthday cake. Sadly the bakery is closed because the baker resigned. As it turned out the bakery was little more than a small display cupboard with some cakes. We had some nice food there. It felt strange sitting among westerners who were dressed in little more than bikinis!! More clad was the French/Spanish couple we had met in Alleppey last night who had taken an early morning train to reach here. Dave and the kids had managed to buy me some elephant earrings the other day without my knowledge so I got these at lunch.
elephant earrings ...
At dusk we visited Papanasam beach ..
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