Mandekadu Beach, Tamil Nadu

June 5, 2013

A few kilometers of bumpy car drive from my grandmother’s home in Neyyoor leads you to Mandekadu Beach, where we observed high tides and a fluorescent unforgettable sunset.  I have to credit my mother for the beach photos here, all except the one taken by my grandfather of all of us.

We stood on a ramp-like structure leading down to the inky sand because we were not allowed to go near the water.  The waves were high and contained surprises so a policeman dressed in khaki uniform hollered at us every so often to make sure the beachgoers did not step onto the sand. 

Some guys who were cool disobeyed and they were having fun near the water but I had to stay put gripped by my grandparents on either side.  My sister and I still had a lot of fun each time a wave licked out feet and rushed underneath us to the top of the ramp.  The water was warm and foamy white.  We were screaming to the waves, “Come on! You are so calm! You can do better!” and we were giddy when the waves reached up till our waist every once in a while.  We were laughing and jumping about as bystanders looked at us with amused glances. We wanted to go down on the beach but the ramp promised great times standing on the sidelines.