I seem to be stuck in Varkala. I had only planned to be here for two or three days, and now I’ve been here five days and don’t want to leave. I have also been joined by Helena, a friend I met back in Mussoorie. It is nice to have a friend in town.

There was something about sitting in the tropical warmth under a palm tree, watching the surf which made it hard for me to believe it was New Year’s Eve. Helena and I stayed up at my islolated hotel on the beach. We sat and talked, and drank a beer that my hotel guys smuggled out to us (hotels and restaurants are not allowed to serve alcohol, and usually put beer in tea pots…”special tea”). We almost missed midnight, but I happened to look at my watch a few minutes before. Far down the beach we could see the fireworks from the cliff. It was a very quiet, relaxed way to start the new year.
When the new year arrived on the East Coast, I was just finishing by coffee and breakfast. I paused to wish you all a happy new year. I did so again the next 3 hours. It was strange to be so far into the new year, and realize that some of you were still in 2003.
So, Happy New Year! I hope your year has started off well!