A vacation rejuvenates you always. Travelling to new and unexplored places always fills you with a satisfaction of having the joy of trying something new. Our journey to the beach town of Vodarevu was a similar experience. For any traveler who wants to put Vodarevu on their travel itinerary, an important thing to remember is that vodarevu is not a quintessential beach like the other beaches of India. It is one of the many coastal villages situated on the coast line of Andhra Pradesh. There are no other tourist attractions except for the beach. What makes this place a good travel destination is the warmth of the local people and the laid back attitude of the town. One travel in the local bus and the conductor recognizes you the next time bestowing on you a graceful smile. A breakfast at the idli stall is an experience to cherish always not just for the spongy melting in your mouth idlis but also for the warmth of the girl at the counter who sweetly coaxes you to eat more. The tension and the maddening hustle bustle of the cities is pleasantly missing in this sleepy village. My grandmother always told me of the Harikatha tradition in the temples in her time. Never having experienced this, it was a novel experience to see that this tradition is followed in the temples of Vodarevu even today. Fishing is the prime occupation of the people here and one part of the beach is devoted solely for this purpose. If you do not mind the fishy smell, a walk along the fishing area would compel you to wait a little more and watch the prize catches of the day. My knowledge of fishes was limited to the gold fishes in the bowl on my friend's desk but here I was seeing fishes more than two feet long of varied colours and shapes. I always thought birds and butterflies were the most colorful creations of nature. The fishes here proved me wrong. They were all there in different hues of yellow; blue and even pink couldn't stop wondering what a beautiful artist God really is! If you are lucky, u can spot dolphins too. The auction of fishes was an interesting experience. An elderly gentleman who came there to buy fish even explained to me the scientific names of the types of fishes .Having expanded my aquamarine knowledge; I was walking by the beach only to arrive at a clear stretch of sand free of the fishy smell and the fish business. Though the experience till now was enriching, still not being able to walk into the sea waters was a little disappointing. But now it was just the sea and me and it was an exhilarating feeling. The only regret I had was not being able to travel on one of those tiny fishing boats. I could only console by telling myself that it is for those dare devil adventure freaks which I am definitely not!!!
One word for the travelers’ is-do not expect a routine beach experience from Vodarevu. It is not a regular beach destination. It is a unique experience in itself and I would recommend it for fun with friends. While Vodarevu ranks very high in terms of the warmth and hospitality of the local people, the hygiene part sadly needs a lot of attention. Sticklers to cleanliness like me will have a harrowing time adjusting to it but then Vodarevu comes as a package. Take it or leave it. I would say leave hygiene to the sea winds and soak in the experience. Maybe you will love it. I surely did..!!
Traveler Tips:
Accommodation here has a limited choice. Do not go by the travel guides you find online. Trust the locals. Their judgement is amazing when it comes to accommodation.
