Late afternoons in The Old Lighthouse Hotel, Fort Cochin ...

The Old Lighthouse Hotel in Fort Cochin was once the residence of the Port Architect - it overlooked the beach, where boys played wild football on Sunday mornings - 

From the terrace, you could watch fishermen sail their slender craft close to the shore - container ships headed for the open sea - camels carried awestruck infants over the sands - 

Sophie was staying in Tamarind Villa, a poolside suite we'd booked for her and Paul - 

After swimming in the pool, we would wrap scarlet towels around our sun burnt bodies - 

We'd sit on the terrace, shaded by noble trees, pouring Kingfisher Ultras into our glasses - 

Evening would draw on - the fuel depot across the estuary would become an iridescent city - 

In our suite, geckos would watch over my ardent dreams -