Back down to the coast, the air got hotter and more humid. We dragged around a little, especially on a visit to one of the islands in the Alappuzha district (near Alleppey), waterways that wind and interconnect through rice fields that operate below sea-level. These backwaters of various rivers and lakes eventually work their way north to Kochi and empty out into the Arabian Sea.
How lovely then to spend a night on one of the houseboats that were originally used to move rice, fish and others goods to the Kochi markets but now offer tourists a languid and cooling voyage that slows down time. Especially when these boats offer comfortable beds, showers, and both a cook and boatman to make life easy for us poor, defenseless travelers.
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| half our company was one a sister boat |
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| typical houseboats |
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| mother and son crossing the river via coracle |
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| women washing clothes in the river |
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| men fishing for supper |
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| ahh, fresh banana fritters |
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| life on the road is hell |
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| ducks are cultivated here in great peeping numbers |
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| boys bathing and showing off to tourists |
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| the rivers are full of water hyacinths...and plastic bottles |
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| ripening rice, a local staple |
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| one of our group contemplating dinner |
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| joining a local group of kids playing cricket at sunset |
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| sunset over rice fields |
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| early morning |
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| operating reverse via foot |
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| one of the fancier houseboats..... |
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| and one of the ones needing a wee bit of attention |
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traffic jam as we all converge at the final dock
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| getting between islands |
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| taking in the catch |
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small islands of rice are ringed by coconut trees, and pockmarked
with old slave's houses |
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| hot walk |
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| baby cashews |
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| Martin and Shiguru |
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| Jenny and Gill |
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| Jenny and Charlotte |
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| Sari Sue |
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