This morning we are going on a Backwaters of Alaphuzzha by houseboat tour that I arranged thru Best Shore Trips. The morning got off to a rocky start. We waited over an hour for our van to pick us up. We then had a very "interesting" ride out to Alaphhuzzha....the roads are 2 lane but are driven some times 3 lanes in each way!!!!
The term "backwaters" actually refers to the extensive network of rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons that lace together the coast and interior south of Kochi. For centuries these canals have provided a safe and efficient means of transportation for goods and people moving between the interior and port towns along the coast. Even today, coconut, pepper, coir (coconut husks), rice and other goods are carried along the waterways in traditional longboats called kettuvallam.
Alappuzha (previously called Alleppey) is nestled in the midst of a thick tangle of lush tropical waterways and this is where we boarded the houseboat for a idyllic trip through the majestic forests and palm-shaded backwaters of the city and surroundings. Our boat is a houseboat unique to Kerala. Converted from a traditional kettuvallam, the boat is a unique blend of old and new. Old as it is a traditional boat with a thatched roof, yet modern as solar panels are used for lighting.
We glided along shimmering waterways lined with dense tropical vegetation and observed rural Kerala lifestyles we would not have seen from the road. We saw narrow canals walled in with thick greenery to open vistas of brillant green paddy fields. Papaya, mango, jackfruit and cassava grow along the banks.
Churches, mosques and temples were seen among the trees and it was possible to see wildlife such as the green paraket. Villagers bathe and wash their clothes, and sometimes their buffalos, at the water's edge.
All in all, we had a very nice day. We are really enjoying our visit to India...much more than we expected. EXCEPT FOR THE CRAZY DRIVING!!!!!
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