Backwaters of Kerala...

After our mammoth journey down from Goa, Kerala has definitely been worth it. The backwaters lived up to their billing from Lonely Planet and all the TV shows that claimed it to be a place you must see before you pop off. We stayed in a nice guest house where the staff were really friendly and helpful and helped us to organise the next 5 days. http://www.gowriresidence.com/default.html

On the Wednesday we hired their houseboat and were taken along the Keralan backwaters. It was amazing! Very peaceful...as we went through the narrow waters which also helped give an insight into the village life that existed round there. We had the boat to ourselves and stayed overnight along with our own chef and captain. Food was also excellent although they cooked far too much for us. Check out the houseboat!


















We stopped off at a place to see an old church, but this was also where we met a load of kids all asking for 'one pen'. Whenever the kids come upto you in India (apart from in Mumbai - where they cut to the chase and asked you for money) they all come running and shouting 'one pen'. Unfortunately, we didn't have any...we'll know for next time. Some girls followed us down to the church and were jooking and giggling with us along the way and kept giving Vanessa flowers that they'd picked. They were (like all the Indian kids we'd met so far) very cute and very giggly...


















The Thursday was a very different experience. We went to an Ashram where we stayed overnight. (http://www.amritapuri.org/)%20TheThe place was a bit eerie! There were pictures of Amma (The kind of spiritual guru who runs the place) all over and there were some 2000 people living there. It was in the middle of nowhere next to the see but consisited of at least 3 big blocks of flats that seemed very out of place in the middle of the backwaters. Amma wasn't there...sods law... she was in London hugging people!! That's what she's famous for. Apparently she's hugged over 25 million people all over the world. And when she's at the Ashram it's not uncommon to see over 50,000 visitors in a day! Whilst parts of the place are a bit strange and it feels a bit cultish they are doing lots of good work. This part of Kerala was effected by the Tsunami and the people at the Ashram are building 1000 new houses for the people that lost their homes. We helped out for a while the next morning before we left. Their determination and dedication was very admirable...they got up at 6.30am each day to do this and we felt a bit embarrassed and humbled by swanning in and just doing a few hours (although i guess every little helps).

Now, we're still in Kerala but at a town called Cochin where we're staying on an island slightly off it called Fort Cochin. This place is a real contrast to everywhere else we've been. It's peaceful, quiet and pretty clean. We've had dinner on the docks where they catch the fish and sell straight away virtually out os the chinese fishing nets. You then buy and take it down to the outdoor restaurants on the front where they cook it for you.

Last night we went to a ladies house for a cooking class on Keralan cooking where we watched her make chapati's and prawn masala with fried Ochra accompanying it. The food was definitely some of the best we've had so far and the Chapati's were definitely the best!


















Tonight we're off to have a traditional ayurvedic massage and then to watch a Kathakali performance which is a traditional Keralan dance and performance. Then tomorrow we make our way via plane and bus to Rajasthan which everyone we've met so far has been recommending to us!