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Published: February 23rd 2006
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The backwaters
Picture taken between Kollam and Alleppy Hello my lovely people,
We left Alleppy for Kollam on a rather jam-packed boat but never-the-less enjoyed the eight hour journey along the backwaters to Kollam. The scenery is beautiful with coconut palms, bananna trees and other exotic foliage lining the waterways. The weather here is also beautiful with hours of golden sunlight to enjoy the scenery in. On the way we stopped at an Ashram to pick up a couple of passangers, which amuzed me greatly as these two young twenty year olds lived up to the stereotype of ashram visitors as they wafted onto the boat in lots of flowing material and a look of peace and spirituality accompanying their beards. Well, his beard at least. they had very much enjoyed their three days at the ashram, I over heard, and had been lucky enough to have been hugged by the hugging mama herself! The hugging Mama, I should explain, is a famous Guru in india whose technique is hugging, sometimes hugging thousands in one sitting. Needless to say, Fran and I havent had the urge to part with hundrends of precious rupees in search of spiritual enlightenment figuring we can probably get a few free hugs on
our return to the U.K! And I suspect, due to the absence of any beards, dredlocks or henna tattoos on our part we may have failed to 'find ourselves', but this is ok I think as many of other backpackers inform us that they have come to India looking for themselves ("as its like, so spiritual, man")and havent achieved perfect unity yet either. ER hum. However, we have met a rather nice (and seemingly sane) Irish girl who fels similarly about such issues as us and is providing a break from the usual two-some at dinner times.
In Kollam (another rather uninspiring town) we took a canoe boat tour of the back waters rather than having a houseboat. This was a fantastic way of seeing the surrounding countryside and there was only the three of us in our boat so the atmosphere was very relaxing and peaceful rather than a cattle packed boat! Our guide took us to see tigerprawn farms, sahowed us the various uses of coconuts including sending the canoe paddler man up a tree to get us all a coconut to try! We also saw the various spices growing, tamarind, tumeric, cashew nuts, pinapples, ginger. We
Kollam
Canoe Trip were also taken to a house where the guide had soptted a local couple eating jackfruit. They happily shared their goodies with us so we could try it, I did feel a little guilty though as they handed over what was probably their lunch but they seemed not to mind a bit about feeding strangers! We also saw a bright kingfisher sat in the trees, who was a rather beautiful creature but he flew of before I could take a photo!
Later in the evening when we returned we tried to find some water and a snack and a rather amicable stall owner insisted we come right into his stall to have a look round showing us all his sweets and biscuits much to the amuzement of the local customers who were stood behind the counter! After that he waved furiously at us whenever we walked by, looking very pleased when other people saw us wave back at him! We went to an extremley 'local' restaurant for lunch the next day and I think we may have sat in the mens room as the Indian men found us extremely odd, especially when we asked for a spoon to eat
Kollam
Coconut husks drying in the sun our lunch with! Just to totally confirm the locals' growing suspicion all English people are mad, we went into Alukkas, the 'Wedding Centre' and anounced that we were tourists wanting to look around. The men on the shop floor took it all in very good humour however, and showed us all the traditional gifts and jewelry that people give and wear at weddings. The shop was massive and the upstairs floors were devoted to saris and materials with a sitting area at one end for all the bored looking men to sit and read newspapers! I think the shop assistant was totally confused when I asked to take a picture of the sari section at the back!
We left Kollam for Varkala where we are now, a very dramatic coastline edged by deep red cliffs. Unfortunately the sea is a bit rough and Fran and I darent go for too much of a swim as we end up under the water most of the time if we do! I also got burnt quite badly on our first day which has left my legs looking like a fresian cow, but with red splodges instead iof black. I am now going
Varkala Beach
Looks pituresque but the sea was rough! to be sporting trousers on the beach in a daring red-head fashion move! We will probably stay here now until we head to Thivandrum to catch the plane to Sri Lanka where Mum and Dad are meeting us for a few days so I am looking forward to that. Hope the weather isnt too miserable at home.
Lots of lOve
Sass xxx
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