But I digress. This post is about our post-ashram experience in the state of Kerala, India. We came to a small town of Alleppey (Alappuzha). This is one of many of the towns along the rail line where you can catch a houseboat and do a cruise up the backwaters -- the town's nickname is the "Venice of the East!" In addition to getting awesome Keralan food and a clean boat to ourselves we got something that you can hardly buy here in India -- peace and quiet. It seems to be a rare commodity in this country! This was our boat:
When we stopped for lunch, a goat that was wandering on the sliver of land between the canal and rice paddies decided to join us -- he got away with two of our lady finger bananas!
The peace and quiet was seldom disturbed, and even then, always in a mild manner -- a quiet fisherman traveling home after work, school kids waiting for the school boat (no school buses here!), or some workers fixing a canal wall.
It was by far my most expensive night in India thus far, but as trusty Lonely Planet travel guide predicted, it was worth every rupee.
Excellent aerial shot from the Kerala Tourism group: http://greatbackwaters.
Goats in bed? Is there something we should know about you, Holden...?
ReplyDeleteNah, that's not a bed, thats just a lounge seat, no worries.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that the goat didn't get into our private bedroom / suite further back in the boat. We just let him enjoy a bit of the fruit basket on the table and then shoo'd (spelling?) him off the boat, as he struggled to investigate the kitchen.