March 14: Kerala Backwaters Homestay

Travelling by private vehicle, head for the backwaters of Kerala - 5 hour ride. It's a great ride through plantations of rubber, tea and coffee to the boarding point for our boats. Crossing the backwaters, head to an island village to stay with local families. In the late afternoon, we explore the island with a local English-speaking guide to observe the different facets of local life - this is a great chance to meet and talk with the people who live here. Strolling under palm trees and weaving in between the rice fields that cover the island, we have a chance to learn about the lifestyles of the locals. Take a leisurely boat ride around the lake and enjoy the outstanding scenery. Accommodation is on a multishare basis and all the families live within a few hundred metres of each other, with at least one person in the family speaking a reasonable standard of English. Food is traditional Keralan home cooking. (Brochure)
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As the brochure stated, we have a comfortable drive to the Kerala backwater area. We stopped along the way for potty breaks, stretch our legs and take some photos. Below are photos of a rubber plantation...trees are cut and latex sap collected.

Whoops There's these Rubber Tree Plants

Cup of Latex Sap

We meet-up with a boat that transports us into the Kerala backwater area which consists of over 300 man-made islands that supports the growing of "red rice", fruit trees and village fishermen. It is quite the story about how these islands were constructed in the 15-17th centuries. Palm trees were split and their sections sunk into the mud....another set of trunk sections were sunk adjacent to the first and the space filled with debris. Finally...men called "mud diggers"dove to the bottom of the river and collected mud on their chest which they brought to the surface....the mud was used to fill the void in the palm tree wall......a water dike was constructed. Creating these dikes/islands was conscripted work. Today the area reminds me of the Louisiana marshland areas with beautiful waterways, swaying palm trees and significant boat activity.

Boat Transport

Off To Our Home-stay

Heart of Darkness by Boat

Plying Kerala's Waters

River Commerce

Palm Paradise

We are dropped off at our respective home-stay lodgings...the ladies on one side of the river, the men on the other side. The men's residence is the home of the Babu family...parents plus 3 children....girl in 6th grade...boys in 11th and 12th. We drop our gear in our room, freshen-up and sit down to a lovely lunch of curries and tea.

Mr & Mrs Babu

In 6th Grade

Off to Bangalore University

It's  2 PM and I'm Starved

Look...No Utensils

Yuuuum

After lunch, we travel back across the river and rejoin the young ladies for a walking tour of the village. We learn about the different plants, coconuts, how the islands were built, and meet some of the local residence.

Vishy Explaining the "Backwater"

Doing Their Home-Work

This is a Coconut

Monica Learning

Sailing Back for Dinner

                                                             

Backwater House Boats

We arrive back at the ladies' residence for drinks and dinner.Unfortunately, Gillian has to depart a day early...an elderly man who mentored her during her University and Law school years died early in the week. She wanted to attend his funeral, so Intrepid assisted her in changing her plans...Gillian's bright smile and soft giggle will be missed.

We have a wonderful dinner and learn more about the local culture.

Wonderful Dinner

Hindu Prayer Area

At 8:30 PM we decide to head back to our residence. Wouldn't you know it but it begins to rain....here we are in a boat with umbrellas crossing the river in total darkness and driving rain...the only thing missing would be some crocs....maybe there were???