| |
| |
|
Outdoors Information broutght to you by personals4all.com |
|
|
|
Kerala Backwaters - Gently Down the Stream
The quaint little balcony was large enough to accommodate two cane chairs, a table and little else. To reach it we had to climb over the ledge of our bedroom window and since the projection had no protective railing we had to be careful not to trip or fall over into the water below. Yes, the compact little perch had been grafted onto the side of our houseboat which drifted down the Backwaters of Kerala, the vibrant, living, 1500 km network of canals, estuaries and lakes that serve as the highways, by-ways and lifeline of the people who live along its banks. We got to be very attached to our precarious positioned balcony. Here we sat, sipping a on a cold tall beer (the camera within easy reach), sailing the Kerala Backwaters and watching the lazy rural world of Kerala, India, slip by. Women washing utensils, men paddling by in carved out canoes laden with a rich harvest of bananas and coconuts, the sapphire flash of a kingfisher, buffalos being ferried across the waters, rows of large spider-like Chinese fishing nets straining the waters, the faithful in their brightest Sunday best streaming out of a chapel along the banks, children with fishing rods waving gleefully out to us, the silhouette of a toddy tapper scaling up a palm tree... Kerala's Backwaters are in a constant flux and like voyeurs we found ourselves peering in at the drama of everyday life in India, simple, uncomplicated and fascinating as it unraveled around us against the backdrop of lush vegetation, a virtual riot of green. The sight of police petrol boats and white ambulance crafts cruising by and the thatched hut that houses the State Bank of India wedged between a school and a church along the banks of the waterway reminded us that the here and now meshed comfortably with unchanging tradition along Kerala's Backwaters. We were distracted from our musings when the houseboat attendant knocked on the door and informed us that breakfast would be served in l0 minutes. So we climbed back into our bedroom to freshen up in the attached bathroom with running water and a flushing toilet. We then strolled down to the lounge at the front of boat and feasted leisurely on a freshly prepared meal of local Kerala dishes. We were sampling more than just the flavours of the local food; we were one of the privileged few who got an opportunity to explore the Backwaters of Kerala in a romantic little houseboat. What made the boat unique was that it was virtually a hotel unit grafted onto the structure of traditional rice boats or cargo boats known as a kettuvalloms in Malayalam, the local language of Kerala. 'These boats are what their name suggest,' the young lad from Kerala who was our onboard guide informed us. Kettu is to tie and vallom means boat. The kettuvallom is a boat made of wooden planks stitched or tied together by rope. At Alumkadavu village, a traditional boat building center, we stopped briefly to explore the dry docks where these boats were repaired. Here we watched a toothless old man with thick horn-rimmed glasses skillfully stitch fresh planks into the hull of a boat. He was one of the few craftsmen who still survived; a relic of a tradition, which once seemed doomed to be sucked into the whirlpool of antiquity. The revival of interest in the kettuvallom and the Kerala Backwaters as tourist attractions, however, revived and sustained this dying art of boat building. Fittingly enough our discovery of the Backwaters started in one of these cruise boats, which we boarded, on the outskirts of Quilon, a bustling little town on the banks of the Backwaters in south Kerala. The weather beaten 'captain' of our 'ship' welcomed us on board with a toothy grin. He understood the whims and vagaries of the Backwaters of Kerala like the proverbial back of his hand. He decided when to punt, sail or use the outboard engine. Our voyage with him was a journey into history. Before the coming of road and rail transport the Backwaters were the main arteries of Kerala on the southeast coast of India. The Kerala Backwaters provided a waterway that even the maharajas of ancient times used, their royal entourage of accompanying boats following in tow. It was a time when cargo kettuvallom vessels laden with ivory, gold and silver, silk, rubber and spices sailed through the Kerala Backwaters for the port city of Cochin, from where they were shipped to the rest of the know world. In fact, it was Europe's search for an alternative sea route to this land of plenty that led to the discovery of the New World. 'They were looking for Cochin and they stumbled upon America,' a former mayor of Cochin informed us. The west still seeks out the treasures of Kerala: the tranquility and peace of its Backwaters. In fact, the segment of the Kerala Backwaters between Alleppey and Kumarakom in central Kerala is most popular with tourists. The other popular and shorter option is to cruise around the bustling backwater settlements of Alleppey and Kottayam near Kumarakom. Today kettuvallom houseboats have added a new dimension to Kerala's Backawaters. 'We are the Venice of the East.' It is a refrain we heard repeatedly on our cruise into the heart of Kerala. However, we discovered that it was somewhat off the mark, for the Backwaters of Kerala are of much greater dimensions and the setting more rural than urban. The similarity, however, is that both romance the tourists. Fact File An overnight houseboat cruise, including all meals, is part of the Enchanting Kerala holiday package offered by Traveljini.com, India's leading travel online portal. The exotic six nights, seven days package of the southern state of India covers Cochin, the hill station of Munnar carpeted with tea plantations, the wildlife sanctuary of Periyar and Kumarakom. Roozbegh Gazdar Content Writer http://www.traveljini.com seo@traveljini.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Outdoors - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Kerala - Holiday in Gods Own Country Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a lifetime by the National Geographic, Kerala has certainly earned its position on the holiday travel bandwagon.Located on the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, Kerala has a lot going for it in terms of its potential as a holiday destination? not the least its bounteous natural wealth. Tips for Mountain Bikers in Spain As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some important rules to follow and bike handling skills to master before subjecting yourself and your bike to the thrills and spills of off-road riding. Although most of us ride within our capabilities most of the time, riding on different trails in hot weather conditions can present a new set of challenges requiring some new biking skills and knowledge. Traveling To and Around Hawaii, A First-Time Visitors Primer Six different islands in Hawaii are open to tourism. Most first-timers planning a trip to one or more than one island have numerous questions relating to where exactly to go and how exactly to get there. Take a Hiking Pole on Your Next Hike It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter Olympics. You watch a ski racer zoom down the slope manoeuvring through the ski gates. 4 Steps to an Enjoyable Hike Some people have fought many years of their lives to preserve the rich heritage of the outdoors and nature we now enjoy. That dedication and effort has been rewarded by fantastic hiking opportunities in our local, state, and national park systems. 7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to bring or what to cook when you go camping? Do you either pack the entire kitchen (including the sink) or you bring the absolute minimum and then have to use a fork as a spatula or two spoons as tongs?If that sounds even the slightest bit familiar then you are in the right place. Over the past decade or so I have refined a list of 7 things that I use every single time I prepare for my next camping trip. 10 Tips to Planning Your Dream Road Trip Everyone has a travel dream. For many it is hitting the road for a relatively unlimited time, either here or abroad. Penguin Parade Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off the coast of South Australia, about 140 km from Melbourne. On the island you can see koalas, kangaroos and the main to attraction, the Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach. My Five-Ounce Sleeping Bag Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was only five ounces, and it kept me warm as the temperature dropped to the low forties on the bank of the Manistee River in Michigan. Welcome to Bragg Creek Welcome to Bragg Creek! Bragg Creek is located in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta Canada. It must be by far one of Alberta's best kept secrets. Inflatable Boats: An Overview Inflatable boats are made from flexible material, usually rubber, canvas, or neoprene, and hold air at high volume but low pressure. They need to be fitted with a frame to which an oarlock mount is firmly attached. Is There Such A Thing As A Romantic Camping Getaway In Minnesota? Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures. Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in Africa containing national parks and game reserves that consistently provide great wildlife sightings and experiences coupled with high quality accommodation.But within the country itself there are certain areas that are better than others to safari in. Bunbury Western Australia The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay and the eventual City of Bunbury, was in 1803 by the French explorers Nicolas Baudin and Louis de Freycinet, from their ships the Geographe and Casuarina. In 1831 there was a temporary English military settlement with the first settlers moving to the area named after Lieutenant Henry William St Pierre Bunbury in 1838. Navigating on the Mountain, in Water, or in Woods there is an eTrex Unit For You Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features of a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver and put them into a six ounce package that is only four inches high and two inches wide. The result is a unit that will literally fit in the palm of your hand. How to Repair an Inflatable Boat The owner can attempt small inflatable boat repair if factory-gluing instructions are followed closely. Rips and holes larger than one inch in the air chambers, or those within two inches of a seam, should be repaired with internal and external patches by a professional repair technician at a certified repair facility. Ten Skills - A Backpacking List Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a disaster - even though you brought everything you needed? Maybe you had matches, but couldn't get that fire going. You need more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience. Things to Make Your Gap Year in Africa Easy! The kind of things you pack when you go on a trip says a lot about where you're heading and what you're going to be doing.Taking a warm top and a 'blanky' is OK if you're going to stay at Granny's house, but when you're taking a gap year in Africa, these items come highly recommended. A Fishy Road Trip in Cairns The Cairns Fishing Adventure A Great Australia Road TripYou love holidays? You love to fish? Then you'll need to come to Cairns, Australia where the fishing is, quite simply, bloody fantastic.You've got options coming out of your ears when you fish in Cairns on your next Great Australian Road Trip. Whale Watching - The Biggest Show on Earth Whale watching is a spellbinding, entertaining, and thought-provoking adventure trip. It's a show with the largest mammals on earth as the star performers.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
