Days 9 & 10. Houseboat at Alleppey then off to Kannur

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 Today we left Kollam to drive to Alleppy for our overnight houseboat cruise. There were the usual sights to see on the road along the way

Cafe made from containers
5 on the scooter. Mum has another child on her knee
Only 4 on this one
Situation normal

At the moment there is a new motorway being built from Kollam to Bombay. Where there is a building in the way, the building is cut back the the new roadline, leaving some interesting sights.


The government has compensated the owners. Some places have been rebuilt. There are others with only the rear wall left standing.

Arrived at Alleppy where the Spice Routes Base is. A lovely old wooden building that used to be a rice store, but totally restored. There are rice fields all around the area, and the houseboats cruise along the major inland waterways. The houseboat cruises are the major tourist attraction in the area.

Spice Routes jetty 

Our boat (Saffron) was a beauty. 2 storied, with 3 crew. A luxurious lounge when you first get on. Totally enclosed with air conditioning, upstairs a dining room with a small deck to stand outside. And a huge bedroom suite with sitting room, bedroom, with a 4 poster bed, and large bathroom, featuring a double spa bath.


Saffron




We left the jetty for a leisurely cruise until lunch was served. 





What a feast. Tradional Kerala food on a banana leaf. Very special!

More cruising until around 5.30 when the boat was moored for the night. Dinner was to be at 6.30, so a crew member had organised a trip on a small boat with an outboard that took us up some smaller waterways, and there were some spectacular sunset views.
Our captain

Riding low in the water. This carries mud from the riverbed to build up the bunds


Doing the washing







Got back and it was almost dinner time. 
OMG - yet another feast ! We felt that we had to try and do it justice, but we were still full from lunch !
Dinner for 2

We sat around for a bit then off to try out that 4 poster bed.  Tomorrow is the last day of the tour, we leave here to drive to Kochi, then catch the plane to Kannur, to catch up with KJ and Nik, at Niks family home.

Saffron

& crew. Treated us very well.

Not much to report about the trip the next day to Kochi, other than a few pics to show the rice harvest in full swing
Ripe rice ready for harvest
Combine harvester - 1/4 size
Birds waiting for the leftovers


Loadout after the rice has been extracted.

Also a quick stop at the Coir museum. This is the history of coir making in the area. Coir is the fibre from coconuts which is extracted and coiled into a product that is very hard wearing. Ropes, door mats even a type of mdf board are produced.

Taj Mahal model

Coir rope
Small house from fibre board
Rope spinning
Loom for mat making

We arrived back in Kochi and had plenty of time to spare. We had some lunch and did a little bit of shopping. Dennis then took us out to the airport and we said out goodbyes. He has been a wonderful guide and has looked after us very well.

We caught the plane as scheduled. KJ, Nik and Hollie were there to meet us at Kannur airport. We were all very excited to see each other.
We had dinner in town, then off home where Niks family were still up, waiting to see us. Much excitement all round.

Comments

  1. Vicki BrightApril 19, 2023 at 2:06 PM

    That was luxury in my book, a four poster bed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave & DebbieApril 19, 2023 at 7:06 PM

      Next time Mrs Bright- come with us and bring your camera !!

      Delete

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