So after having done with the Kumarakom Backwaters, I decided to go ahead and make sure I strike the no.  2 from my list… Yes, travel to Allepy aka Alaphuzza via the Govt. Boat into the backwaters of Alaphuzza… So with that in mind, I called up @vmsajan aka Sajan Mani my friend and guide out here in Kerala. Btw, this man has some really in depth knowledge about Kumarakom and near about areas in this place… He said to me that this is something you would not want to miss out on.. And why would I?? I mean that is listed as a must-do’s in Lonely Planet magazines… Several people from the world throng to be on this Boat ride. It truly is  a spectacle especially since it gives you the feel of Venice of Kerala… Yes, while you are taking the boat ride, you will come across many bridges, which are manually overriden when the boat comes by people holding them with ropes.. can you beat that??

 

 

 

 

You will see people around you working, washing clothes, fishing or going about their daily routine cause, for them it’s their routine…

 

 

 

 

So before we began the trip, we quickly gobbled up the very local Malabari Parota and KadalaCurry. Very tasty I must tell you… and then off we went on our trip…

 

 

On the boat we were seated in front of a couple, who were caucaseian but dressed as Indian as they could get… We started talking to them and learnt that they were from Canada… Nancy and Terrence.. and also learnt that they have been travelling from Winchester, Srilanka to India back to Srilanka and then back here in India for about seven months now… Damn, people have been telling me up until now on #SriniOnTour, that they envy me… Now I know what they mean 😛

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So anyways, we got to also know that they write at Travelpod, they’ve been travelling for a while as they are in transition. They were actually Professional Social workers from Canada and they are big fans of India and Arundhati Roy… One of the most amazing things we learn’t was that they were there during the bombing of Varanasi… boy, and when I read about their experience it totally blew my mind off.. Yet, that did not deter them to go back home and stop their adventure is what I respect the most. Check out their experience here.

 

 

Very quickly our artist @vmsajan drew a small sketch of Terrence, esp since he liked his attire… Truly this is a sketch which can depict his personality the best 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So we reached the place in about two and a half hours… On our way we got a lot of beautiful shots and videos of the backwaters… truly mesmerizing… Since we were parched to death, we decided to quickly go into town (Allepy) and get something really chilled out to drink… After we had the amazing lemon soda at the stall just outside the boat jetty, we decided to roam the streets of Allepy to find out if we can get some unique pictures and boy… this is certainly unique, what we got out there 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our return journey, we decided to stop by at the very famous RBLOCK Island… and eat some good food and have local coconut palm beer also known as Toddy… This Island was manmade by over 5000 villagers led by Mr. Baker… this was done in order to get more land to cultivate Paddy… Truly fantastic place for you to take  a pitstop and eat some really delicious food. Since I don’t eat fish or sea-food, I can’t tell you much, but from what I’ve heard from Sajan, the pearl-spot fish and the tiger-prawn out here is really delicious. Check out this amazing post by @hollowmaniac about his visit and his experience here…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all almost an entire day spent on a boat ride was the best thing to have done… My dream was always to go to Venice… that’s my dream destination… well, at least I reached the Venice of Kerala… Hehe.