25th January
Hi all Hannah and I have just returned to the guest house in Alleppey after our 2 day backwater cruise in a houseboat. In this part of Kerala there is apparently 900 km worth of canals, backwaters and lakes - so we have seen our fair share of rice fields and palm trees! Very peaceful. It was 8000 rupees (93 pounds) for the 2 night houseboat cruise to cover 45 km. For this price, all food and drink was included and made fresh by our cook on board whilst a captain and another steered and manned the boat. Expensive, but one of things we wanted to do whilst in India and coincided nicely with the fact that we have now been together for 8 years - our excuse anyway. It was great and we took endless photos and Hannah has done various paint sketches which are now ready to sell when we return. The food was great. 3 very huge meals per day all based on local Keralan staple dishes based around rice and fish. Every evening the boat had to be moored up along the bank to prevent entanglement with the fishing nets that go down every night, so a great time for jase to go swimming! Back at the guest house, we will be leaving for Cochin tomorrow ready for the flight back to Mumbai. Cheers Jase and Hannah
