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Vaisampākkal

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    • TravelerIndia 2022-23
      111111111
      Day 17

      Kerela backwaters to Kochi

      January 5, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      After a shower I went out onto the terrace to just sit and look at the river. Does were still and there's some lovely reflections of the houses and trees opposite. Breakfast was served sitting overlooking the river and was rice cakes with samba washed down with a coffee. Personally, I'm not convinced with having curry for breakfast, but the setting was just amazing whatever I thought of food.

      After breakfast we took a water taxi for an hour or so to Allapuzha where we caught a local bus back to Kochi. The local bus was manic and fortunately for us Eve had to take a taxi instead as she wasn't feeling well, although unfortunate for Eve! The bus was crammed with locals travelling the 2 hour journey and every time the bus stopped, which seemed frequently, the doors slammed open.

      We arrived safely in Kochi at just before 1pm and hauled rickshaws back to our original hotel where we checked in. Ed and I then took a walk to the TMK warehouse where another part of the art exhibition was taking place, this time with a Welsh connection!

      By now it was time for a beer and so we walked up to the Ginger hotel where we'd been before, for a drink and snack overlooking the water. From there we took a rickshaw back to Fort Cochin for a final wander around before returning to the hotel for a shower.

      At 7 we met up with our group, minus Eve who was still unwell, for a final meal at a restaurant in Fort Cochin. From there we went to a rooftop bar for a farewell drink before returning to the hotel by 10.30 to get packed ready for our early start on Friday for the second part of our Indian trip!      Read more

    • India
      11
      Day 20

      Kerala Backwaters

      December 24, 2018 in India ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

      We drove from the highlands of Thekkady to the west coast of Kerala on the morning of the 23rd. At the first stop I realized that I'd left my camera in the room at the hotel. Arrgh! We drove through coffee, then tea, then rubber plantations as we descended. Mid-morning we arrived at a dock next to the sprawling, slow moving Pampa river. We boarded a water taxi for a ride some 45 minutes downstream to our riverside homestay.

      The ride was pleasant, but a bit noisy. It felt something like the African Queen as the diesel engine kachunked along. We passed some riverside homes. The tree house in the photo below really stood out. I'm sure that home did well during the torrential rains and flooding of the last monsoon.

      We passed many houseboats along the way. Our guide Veejay said that "there are two places to go in India, the Taj and the Kerala Backwaters." Tourism is down, so many were lying idle. The boats that we saw working were mostly engaged by Indian families. They are built on traditional hulls with thatched roofs and hobbit like windows. Many look like something out of a Miyazaki movie, except for the aircon units hanging off of the back.

      By mid-afternoon we'd reached Ayana's Pampatheeram Homestay. Very pleasant place built along a dike and right on the river backing up to rice fields. The owner took us on a long walk explaining the history of the place and pointing out native plants along the way. Coconut played a big part in the discussion. At one point he showed us how to weave some rope from the frayed husk of a coconut. He gave Sophie a homework assignment to practice spinning the husk. A video can be seen here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wnXt5FyYTRnVZL1U6
      After a short walk upstream we were met by a traditional canoe. We clambered aboard and set off downstream back to our digs. Very quiet and very pleasant time with the helmsman poling his way along the shore.

      Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We'll be in Kochi through Christmas before catching our flight to Mumbai for the great wedding event.      Read more

    • TravelerIndia
      Day 13

      CRUNCH time

      March 8, 2020 in India ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Very worrying time Mike managed to fall / trip / swallow dive / horizontally piroett off the houseboat falling 5ft onto rough concrete steps, wedging himself between the boat and the concrete jetty.... a few expletives and several pints of blood later we managed to extricate him. Following a patch up on board and a threesome shower ( what happens on the boat stays on the boat ) we transferred Mike to a local hospital. He was expertly cared for by a team of Catholic nuns. Our faith in humanity was restored by the amazing kindness shown by all the staff, Babu & Jimmy who spent the whole night attending to Mike and one of the local residents who kindly transferred us to the hospital.

      Thankfully Mike survived despite copious cuts, bruises and rib fractures.

      Some people will do anything to get out of playing Scrabble      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Vaisampākkal, Vaisampakkal

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