 |
| Anything can be transported across the backwaters, including bicycles! |
 |
| View of sunrise by the Indian Ocean from Azheekal beach @ 6.30 am |
 |
| Typical scenes at most railway stations |
 |
| The train arrived! |
 |
| Unloading |
 |
| There are many train classes in India. Here is a second class coach without air conditiong. |
 |
| The sleeper class which comes with folded up seats during the day and pulled down for sleeping during the night |
 |
| Food sold by peddlers |
 |
| Morning market scene on Hospital Road, after our second breakfast nearby |
 |
| Hospital Road |
 |
| The boat from Kollam to Allepey, docked at Kollam Boat Jetty |
 |
| View from the jetty |
 |
| Leaving Kollam |
 |
| Fishing vessels |
 |
| Strangely all fishing boats in Kerala has a distinct fresh coat of paint |
 |
| Chinese fishing nets |
 |
| Chinese fishing nets |
 |
| Chinese fishing nets |
 |
| Mummy duck guiding her ducklings to safety |
 |
| Dredging |
 |
| A community of fishermen mending nets by the river bank |
 |
| One of the many bridges we will pass by |
 |
| One of the many churches we will pass by |
 |
| Factories by the river side |
 |
| Village life |
 |
| Local transport across the river |
 |
| Eagles and many other species of birds |
 |
| Getting to know the passengers on board. Here are 2 men from Kollam. We also met Sreejesh Sreedharan Pillai, his wife and young daughter. Sreejesh works in Dubai and was back for the holidays. We also met 3 young German travellers on board. |
 |
| Note the little strip of land separating the river from the sea |
 |
| Popular crossing |
 |
| Lunch stop at Dreamz Kadav Resort & Restaurant, 12.30 pm |
 |
| Standard rice with 2 portion of vegetables and fish with curry for 100 rupees. Add on fried fish for 80 rupees. |
 |
| Ice making factories and cold rooms for the fishing industry |
 |
| Back on Azheekal !!! |
 |
| Amrithapuri Ashram which often receives international guests |
 |
| Boats and waterways near Vallikkavu boat service |
 |
| Vallikkavu boat jetty. Saying goodbye to our friends from Kollam. This is the stop to Amrithapuri Ashram and the boat fare is 140 rupees. |
 |
| Amrithapuri Ashram pedestrian bridge |
 |
| Chinese fishing nets near Azheekal |
 |
| Ochira-Ayiramthengu Bridge from yesterday! |
 |
| More ice factories and cold rooms near Azheekal |
 |
| The view of the bridge construction connecting Perumpally and Azheekal |
 |
| Perumpally Tsunami Bridge from yesterday! |
 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Combined Power Plant |
 |
| Coir Village Lake Resort which we were considering to stay |
 |
| Peddler |
 |
| Another river clean up activity |
 |
| Another beautiful homestay |
 |
| Quiet and serene |
 |
| Anami food court @ 3.30 pm. One banana fritter, one vadae and one milk tea for 30 rupees |
 |
| Land bound, Anami food court |
 |
| Boat bound, Anami food court |
 |
| Suspension bridge |
 |
| Suspension bridge |
 |
| Paddy fields |
 |
| Paddy fields |
 |
| Housewife doing laundry in the evening accompanied by ducks |
 |
| Bath time! |
 |
| Duck farm |
 |
| Sunset |
 |
| One of the many grand houseboats. They come in many standards and categories |
We were rushing for time, this morning. Waking up at 5.00 am, we were downstairs by 6.15 am. Hema was in her night shift, chatting with a neighbour when we finally stepped out. It was Monday, a school day and a working day for all. Hema briefly told us she is waiting for her daughter to board the school bus before she herself will head for work.
It was twilight when we started riding off but by the seaside, light was quick to catch up. Throughout the way, prayers were broadcast through the airwaves! It felt like the temples were competing with each other for devotees with microphones set up on all available lamp posts in the area! Predominantly Hindu populated, it was an eye opener as we had assumed only mosques broadcast their call for prayers.
 |
| Muslim school girls riding to school |
Once we crossed the bridge an joined Panickerkadavu Road, another set of prayers was heard. This time, from mosques in the neighbourhood!
 |
| Familiar yet different, the roti is kneaded on an oily wooden table |
 |
| This tea maker was so kind, he washed and sterilized a large serving spoon for Claudine when she requested for a spoon to scoop the boiling hot chickpeas. He also ran through the glasses with hot water. |
 |
| The shop |
 |
| Lifelike statues clad in white robes like this can be found in many places around Kerala |
Half an hour later and a few kilometers short of H&J Mall, we stopped for breakfast. We ordered what looked like the familiar roti canai. Served with a weak vegetable curry made out of cabbage and potatoes, we decided to order an extra serving of chickpeas which was boiling from a pot. Unfortunately, it had a strong taste of clove which was hard to ignore.
After H&J Mall at Karunagapally, we took NH 66 all the way to Kollam. Traffic was heavy and we worked well together with the lead rider checking for vehicles stopping at road shoulders while the sweeper will signal "CLEAR" every time we need to weave out!
 |
| Near the KSRTC bus station and Kollam Boat Jetty |
Pounding hard on the pedals, we arrived early in Kollam. With 2 hours to spare before our boat schedule, we decided to explore the busy town. Attempting the busy roundabout near the KSRTC bus garage, we then braved the crazy traffic to get to the train station.
 |
| Peanut |
Before embarking on our 10 hour boat journey to Allepey, we decided to tuck in a second breakfast. It was not difficult to find good food and soon we found ourselves lapping up great thosai and vadae in a nice restaurant near Hotel Sea Bee. We even ordered take-away chai and vadaes for the trip which was totally unnecessary as the boat will stop over for lunch and tea breaks.
Thinking we may be bored, sitting in a boat for 10 straight hours, we were wrong. It was an interesting journey with many sights and cultures to take in. This was so much better than a classy houseboat that doesn't sail much but twirl around the same waters!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kollam to Allepey by boat
- 10.30 am to 6.30 pm
- 82 km journey by boat
- 400 rs per person
 |
| The boat |
 |
| 400 rupees per pax for a 10 hour boat ride |
 |
| Upper deck |
 |
| Lower deck |
 |
| Toilet |
 |
| Steps to the upper deck |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lake Garden Resort, Allepey
We had booked Kuttichira Heritage Home with Booking.com a few days before our departure. Just like Booking.com, none of their stays are exactly confirmed! We arrived at 7 pm only to find the place was fully booked with a lame excuse that they were unable to contact us on the cancellation as we only had overseas contact numbers registered. Whatever happened to WhatsApp and emails?
Anyway, the owner was apologetic and tried to make it up by showing us to a home stay across from their place. Not exactly cheap, we then decided to look elsewhere and found Lake Garden Resort at our first stop.
First impression was good but then there was no hot water despite the promise, the electricity tripped twice and the toilet refused to swallow what it was fed !!! Having said that, the owner was an interesting person to talk to. He shared that he had returned home to manage Lake Garden Resort (on a lease) after being abroad in China for more than 10 years!
