The Backwaters

While sitting in Delhi, a few of us decided that we must try and organize a trip to one of the southern tips of India - Kerala. Seemed like an obvious choice since a few of us are sort of settled there itself. So having decided that, we took off on deciding how and when to get there as well as what is it that we would like to do and see.

Prior to that, I gave K a shot of a typical out of townie Bengaluru experience. From happy hours to dosas to a hazey purple evening - We did it all with my ponjees who were thrilled to finally meet him.

The train journey couldn't have been more "exciting" ! Considering how I look and the fact that I was a lady - it wasn't surprising that the "tribal Gults" kept staring at me as though I was an exotic creature. As K put it - "now we're in an exhibition." Also, please note K wondered why was it that they weren't wearing animal skins and carrying their spears ! How I figured they were Gults is without any help from K who thought that by entending a finger they would grab his hands. Freaked me out till we finally reached our destination Ernakulum.

As we stepped out of the station - the air felt different and the weather - well ! It was beautiful. After a quick Mallu dosa and vada experience, we were received by Sleepy with his new white BB, His dudeness very excited to be our guide and NRI(i) whom K and I were meeting for the first time.
On our way to the airport to pick up the MSKG (who was going through a clothes crisis with them being stolen by the dhobi in the tamland ! Pah ! ) we showed K the variety of colourful houses and many many jewellery showrooms in and around Kochi city. Once we all crammed ourselves into the big Innova we were off to Kumarakom where our houseboat for the day awaited us !

Once we reached the houseboat and got ourselves settled we just sat, almost speechless. It was beautiful and breathtaking. It was pretty and amazing. The calmness of the water with the lush greenery just got us all to Sigh. A lot and pretty often.

I am unable to describe what it looked like and how it actually felt. Really ! So this entry might not seem the right way to understand what the real Kerala experience might seem like !

Lunch was a typical Kerala affair with the rice, sambar, thoran, papad and of course The Karimeen (fried fish) that we devoured not only because of the sooper hunger pangs but also because it was awesomely yummy.
It rained "partially" and it was pretty (again). Thankfully these rains didn't play spoilsport and let us just be. Over coffee, r&c, fried banana we talked about shakiras, schools, work, music, Kerala among many other things ! NRI(i) couldn't believe how cheap in terms of dollars the houseboat expenses came up to !

After a delicious dinner of rice, chemeen curry (prawns), chicken curry and dal; while His dudeness did a handwriting analysis of what NRI(i) and K had written; I was doing my psychoanalysis bit as well. Sleepy very creatively decided to name it "psychography"
As MSKG kept bringing up toilet humor at very point in almost every conversation, Sleepy was enjoying himself using the DSLR. Because K was sooper thrilled and extremely relaxed, I was glad and well I heart Kerala and all that it has to offer.

Finally we all retired to our bedrooms and slept peacefully hoping to wake up early enough to see the sunrise. Well, we knew that wouldn't be possible ! But yes the following morning the backwaters seemed even more beautiful and calm and the hot kappi and idlis awaits us.

to be continued...