Kerala Backwaters (From the Back–Hard–Seat)
My true post for today is the next one, which describes our trip from the backwaters of Kerala to the Western Ghats, but before moving on, I wanted to post some photos from the short trip we took in the backwaters in a man-punted dug-out boat. The area – on the border of the Alleppey District – really is very beautiful.
Granted, the dugout boat is also kind of hard on the backside, despite the small boards our boatman got us to lean against, and the coir (coconut fiber) mat that lay on the bottom of the boat. On the return trip, when the boatman got out of the boat and pushed the boat along the current while walking beside the canal, I sort of wanted to walk too–but Christina, my daughter, is much more gracious than I, and her feeling was that getting out of the boat and walking beside it might seem as if we weren’t fully enjoying the trip.
Needless to say, she won out.
Some pix below.
Just a process note – the women under the blue awning are peeling prawns (as a job). The red marker is of the local CPI (Communist Party of India) office. Kerala had the first Democratically elected Marxist government in the 50s, and it’s my understanding the party has been in and out of power at various times since.
Other pics include sad chickens (in a cage), happy ducks. Our boatman also stopped to show us how coir is braided – taking raw coconut fiber from a discarded husk and after shaking and cleaning by hand, rubbing it into a rough braid.
My daughter’s hat (inherited) has an ink stain in back.
Tags: Kerala Backwaters Pix, manicddaily, Near Alleppey district, Sidelines in Kerala, Sitting in the back of the boat isn't so bad
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ManicDDaily 
April 14, 2013 at 9:18 am
Gorgeous photos, K. I especially like the wavy palm trees. Thanks for the vicarious travel thrills–I get to enjoy the trip without the back-ache!
April 14, 2013 at 10:09 am
Thanks. I have some very psychedelic little videos of upside-down palm trees (taken in water) – but not sure how interested people would be–so maybe put them on some general posting. I have wifi where I am now so will try to catch up a bit on all the April poetry. k.
April 14, 2013 at 9:20 am
Dearest karin, this is an incredible bunch of photograghs, and I loe seeing the scenery of the places you and Chritina have been going to. I hope you and “Stines” are still in health and are enjoying your trip. I send you much love from “Skills” and look forward to seing more photos of the trip soon…
April 14, 2013 at 9:40 am
Dear Theo, thanks so much and happy happy birthday! We will celebrate when we get home. K.
April 14, 2013 at 10:11 am
smiles…in spite the hard seat this sounds like a wonderful boat trip…ugh on the caged chicken.. and peeling prawns all day long is kind of a tough job as well… glad you’re enjoying your trip k.
April 14, 2013 at 10:13 am
Yes, it was. The chickens off. We moved NOT to have eggs from that area; and the prawn peelers – well, I guess it’s good to have jobs, but doing that all the time by hand sitting on the ground looks pretty grim. They did have very nice music as the evening began. k.
April 14, 2013 at 10:14 am
I meant, the chickens especially, ugh. k.
April 14, 2013 at 9:08 pm
After three days without electronics, I am behind on reading. I am enjoying your photographs and dialogues. I really feel this is a great way to get to know a place. thank you, karin.