Backwaters Of Kerala = The Jungle Book

***Be Kind, Rewind...to October 6-8, 2010***

After journeying overnight on the train, we arrived in Kochi (one of the major cities in the Indian state of Kerala). First things first: a stop at the Vasan Eye Care Center. So, Brandon got himself a gnarly eye infection (we thought it was possibly from the massive amounts of oil they use in Ayurvedic massages) so we asked our driver to find an eye doctor to check him out. Wow, I must say that I was extremely impressed with this eye hospital!!: a four level complex complete with exam rooms, pharmacy, and a waiting room with the latest LCD flat screen tv! The female employees scurried around the place in their matching gray saree uniforms...and the optometrist took a full-length, detailed history and report on Brandon's past and current eye health. Thank Vishu we got him the proper medication...and a few days later, his eyes were goop-free!

But our primary purpose in Kerala was not eye-health...but a trip to the BACKWATERS for an overnight stay on a kettuvallam (Keralan houseboat)!! So, the Keralan backwaters are basically a chain of lagoons and lakes that are linked by canals, both man-made and natural...which are fed by 38 rivers. They are HUGE...and pretty much extend to virtually half the length of the state of Kerala...yea, that's more than 900 km of waterways!! Picture the canals of Venice or Amsterdam...but in the middle of the tropics! Even cooler than this maze of waterways is the fact that in the midst of everything there are even small towns and cities! (And I won't lie...I was really interested to know if/when residents of these backwater cities have neighborhood association meetings!!...I know, such a dork!)

So, our travel agent set Brandon and I up on a three day-two night stay on a the backwaters in our very own, personal kettuvallam (Keralan houseboat). A kettuvallam is pretty much a As you can imagine, these houseboats are basically the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala, especially the backwaters...our houseboat driver estimated that about 600 kettuvallams cruise the backwaters in any given day! And though we didn't see all 600, we did pass by boats shipping rice and fish; taxing backwater residents; transporting children to school; and even carrying people's bicycles alongside them!

Honestly, I could have spent waaaaay more time on our kettuvallam!! It was so peaceful and relaxing to sit out on the cushioned benches and read a book or to enjoy chai at the dining table...and wow! Thanks to our very own houseboat chef...did we eat well!! South Indian (especially Keralan) food is DELICIOUS (and probably my favorite)!! Fish, coconut curries, beetroot dishes, fried bananas with sugar...the list of delicacies goes on and on and on and on...I think I gained about 2 kilos over three days! Brandon and I also took in the sunsets out ontop of the houseboat on the open-air deck...just like heaven...until we saw the BIGGEST BAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!!! Seriously, I think it was more like a small bear with wings!

The backwaters themselves, seriously, were a tropical paradise: floating by tall palm trees, enormous coconuts and bananas, plush grasses, rice patties, and rushing lagoon waters...I could have swore we were in The Jungle Book! (all we needed was Baloo and Mowgli!) Come to find out, the author of The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling, was born in India and spent periods of time in and out of the country, traveling to the state of Kerala!!!...it's all making sense to me now...

Our time on the kettuvallam was truly decedant...I didn't want it to end; but more Keralan adventures were to be had...