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We are on the last leg of our trip enjoying a few days here in Kerala. They call it God's own country and its breathtaking. We are staying in a small family run Bed and breakfast right on Cherai beach. We wanted peace and quiet which I would say we got as we are a good walk from the restaurants and shops but the waves are deafening! There is a strong undertow in the water so I've just paddled on the shore too scared to venture further. The water (Arabian Sea) is like a bath and the sand is golden, no rows of tourists just the odd group of locals playing volleyball or frolicking in the sea.
The monsoon is delayed by 4 days this year and will start on June 2nd, I don't know how they can predict it so precisely but the locals are all frantically battening up the hatches and prepping for the torrential rains that last 3 months! We've had a taste of what is to come when there was a lightening storm and rain that lasted all night! It's very humid and hot here so it's great when the rain comes to cool things off.
Today we took a tour of the backwaters in a small coir covered motor boat that slowly sailed us along miles of palm tree edged water. We felt like royalty as scores of villagers all clambered on the water's edge to wave and shout hello. We haven't felt such a warm welcome anywhere else in India.
The land adjoining the backwater holds a wealth of resources and it shows in the fat bellied fishermen and generally taller people we see. Did you know that the nutmeg nut is used for spice but the outside of the nut is used as mace and the fruit is used for pickle? We saw cashew and mahogany trees and mountains of coconuts which they use for making the local delicacy- puttu, coconut milk and also for oil manufacturing. The number of resources was mind boggling.
The most surprising thing we saw on out little voyage was an elephant! Poor thing was chained up as he was on heat and could be aggressive. He was given to the local temple as a gift as a baby and has spent his 34 years in captivity. The villagers love him and he is generally gentle with the students at the school nearby when he is let loose in his field.
Our driver took us along some narrow roads to see the land used at its best. There were scores of mud clad people dredging the watery fields for fish. We were told they are prawn farms for most of the year but just before the monsoon they drain the sea water from the fields and dam them up to get them ready to be filled with rain water for paddy fields! The locals were catching any residual fish with their hands to dry them out to eat when all fishing stops during the rains. I was so impressed by this great use of the land but I can't say I would like the back breaking work of stooping in the mud to catch the 'balance' fish!
Kerala is one of the main ports for India and is famous for its oils and spices. We were surprised how large the main town, Cochin was, it was heaving with hotels and office buildings. We visited the first Jewish synagogue in India and shopped in "Jew Town"- great shops there!
We've relaxed here mainly because it's off season and nothing is open! It's funny to be the only customers in the cafés and on the waterways.
Next stop Hyderabad for the wedding of of Earnest and Sneha; time to get the sari out!
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