Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I got off the train at Alleppey, nearly missing my stop. I was then approached by a rickshaw driver on the platform. I knew what landmark in the centre of town to aim for so we set off. During the trip, I kept being asked if I was wanted a houseboat today. Being alone and wanting to share with a group, I had been warned of touts so I repeatedly said no. I was then dropped off on a quiet canal with a handful of houseboats. I read there was supposed to be hundreds. This was not the busy town centre I was expecting. The taxi driver waved to the houseboat owners and stopped the rickshaw. Instantly I was approached about the houseboats and whether I would like a look. I had been set up. After walking away I then managed to find my bearings on a small map in my Lonely Planet. I had been taken nearly 5 km from the town centre.
After walking a kilometre or so with my gear I decided to call a guest house to book a room. I had found my saviour. A man called Johnson picked me up on his electric moped, gave me a brief tour of the town, showed me where the main jettys were and welcomed me into his home. He had a fantastic ginger beard so he looked like an Indian Captain Birdseye.
Luckily an hour later, I met a nice couple from Maidenhead who kindly offered to share a houseboat with me. The only reason people visit Alleppey is to casually explore the vast network of canals and lakes. Trees and rice paddies line the paths around this water world with almost no dry land in sight.
The backwaters were stunning. The boat was very spacious and great for lazing about and we were fed delicious Keralan meals which were cooked on board. We also spent time fishing and canoeing down the smaller network of canals.
- comments