Canoeing in the backwaters of Kerela

So am back from a week in Kerela, which was absolutely fantastic!
We left Kodai on 14th morning by bus and drove down to Alleppy. We stopped at Thekadi for lunch and started our first of many Kerela meals. Kerela rice, spicy fish curry, fried beef and chicken curry. Delicious!

We got into Alleppy at 7 and went straight to the orphanage where we were doing some SoEx work. It was an all boys orphanage and we had planned different activities for them – art, games, story telling / skit and dance. It was really nice hanging out with the kids and they were so appreciative of the things we did for them. We had dinner with them and then went back to the hotel. Hotel Raiban was not the greatest hotel but we were so tired every one just crashed.

An early start the next day, we went to the canal, unloaded all the canoes. There were 6 ‘mad river’ canoes – fibre glass canoes and three country canoes which is the local canoes and can take up to 6 people.

Day one I was in a country canoe with three other students and the gang was off. We rowed 12 kms in the morning, starting from Alleppy and going across Vembanad lake. We stopped for lunch at a little restaurant on the backwaters itself. Fresh prawns and fish. We got to swim before lunch. Back onto the canoes after lunch and rowed 10 more kms to Kavalam where we stayed the night.

At Kavalam we had a home stay and some kids stayed in the house while a group of us spent the night on the boat. It was so much fun, sleeping under the stars and the bright moon. The mosquito’s weren’t too bad and I guess we all were so tired that sleep came pretty quick. Around 5 it started to drizzle a bit but we decided to sleep through it and were up at 6am to get ready for another day of canoeing.

Day 2 I was in the mad river canoe with uncle Dan and it was a blast, though it did take us some time to figure out how to go straight J
Another 12 kms later we arrived for lunch, tired, sun burnt and extremely hungry.
After lunch the boat took us to a nice swimming spot and we spend the afternoon swimming in the backwaters not trying to think about the gunk which goes into the water. Jumping of the roof of the boat into the water – lots of fun.

We then had another 8 kms to row and Azra and I were on a canoe together and we kicked ass and reached our destination first! I know I know I am competitive!

The tourist lodge in Neerettupuram we stayed in was not that great but one has got to rough it out. We finally got a break from rice (which we had had for the past 5 meals!) and had some Kerela parottas and chicken curry. Yummy. There is a temple right next to the hotel so wiggles and I got a chance to go and check it out. Fantastic thing – multiculturalism is, I learnt about Hindu rituals from an American, along with some tamil phrases and how to tie a lungi! Who would have thunk it!

The next morning we got off to a late start, due to some missing oars and by the time we got going it was so hot. Got some more color on me J Day 3 – back in the country canoe with 5 students. We kept pretty good pace and some good team work was the reason.

We stopped for lunch at Edathua and then there was no rowing that afternoon. Since the roof of the boat had been removed (we were going under some low bridges) us girls were innovative measured the speed and direction of wind and tied up some lungis and had a made shift cover which stayed up thanks to the wind.

Our destination for the night - Chambakulam was this really nice resort, which had a proper bathroom. Oh what a relief. A long shower – washing my hair, bliss!
We then walked around town for a bit and did a bit of shopping. My first trip where I dint buy any shoes!

Dinner was fantastic and included prawns and squid. I am really glad I am getting over my issues of eating sea food. This trip made me appreciate well cooked fish / prawns and squid. Yummy.

After dinner our guides said they had a surprise for us and we went out into the patio and they gave us fire crackers to burn. It was really thoughtful of them to do that for us.
Wiggles then found some tamil music CDs and we had a dance off with all the students.

Last day of canoeing and it was a mad dash towards the finish line and kudos to the country canoe super team who beat out all the mad river canoes.

We stopped for lunch at this house which overlooked the backwaters and the backyard was a huge paddy field. It was such a serene place. While we waited for lunch, Benny our guide climbed up a coconut tree to get us tender coconut. This meal was the best of the trip. Typical Kerela food and absolutely delicious.

After lunch we got onto the boat and headed back to Alleppy. The last 5 kms we got back into the canoes for the victory lap. As we came to our finish point we saw a whole load of people waiting for us including a bunch of reporters and TV crew. KP our translator gave the interview and the next day there was an article in the Malyalam Manorama along with a picture.

Our last night we stayed in a 3 star hotel which was really nice. The hotel must have been shocked when they saw us walk in. 28 people – haggared and in lungis. We checked in and then went to the beach. I must say the beach in alleppy is the cleanest beach I have seen in India – apart from Lakshwadeep that is.
We got back to the hotel and jumped into the pool. The pool was tiny and by the time we all got in we barely had space to swim. But I was fun.

The next day we headed back to Kodai – tired, burnt but immensely happy about the fantastic trip.

Extra extra read all about it...

Students of Kodaikanal International School in the Backwaters of Alleppy
The locals watched with great delight as the group of international students who rowed their canoes through the backwaters of Alleppy. The beauty of the place and the activities gave the students a memorable experience which they would cherish.

A group of 28, comprising of grade 11 and 12 students from Kodaikanal International School came to Alleppy for canoeing as part of their social experience, which is an essential part of their curriculum. There were 18 boys and 6 girls. The group was led by the Vice Principal of the school, Mr Faddeggon and three other staff members.

The group went through R Block, Kavaalam, Kidangara, Neerettupuram, Edathva, Chembakulam, Nedumudi and Chendangani to cover a total distance of 80 kms. They also visited St Anthony’s Orphanage in Alleppy and spent time with the children singing and dancing. The staff Neil Hutton, Dan Winfred and Shreya DeMonte said that the interaction with the children was an enjoyable experience.

They chose this place for the field trip as they had heard about the scenice beauty of the backwaters. In the group was a Keralite from Calicut, US, Japan and New Zealand in the group. The tour was organized by ‘Alleppy Backwaters’

*The post on the trip will be up soon, but this article came out in the Malyalam Manaroma on 19 Sept 2008. And yes the trip was fantastic!

volleyball in the rain and swimming in the lake = fun weekend!

So this week has been crazy busy. The film crew left on Monday, the rest of the week went in a blur with my body begging for a weekend. But that just was not going to happen. This weekend I went camping with grade 11 to Poondi. This was the first time I was spending the night at Poondi and it was a blast.

We left campus on Friday afternoon, wiggles and I went in the jeep with Vasant and Kenny. The journey was laced with a whole lot of laughter and on the way there we even got to see the elusive Malabar squirrel.
We got into camp at 6 and after settling into our tents we has tea while the rain poured on. It rain for a couple of hours and the kids and chaperones were confined to the covered courts, with hot tea and snacks, so no one really complained. The weather cleared up by 9pm and we then got the camp fire going.
Camp desert was banana boats. You take a banana (with the skin) split it in half and stuff in a marshmallow, a chocolate bar and a biscuit. You then wrap it up in foil and toss it into the fire for 10 minutes. Take it out and enjoy. Absolutely yummy.

The kids went to bed around 12pm and V, wiggles and I sat out and chatted. Tried looking for shooting stars. No such luck!
Went to bed at 1 and was up bright and early at 6. With a cup of tea I sat and wrote in my journal enjoying the fantastic view.
The kids were then woken up at 8 with W and me singing out loud and acting crazy. And I wonder why the kids think I am a wacko

The day was spent playing volleyball with the kids, we then went on the raft and jumped into the lake. Best not to think how dirty that lake was (with all the water buffalos swimming in it as well)

After the lake we played another game of volleyball in the rain, then lunch. Never before has a meal looked so good. Wiggles then played soccer in the rain and by the end of the game the field was waterlogged and the ball was actually floating in certain sections of the field. Tea and relaxing in front of the fire.

Some issue came up on main campus and I ended up going with vasant half way to Kodai. Came back at 10 and could barely keep my eyes open, was in bed by 11 and slept soundly till 6 am the next day.

The morning was spent cleaning up camp and then being chaperone for the zip line and even played American football. I scored a touchdown.
Left camp at 1 and every one was knocked out in the bus, though we did get to see some bison on our way back to Kodai.
All in all a great weekend!

The day I held a snake!

Ok, so every one pretty much knows how scared I am of snakes! I dont mind watching them on TV or even seeing them in a zoo. But the moment it is just roaming around in front of me I absolutely freak out.
I hyper ventilate, my heart races and tears instantly appear.
Yesterday Little One (LO) and wiggles went on a major lizard / snake hunt and they found a Bombay earth snake. Who ever said you dont have snakes in Kodai was obviously lying.

So when the found it and kept it in a box I was on pins and needles and if any one got it near me I jumped onto a chair. Dreads, Hoops, Wiggles and even LO were like its a harmless snake and almost like a big earth worm and I should hold it and get over my fear.

Today after dinner, the kids from Hoops dorm came into to see the snake and I decided it was time to get over this fear. I stuck my hand out and held on to hoops shoulder while wiggles gently lowered the snake (named bob) onto my hand. (note: the picture is not of me holding the snake but it is Bob)

I kept my eyes averted and tried slowing down my intense breathing (with no avail) while bob laid camly on my hand. He remained there for a few seconds.

But I DID IT!
I touched a snake.
Maybe I will get over this fear.
I am so proud :)

6 am you say?

Well what to say about the past few days.... hhhhhmmmm
With most people away for a few days, I was pretty much my self, which is a good thing I think, time to think.. will come back to the thinking aspect in a different blog, too deep and yeah, some other time.

Friday night - sat at home, watched stupid shows on TV like - Hannah Montanna (Billy Ray Cyrus and daughter star in it), spoke to IG and slept...

Saturday went to a hike. Now why would any one in their right mind want to wake up at 6 am on Saturday morning to chaperone a group of 20 whining middle schoolers.

Cos when you reach the peak and you sit down to look at the view, none of the cribbing really affects you.
The raw beauty makes it worth it. I usually stay at the back to wind up all the stragglers, which I don’t mind, don’t need to make any small talk with people, and usually day dream my way through the hike.

One thing I did notice, when you are doing a pretty steep stretch, every one shuts up and all you hear is the rhythmic sound of foot steps, thumping on the ground... n it syncs with the increased heart rate and that point of time your mind begins to pick up sounds.

The beetles 15 yards away
The birds flying high in the sky
The deep breaths you take
The crunching of twigs beneath your feet
The wind
The sun
The traffic 5 km away - the sound of honking cars, filtering through the forest reminding you, that civilization awaits.

Civilization awaits and life is calling you back