Peaceful Kerala Part Two Updated 5/2/14

We were lucky enough to have two boat rides through the waterways - 1 in a small ferry like vessel from the mainland and another in a poled canoe through the small canals looking at plant and bird life and watching the world of the locals slide by.

 

Our 'big' boat that transferred us from the mainland to our home stay.

One of the 100's of house boats available for hire to cruise the waterways at your leisure. There are literally 100's of these, of varying size and quality, and it must be a traffic jam when they all hit the water in high season... :(

A peculiarity of the region - the use of umbrellas in the sun, by both men and women. I was surprised to see the boat captains not wearing hats or rigging up permanent shade for their wheel houses.

Housing is right on the water

Quiet waterways form the irrigation network for rice paddies as far as the eye can see...

Foot bridges join the islands and dykes together

 A bit too peaceful...

 Our wooden pole boat

Tour leader Sam enjoys the compulsory chai in a relaxing moment

Water hyacinth

Red water lilies almost open

Poling through the canals

Those rice paddies...

Palm trees support the canal banks against erosion

Locals go about their business in the late afternoon

A swimming lesson

Those rice paddies take a lot of loving labour and water to produce the local economic staple

Men off to work

Local wildlife - forgotten the name...

 

Sunset completes a beautiful afternoon