Southern India taste test - would that be hot, or extra hot?

[bPeteb]

@bPeteb How are you finding the beers in India? I find them a bit on the sweeter side. Try kingfisher ultra, it is more like what we have in Australia.

Also, with using cards. Most mid to higher end places have multiple eftpos terminals, try asking for their international card terminal.

We’ve tried all sorts but not that one. We’ll look out for it. Last couple of days Hunter and Black Fort. Also the local orange vodka. Having a blast. Rain pouring down today. Lucky our Periyar trek was yesterday !

 

[bPeteb]

Blackwater Brook have two houseboats, a one bedroom and a huge three bedroom. We were boarding the one bedroom when a couple turned up and went onto the three. Just them!

The boat was beautiful. All timber and bamboo. The three was covered on what looked like fine weave shadecloth with plastic pipe battens. We had two crew - Dhaneesh (skipper) and Ajay (chef). Both were just so nice.



not sure we did enough research on this. We thought the whole time would be pent quietly cruising down narrow waterway, passing local villages. Nope, we sailed out onto a humungous lake and just around with the other 3000 houseboats! It was still very peaceful out there and we had a great afternoon.

 

[bPeteb]

we went right across the lake and tied up outside a small resort where there were already some other boats. This is where we had lunch



then we got underway and continued around the lake shore



a dredge that was bringing up material being used for work on the highway nearby





afternoon tea of coffee and banana fritters (so not called that)

 

[bPeteb]

so many houseboats of all shapes and sizes. The newest ones are being built on steel hulls. This has allowed them to get huge



then we turned down a small waterway where we saw a few birds

 

[Cossie]

lots of this hammer and sickle on the sides of buildings, fences and flags. Political signs?

View attachment 488209

Most definitely, Kerala was one of the first places to freely elect a communist government in 1957.

Communism in Kerala - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A few photos from a loooong time ago. I was sure I had more, especially of the church, but who knows. (photos copied from slides to tiff then to jpeg)

The cricket game was happening just around the corner from where we were staying.



Again, really enjoying this, makes me want to go back!

 

[bPeteb]

This is the SIB State Indian Bank ATM that worked well

 

[MathNerd]

Hi @bPeteb, really enjoying your TR. Hope you're enjoying your time in Southern India - Kerala is really a beautiful part of the country and you're getting to see some amazing coastal sights (and houseboats)!

I'm in BLR right now (been here since Xmas Eve, and will be for another 5 or so days), visiting family, friends and that sort of thing. I'm glad you didn't venture far past the airport or the Taj, as you may have wanted to cut your India trip short at that point. The traffic, dust and general ease of movement/breathability in Bangalore/Bengaluru is unfortunately very sub-par, and each time I visit (typically yearly, at this time of year too), it gets worse. Very sad, I grew up here until about 12 yrs of age and it was beautiful back then - lush, green, spacious, friendly.
Anyway, I digress...

Enjoy the rest of your time here, and glad that things, for the most part, have worked out well for you.

Feel free to sling any questions my way in case you need, happy to help out in any way possible.

Looking forward, eagerly, to see the rest of your TR!

 

[bPeteb]

Hi @bPeteb, really enjoying your TR. Hope you're enjoying your time in Southern India - Kerala is really a beautiful part of the country and you're getting to see some amazing coastal sights (and houseboats)!

I'm in BLR right now (been here since Xmas Eve, and will be for another 5 or so days), visiting family, friends and that sort of thing. I'm glad you didn't venture far past the airport or the Taj, as you may have wanted to cut your India trip short at that point. The traffic, dust and general ease of movement/breathability in Bangalore/Bengaluru is unfortunately very sub-par, and each time I visit (typically yearly, at this time of year too), it gets worse. Very sad, I grew up here until about 12 yrs of age and it was beautiful back then - lush, green, spacious, friendly.
Anyway, I digress...

Enjoy the rest of your time here, and glad that things, for the most part, have worked out well for you.

Feel free to sling any questions my way in case you need, happy to help out in any way possible.

Looking forward, eagerly, to see the rest of your TR!

Thanks so much MN. We're loving the trip so much. In Tamil Nadu now (Madurai) and the difference between Kerala and TN is quite stark, especially the amount of rubbish everywhere. The roads are way better in TN though.

We're back in Bangalore to finish the trip. An ex-colleague of mine is hosting us for dinner at their family home on our last night. I'm really looking forward to seeing Saravana again. Just deciding what to take as a thank you gift.

 

[bPeteb]

I breezed past lunch. It was bloody good, especially the fried fish. And those little banana things. YUM!! Ajay is a wizz in the kitchen!

 

[bPeteb]

We made a turn into a waterway more like we thought the whole trip would be. Little boat yards with dry docks. Other boats being worked on against the shore. Fishermen in narrow canoe like boats. Very tranquil.



Dhaneesh said we'd be tying up against the shore like other boats we'd seen along the canal. Soon enough we turned in towards what I'd describe as a small resort complete with accommodation, what looked might be a restaurant, a pool and large covered entertainment area, and a very large group of people having a whole lot of fun. It felt like we were intruding but they took no notice as we tied up. Then Ajay connected a long power cord and next minute the aircon was running. So this is why we stopped here!





The sun had been setting as we arrived so Dhaneesh suggested we go for a walk to see it better and then mentioned something about seafood for dinner. We followed Ajay out of the complex and along a small road. .On the fence outside the complex we saw the name, Backwater Brook. It all made sense then - it's owned by the same company that owned our houseboat. Ajay pointed to a rice paddy that had been harvested and said the rice we 'd eaten at lunch had come from those paddies. How cool!

We then stepped through a fence and lady was sat there with a bucket of large freshwater tiger prawns. What did I want? Fish, prawns? 1kg for INR2000. I was very confused. For a start there's no way I wanted a kilo of prawns and two I had no money. bAlt is not a prawn eater so I looked at AJay and asked if this was for dinner. Yes he said. Ok, we pay for the main course for dinner. Ah well. I said half kilo and he said he would cover me until we got back. How very odd!

We went and watched a bit more of the sunset that was quite beautiful through the haze/smog



then walked back to the boat



and the cool of the lounge area (our bedroom also has aircon)

and there I am editing photos



time for the beers we brought onboard



AJay offered to get us some more. We have no idea where he went but it took him a very long time. He was also getting ingredients for dinner so we felt only half bad

a fisherman in the canal just beside the boat



the resort at night



and the fab dinner, prwns in the foreground. Just way too much for us to eat. I hope the guys finished it off