Day 70: Alleppey, India

Arriving around 2 am in Alleppey, we took a short rickshaw ride to our basic homestay in the town.  Alleppey is perhaps best known for the large backwater area famous for houseboat tours, rice paddies, and an escape from the noise.  In a more general sense, Kerala state is constantly recommended to be the most easy going part of India.  We taxied over to our river front bungalow homestay and were greeted by our hosts.  Situated right near the main jetty in town, a constant stream of houseboats passed by.  Most of the boats have a few bedrooms, kitchen, open deck, AC, and generators.  Some even had upper levels capable of holding large groups.  We took a small motor boat ride for a few hours in the afternoon.  While the scenery was mostly enjoyable, the waterway became congested with houseboats, fishing boats, and taxi boats, all honking just as if on the city streets.  It was then we decided to do the houseboat tour elsewhere where it was not so busy.  Ashley had found just the place, in a small town just north called Turavoor.  We were served homemade Vegetable Korma with parathas for dinner.  As night fell, we were affirmed by the noise from boats moored nearby that we’d prefer a more serene experience on our houseboat.  In hindsight disturbances, and our tolerance of them, are all relative (especially when travelling!)