Keralan Houseboat

From Goa we hopped on an overnight train to Kerala. We got off near Fort Cochin and scrambled onto a local bus to Allepey. Keralan local buses are perhaps the best in the country. Kate and I trail-blazed to Allepey to get a lay of the land and, more importantly, to check out houseboat options. We were soon joined by the Okies and Sachi and Jesse.

Allepey doesn't have much going on (and it really doesn't compare to Venice, despite Lonely Planet's claim). We focused most of our time there finding the perfect houseboat. We quickly realized that "perfect" wasn't realistic, but we managed to find a pretty good one.

The houseboat experience was wonderful in that it offered us time to do nothing except entertain ourselves and eat really good food. Entertainment came from trying to learn the harmonica, weaving palm and banana leaves, trying to go fishing (fail), exploring the area whenever our boat would dock, and a lot of riduculous conversations. I say it wasn't "perfect" because the whole houseboat industry has become too touristy. Boats are no longer man-powered, but instead have loud motors. The waterways are congested and it is hard to escape the inevitable party houseboats making a racket as they pass by. We managed to find a boat without a sound system, plasma tv, and total airconditioning, but unfortunately couldn't get away from seeing those boats on the waterways.





On the bus to Allepey.
Photo Cred: Kate

Houseboat shopping.
Photo Cred: Kate

Pulling out of the harbor.
Photo Cred: Okies



Photo Cred: Okies

Photo Cred: Okies

We called him Borat.
Photo Cred: Okies

Abe driving a hard coconut bargain.

Rough life.

Our boat parked for the night.

Floating convenient store!

The hallway of the boat. (Bedrooms on the
right.)

The slightly scary spiral staircase to the upper deck.
Photo Cred: Kate

Attempting a Bollywood pose.
Photo Cred: Okies

Photo Cred: Okies

My favorite spot on the boat.
Photo Cred: Okies

Abe giving birth.
Photo Cred: Okies



Jesse enjoying the sunset. Bethany and
I focused on weaving.
Photo Cred: Okies



My basket for two bananas.

Sick of weaving...a new art form is born.
Photo Cred: Okies

Excited for lunch.
Photo Cred: Kate

Beautiful Keralan spread.
Photo Cred: Okies