Last night slept really well the guys who run the hostel I'm staying in gave me this badminton raquet thing which when you turn it on fries all the mozzies. The strings are all electric and also they gave me this plug in mozzie killer too plus I had a net, so no worries.
It rained all night and when my alarm went off at 5am it was still raining. Bloody hell, I was going out in a canoe. Got in my pre booked rickshaw and met Mr Prasenan my rower and his little mate who rowed at the back. When we started off at 6 it was still dark and surprisingly NOT raining. It was really peaceful and magical. I got one photo of Mr Prasenan and some trees and water and then my camera lens messed up again because of the rain, so Jane's luck really kicked in and I have one picture of the highlight of my holiday. OK it was raining and overcast but I saw so much in that canoe because, unlike the big boats, we could go down the back alleys! Saw people washing in the river and cleaning their teeth and even washing their bullocks! (which help them in the paddie fields) We stopped for tea, coconuts and even partook in helping the locals rebuild their temple buy buying raffle tickets. Mr Prasenan's family live along the river so we just kept stopping off for chai and chats. But most of the people couldn't speak English. It was so beautiful and I'm going to have to come back and do it in good weather and with a camera! He had also prepared breakfast for us too, which was boiled bananas and the most delicious duck eggs. The big bananas here are too tough to eat so obviously everybody boils them. i was supposed to be back at 11am but we paddled back about 1.30. So pretty good really. It was a real bonus seeing the proper village life which happens on the backwaters. the big boats just can't fit down these narrow canals. If it wasn't still raining I would do it all again today.
When I returned to my hotel I chatted to the guys who run it. We talked about so much, one thing about Indians they always seem up for a chat and the more questions the better. So we discussed the communist party, which runs Kerala at the moment (Although all the guys said really it is just a fundamental Hindu party) Weird. Kerala has the world's only freely elected communist government. We talked about farming and the patents which big agro businesses have stolen from the Indians giving them the sole right to produce Basmati rice. And the way rice seeds don't germinate any more, forcing poor farmers to fork out more money to buy rice seeds every year. hence making the big companies, like monsanto, richer and richer. They all seemed pretty passionate about it all and for me it was interesting too.
Yesterday was a wash out really and the power went off for hours too (It's now Saturday) I'm off to Varkala (Kerelan beach resort)in a while after I've eaten some Thali. Busses run all day. haven't got anything booked for tonight but because of the lack of tourists I feel OK about it. Not looking forward toooo much to a few days on a sodden beach but have to check it out and people are pretty sure the rain will stop soon. Can't find my cable for my cameara so can't put the few pictures I have of Allepy on here.
Feel a bit homesick today because I was showing Joseph, one of the hotel lads, pictures of my house and family and friends, who are on my phone camera. oh well, it's only because of the weather! Right time to go. Wish I could do that canoe trip again!
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