March 21, 2011 Kumarakom, Kerala, India

We got up early this morning to take our usual walk. Everything was so quiet. Then the birds started in. Wonderful sounds from every direction! We walked down the main road and had some chai from the lonely chai walla and his little stall. We were able to get a glimpse of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, I know, quite a mouthful, but quite stunning.

Later in the day we took a boat ride through the backwaters and stopped off at a small little waterway food stand. We had wonderful fresh spiced fish with red onions and coconut.

After that I watched as the coconut walla came in and harvested all the ripe coconuts from the hotel grounds.


Sunrise over the backwaters




Clam boat




Roadside chai...you gotta have your morning chai!




Coconut walla getting the ripest ones




Some of the local boys taking a swim in the lake




One the boat ride through the backwaters




The view as we left the hotel




Hunting for the days clam haul




The little "roadside" diner




Fried spiced fish with onion, caught that morning, and served on a banana leaf...yum!





Local fishermen bringing in the catch



































































































































































































































































































What a wonderful laid back place. I highly recommend this area.