From the mountains of Munnar to the relaxing Backwaters

After a restful morning at Olive Brook we headed back down the mountains to the Backwaters just south of Cochin. It was a pleasant 5 hour drive in which we were able to stop a few times for chai, photos and lunch. You could definitely notice the difference in temperature and air pollution as we slowly maneuvered down the mountain. Back to the heat, but once we reach the backwaters and our homestay (Emerald Isle) we don’t care. The backwaters are a magical place of water canals, lush green rice paddy fields and local lifestyles interwoven with the canals. Everything revolves around the canals: bathing, laundry, cooking, tourism and the numerous house boats. As you walk along the coconut lined canals you feel like you are walking into each family’s kitchen and bathroom. Music playing from the local temples and the sound of palm frawns waving in the soft breeze. Reminds us of Hawaii.

The homestay provides excellent Kerala food and incredible service. It’s very British as we are currently at teatime on the veranda. The homestay is a refurbished rice farm; as a matter of fact our beds are tucked away three steps up into an old rice bin. Very fun and cozy. The outdoor shower is very Zen and there’s just something about showering under a palm tree that makes you feel refreshed.

I had my best ayurvedic massage yet for only $14 an hour, right next door in a grass shack.

A very pleasant stay…… Ahhhhhh We already are wondering how we will ever go back to work.

Laurie

January 26, 2010

Tuesday was another day in refreshing Munnar. Following a great breakfast and conversations with follow travelers we took a driver for a day trip through some of the most gorgeous tea plantations on earth. Went first to a National Park – “the cleanest in India” according to the reputation in a hunt for elusive Nirgili goats, a very rare species seen only in this park. Laurie’s hunter’s luck held true and we saw several even though they had not been seen for several days. Once again we became the objects of photo taking rather than our taking candied shot of local folks – tough getting back down the mountain as we were stopped every few yards to be the center of a family photo – guess we are the true rare goats! Afterwards our driver took us to ‘Top Station” the highest point in the TATA tea plantations and the border between Karala and Tamil Nadu states. Caught a bit of fog so the view was obscured but the feeling was magical. Our gregarious driver convinced us to take the elephant rides (not a hard sale) so we parted with 700 rupees and took a 30 minute ride through the jungle – I would not recommend the mode for comfort but the experience was a thrill – even when they pause for an elephant sized pit stop – what a load they carry! Returned to Olive Brook and meet up with Malcom and Christine again and enjoyed another cooking lesson before another great dinner and great travel story conversations with the folks staying here. Tomorrow we must leave this bit of paradise – as we say – always leave wanting more and we sure could use another 2-3 days of this cool hospitality.

Steve