The early 7:30 am breakfast of Masala Dosa at the homestay was good. Sam and I were slated to board a van at 8:00 am to take us on a 7 hr. boat tour of the area. An hour later we arrive at our destination and 8 of us hop in a canoe boat. For the next 2 hours the gondolier guides us through lush narrow waterways where we observe daily Indian life. Along the banks, people were washing their clothes, taking baths, or tending to various chores. At one point we hopped off to tour a spice plantation and to see the process of making coir (rope) out of coconut husks.
People lead such a simple life here. While it's nice to observe, I know its not a life for me.
Arriving back at our starting point, we board our van. They're taking us to the next part of the tour, a journey in a larger boat through a larger river system. After a brief stopover for a disappointing banana leaf thali meal, we continue in our thatched roof open boat. For the next 4 hours, the gondolier lazily guided the boat across calm waters around islands fringed with palm trees. The was certainly a very relaxing way to spend a sunny afternoon. I found myself drifting to sleep. I assume the other passengers followed suit as we all remained silent through most of the journey.
Back at the hotel that evening, I wash up and meet Sam for a dinner of whole tandoori butterfish and rice. The whole dished screamed tourist food but it filled me up nonetheless. That night we made our way back to the prior evenings watering hole to enjoy a couple more rounds of "tea".
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