After a few days in Trivandrum I headed to Alleppey. This is a town at the coast and has a big "harbour" towards the backwaters of Kerala. The backwaters are a series of canals, rivers, lakes that form the landscape of Kerala at the coastline. Alot of small boats and some larger houseboats drive through these waters and for a few occasions they have races.
One of them ist the Nehru Snalke Boat Race, which incidently took place while I was in Alleppey (I found out the day before I left to Alleppey). So it was hard to get a place to stay, apparently alot of people head out to Alleppey to watch the race and celebrate. The place where I stayed allowed me to get on a houseboat and watch the race from the water itself! That was really neat, because I didn't have to pay an enourmous amount of money to get on a houseboat and I got a lunch, got to know new people and see the race from a pretty good position. On the boat I met Meredith, a veterinary to be and in India for an "externship". She stayed mostly in Bangalore and visited the zoo, other places with animal doctors and was now travelling India for a bit longer.
Together we watched the races (there were several) and realised the boats were getting bigger and bigger. In the last races there were the big Snake boats with about 100 people per boat on it. They all were paddeling. Almost in every race there was a really good team and one that was way behind. Then in the last 2 races (the semi final and final as someone explained to us later) the teams were pretty equal and it was a head to head race. I still don't know who won, because I heard 3 different results (one on the houseboat, one in the evening and one the next day). So maybe just everyone won <3
One of them ist the Nehru Snalke Boat Race, which incidently took place while I was in Alleppey (I found out the day before I left to Alleppey). So it was hard to get a place to stay, apparently alot of people head out to Alleppey to watch the race and celebrate. The place where I stayed allowed me to get on a houseboat and watch the race from the water itself! That was really neat, because I didn't have to pay an enourmous amount of money to get on a houseboat and I got a lunch, got to know new people and see the race from a pretty good position. On the boat I met Meredith, a veterinary to be and in India for an "externship". She stayed mostly in Bangalore and visited the zoo, other places with animal doctors and was now travelling India for a bit longer.
Together we watched the races (there were several) and realised the boats were getting bigger and bigger. In the last races there were the big Snake boats with about 100 people per boat on it. They all were paddeling. Almost in every race there was a really good team and one that was way behind. Then in the last 2 races (the semi final and final as someone explained to us later) the teams were pretty equal and it was a head to head race. I still don't know who won, because I heard 3 different results (one on the houseboat, one in the evening and one the next day). So maybe just everyone won <3
People getting in the mood to cheer for their team in the race!
One of the first races, rather small boats (compared to he big snake boats)
The Snake boat race! These aren't the biggest ones!
The is one of the big snake boats, the people standing in the middle are giving the rythem for the rowers
(stomping on the planks or using a horn/ whistle)
The next day I went canoeing with Meredith and a british (or welsh) couple. It was really nice jst gliding through the backwaters and seeing the villages and homes of the people, who use the backwaters as streets. There are several ferries driving through the canals and connecting the small places with one another, but alot of people just have small boats they use.
Out captain was a fun guy. He sang for us and was always trying to keep us entertained (with bird sounds for example). Later we had some Thoddy (a coconut liquor/ beer drink) which was... interesting... With each sip it got better though.
Out captain was a fun guy. He sang for us and was always trying to keep us entertained (with bird sounds for example). Later we had some Thoddy (a coconut liquor/ beer drink) which was... interesting... With each sip it got better though.
On the Backwaters... one of the bigger canals
On our canoe, it's Alex' turn to help out our captain
For lunch we got a nice meal with fish from our captains wife, so they served us food at their home. Then we headed back to Alleppey. Meredith left for a homestay in a small village and the british couple and I went to the beach and had some "special tea" with our dinner.
The "Special Tea" - and a nice mug too^^
All in all it was a great and fun day. I really enjoyed it and really liked the backwaters. Just be sure to bring some insect repellent, because the damn mosquitos are everywhere!
The next day (it was independence day! woohoo!) I missed the hissing of the flag and a parade in the morning (it was at like 6 am) and apparently that was everything planned for that day. No fireworks, no other specials things (at least everyone told me there wasn't anything going on). So I headed with a backwater ferry to Kottayam and on my way back to Alleppey (I took a bus) it was delayed in the town of Alleppey. Later I saw a huge march of the Dyfi (democratic youth of federal India I think). Supposedly the youth organisation of the communist party (also judging by their use of the hammer and sickle in their logo). A guy told me several thousand people joined their march and had more or less halted traffic in the city. So I wasn't able to visit a different beach close to Alleppey, because the bus wasn't able to get through...
The next day (it was independence day! woohoo!) I missed the hissing of the flag and a parade in the morning (it was at like 6 am) and apparently that was everything planned for that day. No fireworks, no other specials things (at least everyone told me there wasn't anything going on). So I headed with a backwater ferry to Kottayam and on my way back to Alleppey (I took a bus) it was delayed in the town of Alleppey. Later I saw a huge march of the Dyfi (democratic youth of federal India I think). Supposedly the youth organisation of the communist party (also judging by their use of the hammer and sickle in their logo). A guy told me several thousand people joined their march and had more or less halted traffic in the city. So I wasn't able to visit a different beach close to Alleppey, because the bus wasn't able to get through...
On the Ferry to Kovalam , the guy on the left controlled the motor, on the top was the guy steering the ferry
So we could always hear a bell ring, then this guy would change direction/ speed of the engine
A dragonfly relaxing on the ferry
From the ferry: The big backwaters of Kerala
Old boats in the canals of Alleppey
The northern canal of Alleppey
Steuermann oben und Maschinist unten - das war früher immer so. Die Steuergeräte teilten dem Maschinisten mit, was er nun tun muss (ob vorwärts oder rückwärts, volle, halbe oder viertel Kraft voraus usw.). Heute ist das Steuergerät wirklich ein Steuergerät (meistens), das direkt mit dem Motor verbunden ist.
AntwortenLöschenDass so eine Kombination auf so verhältnismäßig kleinen Geboten benutzt wird, ist mir neu.
Es freut mich, dass Du schöne Tage dort hattest!