Highlights Of South India With Luxury Accomodation

On our own

Now we are in Kovalam, Kerala. Again this area is wonderful , the people, the food the restaurants , all excellent. We were in Goa before this and visited a not so good restaurant, which should have been better. I would not recommend Anteras beach club's restaurant. Very poor service, we felt ignored, they did not want our business.

Kerala - God's Own Country

That our trip went ahead at all was a miracle. In August, Kerala was beset by terrible flooding and when I flew into Cochin the airport had only recently opened. However our accommodation at the Trident Hotel was excellent; the rooms surround a refreshing pool and the decor and ambience of the hotel was authentically south Indian. The hotel is on the island of Fort Cochin so there is a bit a travelling to get to Cochin and surrounds and typical hectic Indian traffic.Our tour guide in Cochin was from Cochin and was very fluent in the Portuguese colonial history. We saw the Chinese Fishing Net installation, the Mattancherry Palace and the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica. Unfortunately the Synagogue was closed which was disappointing as it was built by the Sephardic jews in the 16th century. Our favourite attraction was the Dhobi Khanna where we experienced the quaint charm of centuries old method of laundry maintenance and we could speak to the charming lungi clad men as they went about doing the the large consignments of linen.Don't miss this. From Cochin we headed to Dewalokam. This was a marvellous experience. Spice walks, lessons in animal husbandry and methane gas and a fantastic cooking class with Sudheesh. The fish curry was delicious.There was a fresh water swimming pool and a river; because of the floods the white water rafting was not available because the flood waters were too treacherous. Munnar is a very beautiful Hill Station, be warned the roads are windy and full of pot holes probably more damaged by the recent flooding. There was plenty of evidence of landslides and mudslides.The local were amazingly resilient and uncomplaining about what had been a catastrophic situation. Don't miss the Kalaripayattu martial art display in Thekkady. Much more exciting than the Kathakali Dance experience. We had a pleasant afternoon at the Periyar Tiger Park and Wild Life Sanctuary, although not a tiger to be seen. Infact we were told tigers hadn't been sighted from the boats for many years. Be prepared to be corseted into bright orange lift jackets which stay on for the entire trip. And then on to Alleppey where we saw the worst of the flooding. Here we stayed on a house boat. This is not an experience for everyone. The food is very average. We bought small crayfish at the local market and we offered to prepare the crayfish ourselves. But this wasn't an option. Enough to say that curry flavour overpowered the delicate crayfish meat. The night on the house boat is very long. Once it berths for the evening you can't get off. There are many flying bugs and mosquitos; they have no trouble penetrating the mosquito netting. There was a large TV screen but it wasn't working because of the damage to the network from the floods.Take food and fluids because there is nothing till brekky the next day. We did an early morning canoe ride in the backwater canals and the plight of the people was very obvious and sad, but life goes on and tourist dollars are appreciated. A final word for our wonderful and charming guide and driver Jojo. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts for putting up with us, taking us to the Toddy Shop to buy liquor and generally being so cheerful and good hearted.