Arriving in Kochi we hail an old Ambassador taxi and soon we’re bumping along the back streets to our two day stay in Fort Cochin at Saj home a lovely homestay just a few minutes walk from the Chinese Fishing nets.
The nets are a bit of a tourist and photographers hot spot! Here’s Neil getting in on the action . . .
During our stay we arranged a seven hour back water cruise – organised by the lovely owners of Sajhome.
The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) as well as interconnected canals, rivers, and inlets
All manner of activities and daily tasks take place alongside the waters edge, from washing clothes to preparing meals.
The backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea.
Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants, and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape.[7]
Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs and frogs as well as water birds including terns, kingfishers and cormorants live in and alongside the backwaters.
As we lazed around and took in the scenery, the hard working ferry man kept on with his back breaking labour!!
Yes this is the only method of power for the converted rice barge we were in!
Here’s what passes as traffic on the Keralan backwaters.
