Raiban Hotel Alappuzha

... of beach. The south section, where he took us, is reserved for Hindu funerals and cremations. The shrine was interesting, but seeing no European tourists we realized that this was not the right place. Fortunately there was a tourist information office nearby. Our driver got directions to the north beach. The tourist office also recommended a stop at the Hindu temple up the street. It was a great suggestion.<br><br>There was a booth ...

... saw them going about their daily lives showering or washing clothes in the canals. I had not expected to see so much life along the river and really liked watching it part of the experience. There were a lot of different types of houseboats - some larger, some smaller. They all seemed to look a little differently, and some were even double-deckers. It also seemed to me that there was an endless supply of boats here because we passed so many that were ...

Hej Alle Nu har vi vaeret paa backwatertour - noget af det bedste vi har oplevet her i Indien. Vi havde en luksusbaad, med en kaptajn, en kok og en tjener. Man foelte sig helt kongelig. Nedenunder var et spisebord, et tv, samt to stole. Ovenpaa var der ogsaa stole, samt nogle laederhynder man kunne sole sig paa. Var der noget man ville ha.. te,oel,vand, kiks eller mad, saa sagde ...

... Lakshadweep Islands for some more diving. I've had one week without diving now and I'm going through withdrawal! These islands are on the west coast of India just north of the Maldives (one of THE best places in the world to dive). I was considering visiting the Maldives on this trip but they are just too ...

... list as skydiving, bungee jumping, and sticking your head in a lion's mouth. In America, a close call on a two-lane, dotted yellow-line highway is what? - maybe 2 car lengths? In India a close call...well there really is no close call. There's a good call and a bad call. In a good call, you don't hit the oncoming traffic. Half a car length? - good call. 3 feet ...

... hello's and "Just one pen!" The sunset was gorgeous, missed by Palin who had his head grumpily stuck in a book, and who will now live the experience through the photos I took, much like yourselves. We arrived in Alleppey just after dark, and were taken to a nice hotel room which had been recommended by the company we used to book the houseboat; normally we recoil in horror if hotels aren't in the Rough Guide, because God knows ...

... t get into the airport with a ticket. We show the armed guard our tickets and he says we can only check in 3 hours before our flight. Our plan was to check our stuff in at noon and then spend the day in Mumbai, poking around and then meeting Vikram for dinner, since our flight is at 2:40 am. SO now this throws a bit of a wrench into things. So we go in search of the left luggage service and traipse all over the outside of the terminals, in the 36 degree heat. Boy were we not happy ...

... through the morning mist. After a few cups of locally grown coffee, some idlis with samba and coconut chutney, all courtesy of our hosts at Honey Valley (coffee plantation and guesthouse, not a drug-alcohol rehab center!), we begin our foray into the surrounding hills. Our amateurish map in hand, we walk up the winding clay road through coffee and cardamom plantations to a small clearing. Densely forested hills and valleys sprawl in every direction. Green peaks, still shrouded in ...

... massaging in the past watch out im going to start using oils and insist your buck naked , ha ha ( dont worry ladies ill ask you on a date later if i like u, but massage time is your time so no hanky panky i promise ) Anyways that was cool pretty similar massage to what I do already but learnt some new tricks with the softer more rythmic stuff. But im still gonna be cracking backs for yalll. any way come come life is easy here and its safe. love you all of course

... yesterday, Cath relaxed and the three lads went into the nearest town to book our train tickets to Cannore - a bit further up the coast. We stopped for a snack in town and the chap only offered a few things. When we asked for these things he then just stared. Sorry, no understand. Madness. This is becoming regular. Shortly after this we jumped on a bus (journey's cost about 2-3p) after the 'conductor' said it goes to the train station. As we got our seats we ...