Booze Cruise in the Backwaters

Trip Start May 11, 2005
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of India  ,
Monday, February 16, 2009

According to my guide book, renting a house boat in the backwaters is suppose to be one of the top ten things to do before you die! With a bold statement like this  there was no way I was going to pass it up!   The only kicker is the high price (for India and for a backpacker).  Luckily we met these 2 English guys on the train that had taken so much Valium that they had missed their stop.  We told them about the house boats in Allepey and they were keen to split one with us. 
    
      So there I was with 3 English people who were all on holiday.  I emphasize that point because people on holiday do not have a backpacker budget.  They got 2 weeks to live it up!  Add to this (and this maybe stereotyping)  English people are pushovers when it comes to bartering...(especially if they are eating Valium like candy!)   I thought this might screw my budget but after some negotiations with a couple of boats we only got bent over a little My bunk on the train (a little cramped!)
My bunk on the train (a little cramped!)
 .       
     
     So off we went for a 2 night 2 day cruise of the backwaters....but first we had to buy beer since it is a key ingredient to any successful cruise.  The crew welcomed us aboard with some lovely coconuts.   The next couple of days were very relaxing.  We laid back and watched the world go by as our boat lazily drifted down random backwater passage ways.  One of the English guys brought a Boise speaker system for his Ipod.  We had the clearest most powerful sound system on the water!  It was sweet.  Backgammon, Farkle, Swimming, Kingfisher and Sun Bathing were the key activities. Occasionally we would stop at a village to walk around, throw the Frisbee or buy more Bombay mix (like spicy chex mix).
      
       The food was great and well as the company.  I felt like I did not see a whole lot of the backwaters due the size and speed of our boat. Never-the-less it was one chill-axin time!  
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