Allepay (or Allapuzzha)
Trip Start
May 12, 2005
1
36
79
Trip End
May 14, 2006
Allepay,
India
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Arrived last night......
the place to do back-water cruises from (much of the coastline of kerela is a backed by a mosiac of lagoons, canals and lakes). The crusies sounds very nice, sweet bamboo roofed houseboats, a crew of three, and some serious bucks. Stayed at Mary's, a guy across the street runs and guesthouse and Mary rents out a spare room fairly cheaply. Substantial christian population and Mary's house was filled with crosses and such like. Allepay was okay, a few very busy streets, the beach was nice and we snuck in a quick dip before the local blokes started getting interested. There were a couple of fellas netting garfish from the beach. Had a great fish pickle (Mark is into his pickles, they are an acquired taste)... did a few odd jobs and ready to leave after one full day...
dugout
Allepay to Combitore
Took a local ferry from Allepay to Kottayam, about a 2 1/2 hour trip; early start, but well worth it. Little kids taking the boat to school, pairs in dugout canoes hauling in fish,life lining the water. Not quite as atmospheric as the floating markets/villages of cambodia, but well worth the pitance we paid for a ticket. Got a train from kottayam to combitore, booked our onward train on the narrow gauge (one of the last operational steam engines in india) up to Ooty, but had to work to get a seat. The reservation lady insisted that there was no train, Mark has ot be very firm to score a ticket. Combitore the perfect stopover; budget hotels and resturants, all of a good standard, opposite the train station....early start the next morning....
