Thanksgiving Chapatis on the Kettuvallam!
Trip Start
Jun 07, 2008
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82
188
Trip End
Jun 28, 2009
Allepey,
Kerala,
India
Thursday, November 27, 2008
This afternoon we cruised through the backwaters which are like roads, there are big ones like main roads and small ones that would be like side roads. There are even street signs along the rivers. The captain let Lu and me drive the boat for a while. We also got to choose our dinner - fresh huge Tiger prawns from the river. I have never had prawns for Thanksgiving. They have bright blue claws.
Me in the rice fields
We also saw lots of kids in uniforms coming home from school - they take boats and ferries instead of school buses to school. I met two girls who were very nice. The ten year old was named Kristine. We walked around the village of Covaculum, which is in Allepey. One store was selling rat traps - I think they have a lot of rats but I did not see any. We visited a woodworking shop where we met the father and the son who were making amazing things for churches and temples, like Jesus on the cross and Ganesha, as well as St. George and the dragon. Their grandfather started the shop in 1921. They were very nice and we ended up buying a small backrubber, a puzzle for Lu, and two Ganeshas to send home. We also visited a very pretty church where we said a short prayer.
We got to make chapatis, which are like flat pancakes, for dinner. Lu and I helped make the dough into balls, then we rolled it out super flat and put them in the grill. They were delicious - maybe I will get the recipe from Vishnu and make them for Thanksgiving next year. Later, I got some dough and made some creatures out of it.
Today was also a sad day because someone attacked lots of places in Mumbai, where we were supposed to go tomorrow, including the Taj Mahal hotel where we were supposed to stay, plus some more hotels, a hospital, and some other places. I feel very angry and sad because I really like India and the people here. I was excited about seeing Mumbai.
Finally, a special message to all my cousins and aunts and uncles in Vermont and in Nashville. I know that most of my grandparents were scared about the attacks in Mumbai, but don't be, we are not going to Mumbai now and we are safe. I hope you have a great dinner and cricket (ed: I think he means grasshopper!) pie. I can just taste those mashed potatoes! Instead we are having tiger prawns, Kerala rice, rotis, fried bananas, okra, beans and rice, pineapple, and some fish. I miss you all. I miss everybody! If it is snowing, write back and tell me. It is hot and humid here and there are some mosquitoes, but not too many. Happy Thanksgiving!
