Through The Keralan Backwaters in Alleppey (Alappuzha)

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Alappuzha, Alleppey, Alleppey Beach, boathouse, Kerala, Keralan backwaters, photography, Pooppally's Home Stay, Raheem Residency, Southern India, travel

Today, I’m here to post about the third part of my trip to Kerala, as stated before in the earlier post – I planned on splitting it into three parts. I have already posted the previous two parts covering on Fort Cochin and followed by the traditional art of Kathakali. Therefore, this will center around my 4 days spent at the southern of Kerala in Alleppey, otherwise also known as Alappuzha.

Almost Venice-like, the shady streets of Alappuzha (Alleppey) are set around a grid of canals that spill into the vast watery highways of the region. As the getaway to the famed backwaters, this is the place in Kerala to organise some houseboat action and is home to the famous Nehru Trophy Snake Boat race. It’s worth stopping in Alleppey to soak up some tropical village life before making a beeline for the backwaters.

The backwaters – the undisputed main attraction of a trip to Kerala is traveling through the 900km network of waterways that fringe the coast and trickle far inland. Long before the advent of roads, these waters were slippery highways of Kerala, and many villagers today still use paddle-power as their main form of transport. Trips through the backwaters traverse palm-fringed lakes studded with cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, and wind their way along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre) and copra (dried coconut kernels) and cashews are loaded onto boats. Along the way are isolated villages where farming life continues as it has for eons.

Renting a houseboat designed like kettuvallam (rice barge) could be one of your most expensive experiences in India, but it is worth every darned rupee. Drifting through quiet canals lined with coconut palms, eating deliciously authentic Keralan food, meeting local villagers and sleeping on the water under a galaxy of stars – it is a world away from the clamor of India. Kerala’s backwaters snake in all directions from Alleppey and, while touring on a houseboat is a great experience, taking time to slow down and stay in a village can be even more rewarding.

We spent two nights in the secluded and tranquil home stay by the name of Pooppally’s Heritage Home & Resorts. It is such a lovely, peaceful and quiet eco-homestay furnished in century-old Kerala architecture and wood works and carvings amidst serenity. If you are a nature lover and want to stay away from all the hustle and bustle, this place is certainly right for you. This eco friendly home stay which consists of only about 4 rooms belongs to Retired principal Dr.Joseph Pooppally and is son, Dr. Paul. You definitely feel at home checking in in this accommodation. The owners here are so friendly and helpful, especially Dr. Joseph who even stayed up the night and filled us with stories of his life which dates back to long ago. Besides that, the backwaters is just along side-by-side towards the back in Pooppally’s. Therefore, boathouse rides are made easier.

Furthermore, I even made friend with a single Irish lady by the name of Christie who stayed there for months just to enjoy the calmness and serene life it offers, often sitting by the edge of the backwaters at certain periods of the day or take a visit to the village’s town and hills to draw and paint beautiful pieces of oil paintings. Waking up and stepping out of our rooms to take in the magnificent view of the sunrise early at six in the morning (local time) was indeed another experience which left us in awe. To be able to absorb that aura nature has to offer, I could still recall the scene and the gentle morning breeze as though as I am standing there now. Very laid back, Pooppally was splendid.

Pooppally’s Heritage Home Stay | www.pooppallys.com;
Phone: 0477 2762034/0477 3290800;
Ponga P.O., Pooppally Jn., Nedumudy, Alleppey, Kerala, India.

The final two days in Alleppey, my parents decided that we stay in a top-end place in Alleppey – Raheem Residency. This thoughtful renovated 1860s heritage home is an absolute delight to visit, let alone stay in. So we were lucky because we got to stay in this boutique, heritage hotel for a night on the last two days we were in Alleppey. All the rooms here have been restored to their former glory and boast bathtubs, dashing antique furniture and period fixtures. The common areas are airy and comfortable, there are pretty indoor courtyards, a well-stocked library, a public-shared laptop in the reception, and a great little pool. Of course, you can also find many other services such as Ayurvedic message. With Raheem’s in house Chakara Restaurant situated on the roof top and Alleppey Beach just across the road, this is really the ideal getaway, I can guarantee you.

Raheem Residency | www.raheemresidency.com;
Phone: 2239767; Beach Rd, Alleppey, Kerala, India; s/d from Euro 140/170

Memoirs of 2011

Tags

friends, high school, life, memories, words for thought

Now that the year 2011 has passed, it is time for me to reflect what I have been through last year as far as I could envisage. Time, as they say, is like a giant wheel that never ceases to grind. We have been living everyday almost thoughtlessly so far but there must be at least something significant that we consciously or unconsciously bear in mind, something we wake up to, something that we strive to cling on to, something that once lost and relinquished seems insatiable…  That motivation force behind everything. Yes, life is somehow feckless, void, nugatory without companion and love. We simply cannot afford to disparage anyone or anything at all as long as we encounter it, even if it breezed past us like the wind caressing us or like a clear night untouched by even the dream of a storm, but it does have its cause and effect despite sometimes merely realizing. The point is that we should be obliged to everyone in and out of our lives. And if you know who are the special ones that makes your life all the more worthy and consequential, acknowledge him or her, appreciate them for sharing bits and pieces of their lives with you, express your gratitude towards them once in a while, cherish and never let them go. Because no matter how far life brings us to, they take up and remain a part in our hearts.

The year 2011 was not really interesting in the sense that it was neither a turning point nor distinctive for me. Also it was not woeful, just that it has been a turbulence for my emotions. I realize that I did not blog much last year. Mostly I remembered being so close to the tennis game for the first half of the year and then the next six months I almost did not follow up closely and speaking of it now it has been more than half a year since I last trained but I guess that is okay. And then there is a matter of friendship of course, in fact it consists of most of the part, I dare say. There had been a lot of laughter but it definitely did came with tears as well. Well, what have I been through and grasped? To sum it up in short I shall say that this is the one thing I still keep and remember: “Friends definitely comes above ego, especially when you have such good friends.” Over here, I would like to say thank you to everyone of you who have been there for me, and you definitely mean a lot to me. Needless to say, I am scared-stiff and petrify to picture my life without a dear friend I have known for four years who is currently now at National Service. She has almost been the reason to everything to me and still is. Well, I may sound exaggerating but I swear that I am a hundred percent serious about it. At least that is how it is for me. I have already said so much so I don’t think I need to go into details here anymore. And then there is also this girl by the name of Hoo Xinyi – thank you so much for being there for me during the hard and cold days, for seeing me through and most importantly for taking heart to care for me. You too should already know how much I appreciate what you did but this serves as a little reminder. Thanks for the letters and calls, the comfort of knowing that someone is always there for me. I am fortunate to have them and everyone else in my life. You know, I always prefer being inconspicuous in everything.

So here are a few highlighted events that happened in my 2011. I posted the pictures up according to chronology. I hope you will not find it too dull reading them…

• 1 January 2011 – Sister’s 14th birthday and also celebrated New Year with my family over at aunt’s place.

• 26 January – Traveled to Kerala in Southern India for a week with my uncle. Visited Cochin and Allepey.

• 26 February 2011 – Vivian’s sweet sixteen at Silver Spoon with Mei-Xuan, Xinyi and Natalie. Definitely a night remembered.

• 17 April 2011 – A day remembered to all Robsten fans out there in this world. Relive the moment. It’s the day where our doubts were gone.

• 2 May 2011 – Kiru’s seventeenth birthday at her house. Had loads of fun with my friends and also classmates.

• 7 June 2011 – I call it the Golden Popcorn Day. It’s the first time making popcorn for this little kitten here. Too much laughable memories on that day. Otherwise known as the ‘Red Bean Day’ too. Also watched MTV Movie Awards while sampling our snack. And look, she made a GIF for me.

• 4 November 2011 – High school graduation. Momentous day. I will always remember my school, teachers and my friends and all people I have known throughout my high school life. Thanks for everything these five years have to offer.

• 15 December 2011 – Mei-Xuan’s seventeenth birthday was spent at Sunway Lagoon with Ee Wei and Siew Hui. I guess this was somewhat the best day ever in my entire year of 2011. Definitely a day remembered and also one that I vividly remember, filled with thrilling fun and memories.

• 16 December 2011 – High school prom at Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

• 31 December 2011 – New Year’s Eve, and also Mei-Xuan’s last day before going off for National Service. Siew Hui and I spent it with her, we went for karaoke and barbeque. Another fun day singing and laughing.

• Class of 4/5 Jati (2010/11) – I am so lucky to be with them for these two years. We are really one and it was such a harmonious class to be in. No dramas, no spices added. Somehow, I still need some extra wrapping to grasp that my high school life has actually ended but you know they say – this is only the beginning. True.

So yep, that pretty wraps my my 2011. Of course, this is not all that happened. There were many more little, funny and definitely worthy of cherishing moments. For example all the sleepovers we had in the month of August and all the cooking, movie-watching, sneaking around, and a several more treasured conversations that do not need pictures for me to reminiscent. They all remain as ever, forever remembered. As the saying goes: we do not remember days, we remember moments.

Happy New Year, y’all! God bless.