Backwater life in Alleppey....

Lined up and ready for the tourists...

                A relaxing and complete breakfast served in the comfortable confines of the Venice Home Stay A large family home, tucked away along a couple of alleys off the main street---totally impossible for the tourist to ‘chance upon’, but through the miracles of the internet, here I am. The name Venice seems to appear quite often in Alleppey aka, Allapuzha, as the town, pop. 282,700, is a central entry point to the Kerala tourism area known as the ‘backwaters’. The region reminds me rather more of Mississipi and its bayous than Venice, Italy and comprises a network of small rivers extending inland, running north south and parallel to the coastline. The supply of tourist boat services around and through the ‘back waters’ has grown into a major regional business, with river boats of all sizes offered at various levels of luxury. This morning, during my reconnoitring, I observed a larger boat garlanded in tropical flowers, being prepared, I believe, for inclusion as part of a wedding ceremony. Through the large windows one could see

Trade mark theft?

the bridal bed ornately decorated for the lucky couple.
(bed and breakfast).

              Interesting to note that the largest (by far) hotel in Alleppey town, with its own private mooring area for its houseboats, is the Ramada. Previously in my blog, I have reported the almost total absence of American hotel brands in India, at least along my 8000km routing.  It is clear to me that the Americans seem to be able to raise the art of inn keeping to a much higher level of sophistication than local, non chain Indian hotel operations that I have seen.. To date,  (mid/late November) the tourist masses  have not yet arrived and most boats are unused and vacant. Walk down through the boat jetty area and one is assailed on all sides, by pesky & aggressive sales touts calling their wares. Duly seduced, I have booked a four hour circular excursion tomorrow at 8.00am. The morning option chosen, as it does seem that the temperature and humidity rise to a crescendo before 1.00pm, culminating in heavy down-pour for a couple of hours, mid afternoon.

The Venice Guest House, Alleppey.

              Alleppey, is a small town by Indian standards, being basically two major roads that converge in the town centre. Today is Sunday and with this town having a large Christian population, many of the stores are closed. Along the main street, near my accommodation, there is a multi-level gold shop that would not look out of place in Las Vegas or Shanghai, and of course, dozens of smaller jewellery and gold shops. I cannot believe that the backpackers that I have seen, spend all their money on gold trinkets. Understand that the winter wedding season in India has a direct relationship on gold bullion prices world-wide.              .              

Interesting fact: (World Bank 2013).

Population density India per sq. km 421, China 145, Netherlands 498, Canada 4.