India - Through Chris's Eyes

Tuesday 6th April

Morning came and we took breakfast as we did the previous day at the Hotel Nani, a top class hotel which offered a welcome continental breakfast, a much needed change, for me anyway, as an Indian breakfast was like having dinner - bread and vegetable curry. And best of all I could get coffee, which tasted like proper coffee.

It was time to head off to the boat now. We arrived not really knowing what to expect, but we were relieved to see the boat we were on was very nice, especially as we were on board for two days.

We met the three crew members, two steward-like guys and the captain. It turned out they sort of all mucked in together cooking and serving as well. The backwaters were a welcome relief from the muggy, polluted town centre of Kollam. We were treated to some wonderful South Indian cooking and the relaxing sounds of the water and birds singing in the huge number of coconut palms, mango trees and various other fruit and nut trees, including cashew trees, that aligned the whole stretch of the waters.

It was soon apparent that we had certainly got the wrong impression of the Kollam area. The rest of the day was spent admiring the stunning views and enjoying the peace of the waterways.