I am not a morning person! And the canoe ride started at 7.30 am. That meant I had to get up at 6.45 at least. I don’t take much time to get ready anyway. When I turned up at the reception of the Kumarakom Lake Resort, they took pity on me and told me to go and have a cup of tea/coffee. I am a tea person but the coffee at the resort was divine, so for a very short while I switched loyalties. I left like a different person with a cup of coffee inside me. I concluded after the trip that a canoe ride in the Vembanad Lake is thing of beauty for observing the life in the backwaters up close.
True to the theme of the trip to Kumarakom, I had the whole canoe to myself. As we got out into the waterway I sat on the first chair. The canoe was covered and the chairs seated in the shade. As soon as we gained a little distance I asked if I could sit at the front of the boat. The permission was given to me and that is where I firmly remained for the rest of the journey, even though the spot had no shade.
By now I have been in the backwaters in a houseboat, canoe and a kayak (on a previous trip). Each has its own advantages but then that is the topic of a separate post. A canoe can get into narrower water channels than a houseboat but a houseboat offers luxury.
I wonder how the residents of the backwaters feel about the boats of tourists with their cameras? I mean they come to the canal to wash something and their goes a tourist, click! However this bunch of kids had fun and wanted me to click a picture of them splashing about.
A canoe can take you closer to the birds. When you take a trip through the backwaters, do expect to see birds up close. The trouble is that the canoe is always moving and it is difficult to get focus right. This was my first sighting of a Darter.
It is looking at the pictures I realized that the Vembanad Lake is a mirror, it doubles the beauty of the Kerala Backwaters! As it was the monsoons, the greenery was even more startling, if that is possible!
I had visited Alleppey in 2013 but I do not remember seeing so many lotus before. They were such a joy, and the joy was double because of the reflections!
It is more probable on a canoe to catch a duck shaking off water from its body. And if I manage to get a half way decent picture, it is an added bonus. I saw a Kingfisher with a small fish in its beak, but that delight is mine only. The picture is so blurred and bad and I do not dare to share it!
If not a yellow submarine, how about living in a yellow house by the backwaters? I would say it could be the next best thing to the yellow submarine!
By going around in the lake for a few times, I got the feeling that Kumarakom has many resorts. But even then, they are tucked away in various corners. At no point I got a feeling that the place was overrun with resorts!
The most common site on a canoe (or any other) trip are the houseboats. After all there are about 500 in and around Alleppey alone!
While I am was a short canoe trip, people actually live around the backwaters. They have to do many of their daily chores with tourists gliding around! I had a zoom which I was using for most of my photographs. But I was somehow reluctant to point it out at people. I would exchange a smile with them instead!
We took a circular path and I was deposited back in time to have my breakfast at the resort. The good folks had kept refreshments for me in the canoe but I truly didn’t budge from the front of the boat for the while trip! My eyes were glues to the camera and the scenery. The trip was soothing to the eyes. The fresh air did wonders for my appetite.
what a lovely experience… I have had a similar one on a boat ride in Ernakulam… but ofcourse it wasn’t as exotic as the canoe ride 🙂
btw, I love the coffee story 🙂 Cheers
Thank you so much Archana. 😀
Beautiful pictures! Kerala is really something else – I don’t think I’ll tire of Alleppey backwater pics anytime soon, no matter how many I’ve seen 🙂 About what you said about residents of these backwaters being among click-happy tourists, I’ve often wondered about that myself. Of how locals must feel in certain places when they are reduced to being subjects for another’s camera, sometimes unwillingly. I’ve done that myself on occasion, but lately I try being a lot more careful and considerate about this aspect. Thanks for another lovely post!
And thank you for such a thoughtful comment Ami.
Wow! Amazing experience that must be. I totally enjoyed reading this account of the canoe ride.
Thank you Purba.
Beautiful clicks..
Nice post..
Ananya Fashions and More
Thank you so much.
Beautiful clicks as always, Mridula…I remember our houseboat stay in the Alleppey backwater…A canoe ride sounds really thrilling… 🙂
I prefer coffee..always… 😀
Maniparna and I am an out and out tea person!
You brought back some great sights, Mridula.
Awesome pictures!!
Thank you Divya. It is easy to click pictures in such beautiful settings.
Nice Pics. Resort reflection looks beautiful.
Thank you Arun.
Kerala Backwaters are best , thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mahesh.
Interesting Post with beautiful Pictures of backwaters.. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Sreedhar ji.
That’s a heavenly place Mridula in the lap of nature. I have to take the canoe ride sometime.
Yes Somali it takes you into the smaller canals which is fun. Even more fun is kayaking.
Great post.. loved reading it..
Thank you Ranjani.
Love this more than a house boat ride.
Me too this and kayaking.
Wow – so gorgeous! I love that second photo.
Thank you Lady Fi.
Beautiful post,
Awesome photos, Superb
Thank you Rupam.
Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much.
Love these pics. Wonderful captures all.
It has a good photogenic setting.
Thank you Indrani, I agree Vembanad Lake is quite scenic.