India, the land of a billion people
I want to make it clear that this is LeRoy and not Vialula commenting. I say that because some folks aren't going to like what I have to say. I am not going to be completely negative because we saw and did some fabulous things here in Cochin, but there are a few things that really bothered me too. First and foremost is that I question why anyone would choose to live in their own trash and filth. The small business man is the backbone of India and dominates their economy. When I say small business man it should really read as small business family. Mom and Pop shops totally dominate everything. They are lined up along the many narrow streets for mile after mile. Each one selling or doing their businesses to locals, tourists, etc. You would think that they would take a little pride in their country, their businesses and their homes and clean up the trash and garbage that is absolutely everywhere. From what I understand, it is the older generation that had no regard about it and they have passed that attitude down. I also hear that this retro disregard is very slowly changing but at the rate I saw, it will take a longggggg time to turn that way of thinking around and begin a new generation of people who choose differently. Now, I don't live here and I don't really understand their culture so I really do not have any right to complain, but if they want tourism, and they do want tourism, then I would say they need to look at this.
Ok, sorry. Had to call it like I see it. I saw two completely different sides of things today. We had an unpleasant bus ride to our trip today and saw the mess. We went to Alleppey, which is called the Venice of the East, in the state of Kerala, to board our river boat. Once there, we saw a different aspect. This boat took us on a very slow ride around the rivers, lakes and canals they call "the backwaters" to see life on the water. Very small houses sit next to larger houses that sit next to houseboats that lie along the water's edges. A walking path type dike connects it all together and people shop, school, worship and live all along the water. We saw lots of women along the water washing their clothes. They would wash their dirty clothes in the dirty water and beat it on dirty rocks. Then hang it on the ropes lines around their houses or on their boats. We also saw folks washing their dishes out in the river too. They believe that if they are washing in moving water, for example river water, then it is clean water. I am not 100% sure I agree with them.
Canals, dug way back when, create waterways between the lakes to the rivers and you can float along a very long way before you ever get back to where you started. Coconut trees, mango trees and other various food sources grow right along the canal side. I am sure the people take full advantage of all of them. I am just not sure how they determine who gets what. We saw older men along the rock walls of the canals harvesting mussels or clams that attach themselves to the rocks. You would see their heads floating right along with the lily pads! Then you would see them disappear under the water and come up and put their harvest in small floating pots.
One of the ways to make a living here are the houseboat hotels. They are constructed of wicker, thatch and bamboo. Each one rents rooms by the night for guests. All meals are provided and they cruise around the water for 22 hours or so and then you check out. From what I hear, it costs about $100.00 a night. Each boat usually has a captain, a cook and a hand to see to your every need ...... or so they say. We saw 2 bedroom, 4 bedroom and 6 bedroom boats. Another ingenious person was driving the local ice cream boat around and would sidle up to the houseboats and sell his cold delights to the guests who were there. Still another small boat was going along the banks delivering the local mail. He would cry out his call and the people would come out to pick up their mail. We saw larger barge like boats taking rice to somewhere, perhaps a larger market area. The boat we were on was just a little day tour boat and we saw several of these as well. Families also live in houseboats along the water's edge. Some of these boats are nice and some look like they may have sunk once or twice and were then reclaimed.
A cool breeze off the water kept everyone very comfortable against the oppressive heat of the city. We had lunch on the water's edge at the beautiful Lake Palace Resort which is a 5-star resort. Three boats like ours were parked side by side on their dock and we had to unload and load by walking thru each one to the dock and then back out. It is the way of things here. Lunch was very nice and included wonderful fried shrimp, butter chicken, lots of curry flavored items. Vi loved the mango ice cream! I sampled a couple cold ones of the local brew called Kingfisher. So far I've enjoyed Bin Tang, Northern Brew, Tiger beer, Lion beer, and Kingfisher beer in the various countries we've visited. It is fun to try out the local ales.
Unfortunately our river ride was soon over and again we loaded into the buses of terror as we fought our way back to the docks and our cruise home. Just like in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, driving here is an adventure not for the faint of heart. We survived yet another round of demolition derby to see another day. Mumbai is next on our list of stops and while I know I will have to contend with the trash and the hordes of people there. As we sailed away from the bay of Cochin amidst the beautiful shoreline dotted with ancient Chinese fishing nets and people waving goodbye, I told myself that I will try to have an open mind. Not everywhere we go is like home, but yet it is home to these people and if they are ok with it then who am I to doubt them. I said try.
Ok, sorry. Had to call it like I see it. I saw two completely different sides of things today. We had an unpleasant bus ride to our trip today and saw the mess. We went to Alleppey, which is called the Venice of the East, in the state of Kerala, to board our river boat. Once there, we saw a different aspect. This boat took us on a very slow ride around the rivers, lakes and canals they call "the backwaters" to see life on the water. Very small houses sit next to larger houses that sit next to houseboats that lie along the water's edges. A walking path type dike connects it all together and people shop, school, worship and live all along the water. We saw lots of women along the water washing their clothes. They would wash their dirty clothes in the dirty water and beat it on dirty rocks. Then hang it on the ropes lines around their houses or on their boats. We also saw folks washing their dishes out in the river too. They believe that if they are washing in moving water, for example river water, then it is clean water. I am not 100% sure I agree with them.
Canals, dug way back when, create waterways between the lakes to the rivers and you can float along a very long way before you ever get back to where you started. Coconut trees, mango trees and other various food sources grow right along the canal side. I am sure the people take full advantage of all of them. I am just not sure how they determine who gets what. We saw older men along the rock walls of the canals harvesting mussels or clams that attach themselves to the rocks. You would see their heads floating right along with the lily pads! Then you would see them disappear under the water and come up and put their harvest in small floating pots.
One of the ways to make a living here are the houseboat hotels. They are constructed of wicker, thatch and bamboo. Each one rents rooms by the night for guests. All meals are provided and they cruise around the water for 22 hours or so and then you check out. From what I hear, it costs about $100.00 a night. Each boat usually has a captain, a cook and a hand to see to your every need ...... or so they say. We saw 2 bedroom, 4 bedroom and 6 bedroom boats. Another ingenious person was driving the local ice cream boat around and would sidle up to the houseboats and sell his cold delights to the guests who were there. Still another small boat was going along the banks delivering the local mail. He would cry out his call and the people would come out to pick up their mail. We saw larger barge like boats taking rice to somewhere, perhaps a larger market area. The boat we were on was just a little day tour boat and we saw several of these as well. Families also live in houseboats along the water's edge. Some of these boats are nice and some look like they may have sunk once or twice and were then reclaimed.
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| I scream for Ice Cream! |
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| Mail's here! |
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| Rice being carried up the river ... |
Our group enjoyed waving to the children as they ran around or were on their way from school in their uniforms. They always had a smile and waved back. Other locals we saw were going about their day included people fishing, people tilling fields in the distance, teenagers on their phones, people worshiping at temples and churches, people just doing regular things. It was a true glimpse of everyday life.
A cool breeze off the water kept everyone very comfortable against the oppressive heat of the city. We had lunch on the water's edge at the beautiful Lake Palace Resort which is a 5-star resort. Three boats like ours were parked side by side on their dock and we had to unload and load by walking thru each one to the dock and then back out. It is the way of things here. Lunch was very nice and included wonderful fried shrimp, butter chicken, lots of curry flavored items. Vi loved the mango ice cream! I sampled a couple cold ones of the local brew called Kingfisher. So far I've enjoyed Bin Tang, Northern Brew, Tiger beer, Lion beer, and Kingfisher beer in the various countries we've visited. It is fun to try out the local ales.
Unfortunately our river ride was soon over and again we loaded into the buses of terror as we fought our way back to the docks and our cruise home. Just like in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, driving here is an adventure not for the faint of heart. We survived yet another round of demolition derby to see another day. Mumbai is next on our list of stops and while I know I will have to contend with the trash and the hordes of people there. As we sailed away from the bay of Cochin amidst the beautiful shoreline dotted with ancient Chinese fishing nets and people waving goodbye, I told myself that I will try to have an open mind. Not everywhere we go is like home, but yet it is home to these people and if they are ok with it then who am I to doubt them. I said try.
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