Waking up to an alarm on a holiday... we figured we will start the day in time and cover up for our kanyakumari detour. The breakfast was at a restaurant next to the hotel. We asked the waiter what they had and pat came the reply "idli". And? "Idli". Lack of choice sometimes is a wonderful thing.
We headed up, with alleppey couple of hours out. Reached in good time and took the house boat for hour and a half. Its interesting how the negotiation can go when the boat is idle for an hour and a half (and hence the boatman has zero leverage), and we have no choice (in our heads) but to make that boat trip. Backwaters were great - serene and relaxing. We stocked with beer and the boatwala with some eggs. The cook came by and offered omelettes. We tried to ask for bhurji but it was easier to make it rather than explain. I took charge of the kitchen, and got some bhurji out. Beer, eggs, backwaters. Priceless! The backwaters have evolved - there is now everything from canoes to speed boats there (no, they should definitely take the speed boat out!)
On our way back, we looked for lemons to try our lemonshots (TM - if you want a recipe, please write back). We couldn't find lemons so decided to try it with oranges. Turned out well - ashish couldn't feel the vodka till he really felt it. Deceptive drink. When I started on the trip, I had dropped in a silver bookmark someone had gifted. I had wondered then why someone would want a silver bookmark when the paper ones do perfectly fine. Bingo! The silver bookmark came handy in cutting the oranges. Everything finds its destiny...
As the afternoon started to fade out, the jostling between taking scenic roads versus covering more distance started. Ameet kept pushing to go on and cover more distance - this guy is a visionary. Everytime we took a detour, there was a moan :-)
On the way we spotted some boys playing football at Ponnani so we thought we'd join in. It seemed they had a different idea - they wanted to play "with" ashish, instead of "alongwith" ashish. So they kept passing the ball, with ashish trying to take possession. Once he figured out he was being made the "beech ka bandar", it was time for us to make a move. At another of our detours, we drove for a while before realising we just were going around an island in a circle. Sunset time, managed to find a backwater front.
We were approaching kozhikode now, and figured there was a hotel on the beach. Didn't find a room there, and got referred to another hotel by the side. Everyone at this hotel said the rooms were available, then spoke to some one over the phone, and then said there were no rooms. Three times in a row! Something shady going on. So we were now in calicut without a hotel. Went to taj and though they didn't have a room, they helped us find a hotel. This hotel was off the beach, so any chances of a morning beach run were down the drain.
The redeeming factor was a great dinner there. Followed by some more Orange shots, and a poker night to follow. Past 1:30 am by the time we slept.
Alleppey backwaters and mystery of full hotels
Friday, January 27, 2012
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
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