MY ALLAPEY ( KERALA ) TRIP REVIEW

தமிழில் காண : கிளிக்

Hi,

I have mentioned in so many posts about our vacation .This year vacation plan was totally unplanned , within one week we planned everything.

First one week we spent in Kochi (Kerala) and next two weeks in Pollachi ( Tamil Nadu).

Pollachi is my home town so we didn't plan any outing in Pollachi , we just took rest and visited few of our relatives home.But in Kochi we really had a very good and different experience.

We went to Allapey boat house , Lulu Mall , Subash park and few temples in Kochi.

First two days we spent in Allapey boat house , we booked a two bedroom boat and the boat starts sharply at 11 AM in morning.Two representatives travels with us for our assistance , One for cooking and , and next one drives the boat and guides us.

We reached boast house at 11 AM and I was so surprised to see the complete back water shore is covered with hundreds of boats from smaller to bigger.The co-operation and support between each boats are so amazing , inspite of so many boats they work together supporting each and helping their people :).

The boat had two AC rooms , one kitchen and a big corridor with a dining table , TV with DVD and speakers and some cuisine chairs and sofas to enjoy the natural view .Before boarding they asked us about our food choices and cooks accordingly.

We were welcomed by natural welcome drink and started boat by 11.15 AM , as we choose to take traditional Kerala dishes we were served with kerala cuisine during our entire trip.

We saw natural fishing , villages on shores , houses at the edge of shores and people from those houses come out to shores to fetch water,fishing , washing clothes ,bathing ,washing utensils.As we poeple got practiced to use tap water for everything ,seeing them living in natural way was very envying :)) Also they use small hand row boat to bigger sized steam boats for their transportation , just like how we use bicycle and cars for our transportation.Both sides coconut trees covered waters with natural breeze was highlight about this boathouse.

The lunch was served at 2.00 PM , the boat was stopped near a village and there was a local fish stall where they sell fresh sea foods , we can buy fish , prawns , lobster and crabs and the cook in boat will cook any dish as per our wish.We brought prawns and he cooked prawns coconut gravy for dinner.

Now coming back to lunch , the lunch was served with mattai rice , Ivy guard ( kovakkai ) fry , ladysfinger masala , drumstick sambar , Rasam , curd , pappads and full fish fry .

The taste was so good and we enjoyed the taste of Kerala , everything was cooked in coconut oil and all dishes had little coconut too :).After a heavy lunch the boat stood there for one hour for rest , there we were allowed to move around the village and also there is a small cannal where we can go through small boat to look around the village but as we are over fed we were tired to move out so stayed in boat itself.

Evening when the boat started again the cool breeze also started along with sunset.Evening ride started with Tea and Banana fritters ( nendram pazhapori) . we enjoyed the complete sunset and we saw boat bus stops where people from villages wait for public transportation boats. The pubic boats comes with a conductor to issue ticket and a driver to drive boat.

They drove the boat till dark and then anchored the boat in a shore where we could see only trees and bushes , after few hours another house boat came and anchored near us so there was no fear.

 

The night experience is too good and different , you see only water around you and sounds of fish moving in water is only heard .Night we were served with rotis , prawn coconut gravy , rice , dal and chicken gravy.

After dinner we watched movies till late night and went for rest , the rooms are very spacious with AC and very good ambience.

Morning we got up with a cup of tea and Puttu with channa dal curry at 8 AM.Then again boat started around 9 AM and moved around for few time and came back to starting shore by 10.30 AM.

The most relaxing trip.

Things to note if you are planning for Allapey boat house,

1. Book with reputed boat house , see the reviews and talk to them about amedities and then book a boat.
2. Try to go as family or groups , you can have lot of fun in groups.
3. Tell about your food requirements earlier itself , I suggest you to try kerala cuisine for different experience.
4. If you want them to cook anything other than their menu ,better you buy the main ingredient from shore itself as buying in middle of trip we felt very costly.
5. Take movie dvds , music cd with you . They have Television , DVD player in boat so you can enjoy the night in open water with music and movies.
6. Even you can book morning to evening trip also but night staying gives you wonderful experience.
7. Best time to travel to Allapey is from February to May , Where there will be less rain , you can enjoy bright cool breeze.