Welcome to Allepey, Kerala, India!

Date: July 9, 2009
Location: Sona Heritage Home Allepey town, Kerala State, India
Accomplishments: Previous day (June 8) We cycled 30 miles from Kochi to Allepey on NHWAY 47. At first, I was worried about traffic, but the road was wide, divided part of the way and flat-- so it was an easy ride and probably safer than the winding mountain roads that we previously conquered.

"You want boat-house?"
"I have boat-house for you!" When we enter Allepey, it seems as though we have "sucker! I am a push-over! Sell it to me!" signs posted on our backs. Everybody wants to sell us a boat tour. However, being on our bicycles is an easy escape, a saving grace from the heaps of tour vendors. We sail past them. We follow our Lonely Planet Guidebook suggestion and we cycle one kilometer North of town and stay at Sona Heritage Homestay.

A jolly Indian man greets us, welcomes us. He shows us photographs of all the boat tour options from a massive house boats, mini-motor boats, or paddle canoes. He hands me a notebook filled with tourist positive feedback. We sign up for a paddle canoe ride for the next day. Reading the guidebook ahead of time, I learned that the backwaters, streams, and lakes in Allepey are in great danger and are over polluted. Part of the over-pollution is caused by the expansive tours in house boats. Keeping this in mind, I am happy to sign up for the simple canoe with NO motor! We spend the rest of the day cycling around town, sipping chai tea in a restuarant over-looking the foggy ocean. We find an amazing vegetarian restaurant called, "Hot Kitchen," that serves fantastic masala dosas. A masala dosa is a thin crepe filled with potato/onion curry accompanied with coconut chutney and zambar (vegetable okra) sauces.

We go to sleep dreaming of what adventures our canoe village tour will bring!