Kerala Backwaters : Houseboat

After tiring our feet (and back) from jalan-jalan cari nahas in Kochin, we decided to take it slow for a boatride in the backwaters of Kerala.

In India,the Houseboat attraction comes in third after the Taj Mahal and Kashmir. I was at first puzzled, what is so special about spending overnight in a slow boat??

Right. Little did I know.

Its the serene river and lakes, and surrounding scenes, even the houseboats are (cute!). Here everything is naturally beautiful. When I boarded into "our" houseboat, I was speechless. Memang cantik. For a couple's boat, we paid approx. Rm300 for a small luxury houseboat, one bedroom with rattan windows, bathroom, lounge, one kitchenette complete with a cook, meals, juices and everything else you need. Of course, the boat has a captain, so don't worry about getting lost..eheh (kalau lost pun best jugak hehe)

The trip takes about 18 hours, circling around the vast lake and small river. By nightfall, the captain parked the boat next to a breathtakingly beautiful paddy field. (The Keralan Govt. forbids night travelling for houseboat) We were visited by two English (funny girls) whom we bumped into each other couple of times during our trip.

After the rumble jumble, just by looking out to the open waters, felt as if all my troubles seem to dissipate somewhere far, far away. I highly recommend houseboat to anyone, this one thing you cannot miss. By the time the trip ends, I keep thinking if they'll let us another round. Sob sob.

I'll let the pictures speak of the beauty of the backwaters of Kerala.

Ni la rupa (tradisi) houseboat Kerala. Comel. Macam Ulat gonggok

Houseboat yang lebih besar ada 4-5 bilik. Satu famili dalam RM700+

Room with a view.

It's also known as (the Indian version) Venice of Asia.

Serene. Relaxing. Peaceful.

Our stop for the night. Breathtaking.

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Ever Thine, Ever Mine

I applaud Tuan Guru Nik Aziz's stand on the "Allah for Catholic" issue, at least to those following the Abrahamic faith.

But I also remember a local scholar who has the Al-Attas heritage in his name, claiming that it is not our culture to universally accept Allah as the One God for all, and this will ultimately confuse the Malay-speaking people.

As I looked past the New Year Celebration with our Prime Minister cajouling the Muslims over this issue, promising that there will soon be an appeal, I can't help but to think: why let it be decided in court, dear gomen, when this can go through academic theology dialouges?

They say, one have an hindsight of the whole year they're heading on the first day of the new year.
Good luck, Malaysia!

Well me. I had BaskinRobbins on the eve and I had missed eating my favourite (but equally fattening) breakfast on that day. Tell me thats a good omen.

Namanya Puri Bhaji.

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