Raju's Canoe Service, $6/hour - Alleppey, Kerala, India
We knew we'd be coming back to Alleppey again with some friends, so decided to skip the houseboat experience until we were with them. However, we still wanted to spend some time on the backwaters so, on the request of Macy at Palmy Lake Resort, we booked Raju for a 5 hour canoe trip. He arrived in the morning and began to lead us along a small canal to his canoe. From the moment we met Raju, he was friendly and informative, stopping to identify flowers and birds for us. Though his English isn't great, he knows enough to make his point, and isn't afraid to stumble through the words if it means you'll learn something or be entertained. In the canoe, we saw locals going about their lives, using the backwaters as their lifeblood. Raju explained it all to us; the work people do, how the children get to school, how much fresh fish costs, how to turn mussel shells into paint. He told us all the things we wanted to know, usually before we asked the question, and often times before we knew there was a question to ask. He was a fantastic guide. One of the benefits of doing a canoe trip vs. a house boat trip is that you're able to access the very small canals, which is where daily life happens on the water, something really special to see. Raju took us to a tea shop on the water, where they had a pet sea eagle that we were allowed to hold. We also unloaded out of the canoe and walked back to a small village (where there were no tourists) to see another glimpse of every day life on the backwaters. He told us how the water is treated and "purified" in the canals and even let Tom help paddle the canoe for awhile. Raju never ceased to be cheerful, kind and informative and we highly recommend his services (and hope you'll tip generously).
Alleppey is the most captivating place which could be seen in Kerala . I have once been to this place and we really enjoyed a lot along with the friends. Thanks a lot for the most entrancing line which you have given in the midst of us.This will be really useful for the tourist in deciding the tour in the future.
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