The Kerala Backwaters are a vast labyrinth of lakes, lagoons, rivers, and canals next to the Arabian Sea. Beautiful, tranquil, a study in green, they have become a popular tourist destination in a variety of ways. We were with a group of Dutch, Italian, Polish, English, and Danish folks and took two kinds of boats, both with no motors but pushed (punted) along with long bamboo poles. The first was large and covered with a thatched roof. Enjoy a slow float…

During the tour we made several stops. The first was at a lime kiln that makes lime from clam shells by burning them with coconut husks and charcoal. The second seemed like a backyard with a set up for making rope from coconut fibers. The third was for lunch on banana leaves. And the fourth was another backyard that had many culinary and medicinal plants during which we sniffed and tasted many leaves. Please note too, the boat’s interesting bathroom door…

After lunch there was a second, smaller boat experience up some narrower sections of the back waters (Charlie & Veronica were in front, some Brits behind)…

Study Questions:

1. Research the Kerala Backwaters. Describe the ecology, flora and fauna.
2. Research Kerala Backwater tourism. How many people have visited, how, why, etc.?