Once you experience the serene and magical beauty of southern India on a cruise through the backwaters that crisscross the Kochi area, you will understand why the Indians call it “God’s Own Country”. You will probably even agree.
Twilight approaches at a lagoon on the side of the river.
Leading up to my birthday, I was too tired and busy to really think about what I wanted to receive or do to celebrate. Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful husband who made the time to think about and plan out a special treat for me that the whole family was able to love. I would almost always prefer to go on an adventure or do an activity than actually receive a “thing”. And sharing said adventure with my husband and boys just makes the experience complete.
One of the many houseboats on the river that day.
So Bobby booked a trip on a traditional-style Kerala houseboat. Due to his travel schedule, we were only able to stay one night but people often book these boats for a long weekend or a week of vacation.
Our ship. The ship’s crew kindly decorated for my birthday. And gave us jasmine necklaces to wear.
These ships come in different sizes. Ours had two bedrooms, the upper deck, and a kitchen in the very back of the boat.
A night shot of the front deck. Two very comfortable chairs for chilling during the cruise, with a table and chairs behind for meal time, and upholstered benches running along both sides of the deck.
The top deck also had several seating options. The breeze up here was divine.
The boys’ favorite spot was the cushioned area at the very front of the top deck.
Once we had explored the boat, we spent the first several hours just soaking in the sights and sounds of life on the river. This activity absorbed all of us, even the fidgety six-year-old. There was much to see and feel. We all smiled constantly. And it was so relaxing.
Our Captain at the helm.
Early on our voyage we ran into these men herding their ducks. So many ducks!
Rice fields were a very common site. Kerala has it’s own type of rice that is bigger and puffier than we are used to, but still delicious- especially with all those currys.
Max and Gabe watching the water closely. I don’t know what they were looking for.
Houses and buildings are built very near the river’s edge. I don’t know what they do when they have a flood.
Water taxi stop.
We saw many other houseboats on the river.
But also many of these smaller boats- kind of like a extra long canoe. We also saw water taxis.
They allowed Gabe to steer for awhile.
All our meals were included and they were terrific! We ate so much! They even took us to a fresh seafood store so we could pick out what we wanted for dinner. The King Prawns were the best!
My dinner plate.
They even kept the hotness of the dishes down for our children. (And a little bit for us.) Notice, they even bought me a cake.
Towards sunset, they parked the boat by a lagoon for the night. Bobby and I took the boys on a walk around the lagoon and we all watched the sun set together.
We found this boat just hanging out in the lagoon.
Flowers growing by the river.
Max found a goat on our walk that he just HAD to pet.
Gabe doesn’t let me take very many selfies with him but I got one on this day.
The lagoon was split by a solitary road, surrounded by water on all sides.
I love the reflections on the water.
Ah, the sunset!
We played card games together and got bitten by mosquitoes before bedtime. We tried to see the stars but the clouds covered.
The mattresses were good and we all slept through the night. Bobby and I woke to our boys running up and down the stairs to the upper deck. They always tell us that they want to have stairs in our house. We ate a delectable breakfast of crepes filled with sweetened shredded coconut. Then they pointed us back the way we came. It was time to go home. But when we did, we were all smiling like this:
What a happy birthday!
lubabob
the Creasman Experience 
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