It was a sunny day, when my friend Antony who works as a vintage car driver at the Old Harbour Hotel in Fort Kochi calls me….What are you doing this evening? If you are free I wish to take you to my small place in the backwaters at Kothiyathodu, a small backwater village in Alleppey.
I was free that day and I decided to visit this place which is hardly 45 minutes drive from Fort Kochi. Antony picked me up around 3:30 PM in his vintage Ambassador car and we started our drive along the national highway to Kuthiyathoodu. After driving around half an hour Antony took a diversion from the NH 47 to a narrow road which leads to the backwater village.
When he drove along the narrow road I can see the change, no vehicles, no crowd, I see some canals, fields filled with water, lush green landscapes with Coconut palms everywhere…As we reached the village he stopped his car near a canal. Then we walked through a wooden log to cross the canal and walked slowly along the side of the canal to his land surrounded by the backwater canals.
It is serene, calm and backwater all around. We reached his small world where I can see a small hut, two goats and plantations like coconut trees, mango tree, tapioca, plantain etc.. The local landlord and care taker of Antony’s land gave us a cup of black tea and a snack wrapped in plantain leaf. It was hot and delicious. Made out of rice flour and sweet coconut filling inside with jaggery was something different and natural.
Here comes the real tour experience. We boarded his small wooden Canoe and moved slowly along the canals. This is what we call the serenity on the backwaters.. It was so calm, relaxing and natural feast for your senses… beautiful backwater village, small huts where the native live, birds – Kingfisher, great Indian hornbill, Strok, flora & fauna… I can see fishermen fishing and as we move along we entered into the wide Vembanad lake. The breeze was awesome and to see the sunset from here is memorable. I took some nice pictures on my cell phone…It was a ride with breathtaking views of the backwater canals and village life. After an hour or so are back to Antony’s hut. I can see the sunset in the west. By the time the caretaker “Achamma” had prepared delicious” Kappa and Meenkari” (Fish and tapioca). Tapioca was garden fresh and fish was cooked in spices. I still remember the flavor. A sip of natural toddy along with the spicy fish curry was mind blowing…I wish I could have a small house on this serene backwaters and live here for long….a memorable experience on the backwaters which I wish all to experience…..We are back to Fort Kochi by 6:30 PM.
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