Onto the 8th year

Past the 7-year itch...

We celebrated our wedding anniversary on the 10th of May with a boating in the Vembanad lake near Kumarakom, that star tourist spot in Kerala made famous by Prime Minsiter Vajpayee's visit there some years ago. WE (us four, my parents-in-law and my mom) had gone there hoping to trek to the bird sanctuary there but it was closing time at 5 pm being a govt-managed place. The officer at the ticket counter however gave us the option of going to the bird sanctuary on a motor boat, at Rs. 275 for half an hour. We stepped into the boat with trepidation as none of us knew swimming. But we soon overcame it and by the time we reached the sanctuary area we were in no mood for bird watching and preferred a ride across the vast Vembanada lake, sprawling 3 districts - Kottayam, Alleppey and Ernakulam. Pathiramanal and Bolgatti beckoned us but it was too late in the day for such a long trip.
The boat driver instead gave us a bonus half hour ride for a tip. Houseboats of various resorts moored in the canal area and tourists enjoying the sunset waved at us. A snakebird emerged from the waters and flew away while a dozen birds flew home making a pretty picture of themselves in the sky.
The sun had already set, so V didnt get the ideal shots he wanted. I think we will go there once again for a more relaxed outing.
We then headed for dinner at the Karimpankala restaurant cum bar for dinner - for starters, toddy or naadankallu in an earthern pot; then tapioca, appam, chapati, fish curry, duck curry, rabbit fry, and above all, the delicious karimeen (pearlspot) fried and served in banana leaf!