Alleppey - Kottayan (Kerala) - January 4th, 2007

This morning I went to visit Kottayan by bus. Here in Alleppey they sell tourist cruises between these two towns thru the canals. Kottayan district was the first one in India to achieve total literacy, and today is the headquarters of the Malayalan language (they speak this language allover Kerala state) and show their own movies in this language.
From there, I went to visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - very tropical lush and along the canals, the have a variety of domestic and migratory birds. This is the season for cormorants and ducks. There was a constant flow of boathouses travelling by or stopping to visit the bird sanctuary.
Kumarakom is actually located on the shore of Vembanal lake, with nice resorts around this very placid and peaceful area. When I left this place, I went to try a typical fish meal with a coconut alcoholic drink served in a pitcher, in the country side. At least 15 men went by my pal hut to say "hello". What is it with these men...??