Fan of Kerala backwaters

I am definitely a fan of the Kerala waterways in southern India (Dec. ’17, pg. 36). I spent two days and three nights there on a converted rice boat in January 2017 and would have loved to stay longer. This was part of a tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/955-1925, www.oattravel.com).

The accommodations (stateroom, food, etc.) were excellent. There was a small lounge near the front of the boat where one could relax and watch the pilot do his job. Fruit and a newspaper were on the coffee (tea!) table.

The side trips down narrow waterways were done on not-so-fancy but very adequate small boats, which allowed us to get “up close and personal.” We even witnessed a gent bathing.

We stopped at a women’s project where they were digging up massive water debris (they sang to us), visited a small Hindu temple and saw a woman constructing a coconut roof.

For me, it was a welcome change from our visiting massive temples and removing shoes at every juncture! There was boat traffic, but not so much as to be annoying, and the eventide was delightful.

MARIAN SPAINHOWER

Red Bluff, CA