Hey, DCers. Nice article about Kerala in today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032000974.html

The writer's experience with the backwaters houseboat trip was not at all like ours. But he does say to do the day trip (which is what we did), not the overnight, so looks like we got the best of the deal.

I think you are right, Crystal. I enjoyed our leisure hours floating on the backwater. The writer did encounter some interesting problems on his overnight stay on the boat. Plus the rain put a damper on his experience. My idea of going back for a few days of backwater floating has been washed from my mind!!

We spent an afternoon on a Kerala backwater boat. Actually the accomodations were really quite plush. Great bedroom and bathroom. I am sure we were probably on one of the better boats. There is an Oberoi boat there as well, not a barge and it does longer trips, that is very very nice. We did not spend the night. I had problems with the food at lunch as there was little choice but I experienced that anytime I was out of the main Taj or Oberoi hotels.

India is a such a mix with some of the absolutely BEST hotels and then situations like this. A place you must go first class.

I totally agree with you, Ngaire. In India stay in the best 5 star hotels, don't drink anything but bottled water you open yourself and stay away from salads and generally anything uncooked! But it is a fascinating, colourful, noisy, wonderful country!