Friday's Frock & Adventures In Kerala Part 2

Good old crimplene, this 1970s wench dress is so warm I had to shed my gloves and hat in town earlier for fear of melting. The rum did the trick, I slept until 6am this morning!

Ready for part 2 of our trip?

After a week of bumming around on Kovalam beach we caught the train to Alappuzha, the Venice of the East, 3 hours up the road. We hopped in a grand Ambassador taxi on arrival and headed for Champakulam, a village set on the banks of the sacred river Pamba.

We stayed at this pretty heritage home stay. At 2,600 rupees (around £33 a night) it was the costliest place we've ever stayed in India but it did include the most delicious pure vegetarian food we've ever eaten and exclusive use of a kayak.

We ate like Maharajahs seated on cushions in the stilted pavilion.

We spent our days lounging by the river, walking along the banks and reflecting on how life in the backwaters had barely changed for hundreds of years.

250 year old Syrian Christian church

Paddy field workers

We stumbled across a snake temple in the forest.

The temple tank

Snake worship is an ancient tantric ritual exclusively found in Kerala. The temples are maintained by elderly priestesses and the grounds are kept wild for snakes and other wildlife to come as go as they please.

The statues are anointed with oil and dressed each morning

I still get ridiculously excited at finding exotic fruit growing like weeds in the wild.

The local transport,

as seen from our verandah.

After a few days we caught the local passenger ferry for a 2 hour ride back to Alappuzha .

We checked into another heritage home stay. 

Bed & breakfast in this 100 year old house cost £12 .

There's always something interesting to look at in India.

I've no idea what this is all about but I laughed each time I passed it

I can't  resist South India architecture

Alappuzha is home to an entire street of umbrella showrooms.

These retro enamel signs are fab, aren't they? Jon wanted to paint out the "H" and ship one home.

Park Lane shoe shop

As usual I couldn't resist the lure of a new pair of fancy chappals.

The Malayam version of Herbie?

Kerala is known as God's Own Country, can you see why?

Part 3 to follow shortly.

Lace-up maxi dress (£7, Clothes Show Live)

Have a brilliant weekend and see you soon.