Alleppy

Alappuzha is more famous than Kollam for its backwater cruises, and I've heard that in season there can be "gridlock" along the canals.  The big draw is the houseboat experience, where you can rent a lavish houseboat for an extravagant price and spend the night floating along the canals.  Off season, these houseboats cost about 3000 Rps ($85) but during season they can cost up to 15000 Rps ($430) for a single night.

I took another boat ride along the canals here, which begins with a trip along a huge lake.  The lake was littered with abandoned houseboats, many of which are used only in season.  Once out of the lake, the peacefulness of the canals return.  And I'm glad, once again, that despite the rain and the flooded out roads, I've come to Kerala when there are very few tourists.  I'm sure they turn "God's country" into hell.