Just Cruising

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Kollam to Allepey, cruising the backwaters of Kerala. The journey takes all day, through rivers, lakes and canals, surrounded by palm forests, dense jungle and obscure villages. Screeches of unseen animals, eagles sweeping overhead, and children splashing in the water add to the atmosphere. Nothing to do but lie in the tropical sun, sip cool drinks and doze.

Today a general strike was observed across the southern country due to the assassination of an eminant local MP, possibly by rightwing extremist party BJP. At the the hotel, my host is a lecturer in indian philosophy and  political history. We watch the cricket.