| The Indian state of Kerala sits at the extreme southwestern tip of the continent. It has India's highest rate of literacy (91%), and many of its people work abroad. Politically, it leans very heavily towards the communist parties. Sheltered from overland invaders by mountains and forests to the east, Kerala is more a blend of different seafaring cultures that have used this as a stop between points east and west for thousands of years.
 St Francis Church, said to be the oldest European-built church in India (1503), on the island of Ft Cochin.
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 Inside the church, popular with Indians and foreigners alike. |
 The original grave site of Portuguese explorer Vasca da Gama, who died here in 1524. A few years later his remains were removed to Lisbon. |
 A flower seller in front of a temple. |
 Today's specials at the seafood market in Ft Cochin. |
 Colorful shops across from the St Francis Church. |
 Cantilevered fishing nets at the end of short piers, technology brought by the Chinese centuries ago. |
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 The nets are lowered into the shallow water and left to sit in hopes that passing fish might be snagged.
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 The net is lifted with offsetting stone weights, with passing tourists also recruited to help lift. |
| South of Cochin is the highly touristed area, the "Kerala Backwaters," around the town of Alleppey. From here you can rent a "rice barge" to cruise the inland backwaters.
 A local taxi boat.
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 A typical (if not large) kettuvalam, or rice barge, now fashioned into a swanky house boat. |
 Once you work your way through the traffic of the other houseboats on the lake, this is probably the most tranquil experience in India. I was in a much smaller, one-bedroom boat that could navigate the many small canals in the area. |
 The food tasted as delicious as it looks. Fish curry, lentils, special salads, pappadam bread... |
 The boat and crew. The driver is on left, the cook on right. |
 Locals use a string of canoes to transport fodder. |
 The canals connect many islands, and commerce is carried out over the water. Here bricks and hay make their way. |
 Even school children are transported by canoe. |
 Local children, from the village of the cook. |
 How the sap for palm wine is collected. It is an acquired taste. They call it coconut beer locally. |
 Ho hum, another lovely Indian sunset. |
