A Shared Journey

Pictures taken from a considerable distance, on the Kerala Backwaters. 

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Reviewing The Fleet

Shipshape

And Bristol fashion.

Pictures of the fishing fleet at Thoppumpady, taken from the “English bridge“.

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*The phrase “shipshape and Bristol fashion” in today’s form has been recorded as early as 1840 (“shipshape” alone being about 200 years older).
The term developed most likely in view of the English port of Bristol which had (before the Floating Harbour was constructed) a very high tidal range of 13 metres (43 ft), the second highest in the world. Ships moored in this area would be aground at low tide and, because of their keels, would fall to one side. If everything was not stowed away tidily, or tied down, the results were chaotic and cargo could be spoiled.

(*From Wiktionary)

An Awareness Of Absence

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 Picture taken in Chellanam, Kerala.

Conflict Resolution

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Pictures taken in Chellanam, Kerala

Punting With Poise

Our lazy afternoon drift along the backwaters showcased various schools of punting:

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Power, comedy and effortless grace.
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Pictures of Jaimon, Anu and Robin, punting on the Chellanam backwaters, Kerala.

A Cruise For Christmas

or
Four Men In A Boat

Christmas Day was spent with friends.
Robin invited Anu and I to join his family’s celebrations.

The fun started immediately:
Robin and his brother, Jolly, took us in one of their fishing canoes through the canals and lakes which back onto the family home.

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Beautiful scenery, gentle warm breezes, just a few bottles of cool beer, and a lot of laughter.
All served with the companionship of kind friends.
It’s the perfect recipe for a very happy Christmas.
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Pictures taken in Chellanam, on Christmas afternoon.

Boat People

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Pictures of men in practise for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, taken near Kottayam.

The Wire

River ferries are commonplace here
but this ferryman stands out,
literally.

He collects his passengers from steps cut into the river bank
then safely carries them to the opposite side,
without the use of oars.

Instead, he walks his hands along a guide-rope, 
which spans the river. 

No fares are collected.

This free service prevents his fellow villagers from being isolated by their river.
It is
“pro bono publico”

A far from fashionable concept,
in the West.
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Pictures taken of the river crossing, near Kottayam, Kerala.

Arriving In Style

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Pictures taken at the Mattancherry Jetty, Cochin.

Exit Strategy

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The plan was a dawn ride to the lake shore:

A chance to capture sunrise over the water.

But nature is capricious.

Cloud entirely covered the sky.

Three fishing canoes came to divert us:

More than adequate compensation.

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So having photographed the boats, we headed back to home…

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