On December 17^th we took off again on a driving adventure. We spent four hours driving from our resort to Alappuzha where we caught our houseboat to the Coconut Lagoon. What a trip. The drive was uneventful now that we are used to the driving. The houseboat trip was spectacular. Our cruise took us into the Backwater streams and lakes. Backwater occurs when freshwater from rivers silt up and builds a dam between fresh and salt water. It is a dynamic system in that sometimes the dams break up and there is a shift in the salinity of the water. The waterways provide for a unique way of life. Rice is farmed. There is an active fishing industry and people live very close to the water. Tourism is a big part the ecosystem now. Our hotel is an eco-hotel that is doing its best to bring awareness to this vulnerable ecosystem. Our hotel is literally across the stream from a bird sanctuary and they help to preserve an indigenous form of small cow that provides a significant amount of milk in exchange for the amount it eats. The milk is used in Ayurvedic medicine.

We got up early this morning and went on a bird watching tour of the grounds. We got to see 36 species of birds. This impressed the naturalist guiding us. It was a good day for birding. Eric, was in his glory. Yesterday, Dale and Eric saw an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher. Even one of the naturalists, who’s been at the resort for 4 years, has never seen this rare bird.

Our day is a quiet one with a lunch planned where we get to help with the cooking. This afternoon we plan to visit the butterfly and dragonfly garden and this evening we have more relaxing to do as we enjoy local entertainment. WE must give lots of credit to our travel planners, Meenal & Sanjiv, they have done an amazing job of finding us interesting AND restful places to visit and learn about India.