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Brown & Keene Travel - India 1-800-856-1155 or |
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Whether to do the Oberoi cruise or the Houseboats is each person’s choice. The difference lies in details of the experience. The canals and what you see will be the same. The Oberoi Vrinda offers a choice in meals, an air-conditioned dining room (no mosquitoes in the evening) but you share this experience with 16 other people. Also it is a set four night program, 3 on the ship and one at the Trident Hilton, Cochin. The houseboat offers an exclusive experience for just two people, fixed meals (although you can tell them what you want ahead of time and have food to your preferences) but the dining is open and therefore you need insect repellant and it can also be warm. You can spend as little as one night and get the experience of the canals. OBEROI CRUISE SHIP - VRINDA This cruise does travel to the same backwater canals that the houseboats travel and also offers daily excursions, a one night pre or post at the Trident Hilton in Cochin, and you are transferred to the performance of the Kathakali Dancers on the first night on board. The excursions, and meals are included in the rate, tips and alcoholic beverages are extra. Price about $1000 per person. HOUSEBOATS ON THE BACKWATERS This is a fascinating area and is featured in the list of the 1000 things to do before you die book. This is a lush, tropical area with narrow canals and people living along the canals. Most are farmers. This is a water locked area so the only means of transport is by the waterways. The children wave and smile, the residents are actively going about their daily lives. Canoes are going up and down, children are swimming, the women are doing the washing it is truly fascinating. The area is also very scenic as the trees cross over the canals and the lushness of the foliage and all the different shades of green combine to create a magical experience. Drifting along in such comfort and style with the friendliness of the local people it feels like a different country from the chaotic atmosphere of Mumbai. If you visit Southern India this should be on your tour plans. There must be 100 houseboats. Some basic and some are very luxurious. The sizes range from one to three bedrooms. The boats look pretty basic from the outside and are made of local products. Bamboo, coir from the coconut palms, the main rafters of the thatched roof are made from arecanut palm bark and the boat itself is crafted out of the hardwood of the evergreen tree, Anjili. Once aboard the inside of the boats is very nice and comfortable. We were on a one bedroom, air conditioned boat that was extremely nice. The bedroom had a wood floor, a ceiling with wood squares with a cloth tapestry inlay, a king size bed, TV, air conditioning, a small but nice bathroom with a full sized bathtub. Upstairs from the bedroom was a private deck area with chairs and a lounging area covered with pillows. Total decadence, of course we had to lounge on this and have our pictures taken. The main sitting area of the boat featured a dining table, chaise lounge many overstuffed comfy chairs and two chairs on the very front. Beautiful wooden floors and woods were everywhere on the boat and the wood was enhanced on the doors by brass hardware. We had a lot of fun on this boat, drinking wine, eating and taking pictures. The food was too spicy for me so they cooked me a piece of fish with no spice. It was good. |
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