Kerala, the land of coconuts and peaceful backwaters,is also a state in India where the literacy rate is higher than most countries in Europe or the US.

I combined my trip to Sri Lanka with a 5-day excursion to Kerala. Arriving in Trivandrum from Colombo, I then trained up to Ernakulam for Fort Cochin. I wanted to have an overnight stay in a houseboat at Alleppey but it was peak season and the price soared till sky-high I cancelled the idea. Instead I opted for a backwater day tour from Fort Cochin just to soak up the atmosphere of the backwaters. I spent the morning in a countryboat visiting villages, and spent the afternoon in a houseboat.

Fort Cochin was VERY touristy, especially during the christmas and new year season, even domestic tourism was at its peak. I also tried Keralan ayurvedic massage in a mediocre 'clinic'. The experience was more amusing than enjoyable but it's really an exotic experience. I wouldn't recommend it if you are expecting a luxurious spa.