Monsoon in Alleppey

HouseBoats and ferrys floating on the backwaters through lush green  paddy fields  is a characteristic sight in Alleppey.  "Venice of East"  - is how people describe this beautiful city.  Alleppey  hosts the eventful Nehru trophy snake boat race every year during August , which attracts people from all around the world. Boat races happen all around the state but the one in Alleppey attracts more people than any other. The summers are humid and rains lash out over the state during monsoon. The one common factor among the two seasons should be the umbrella.when I happened to be there during the monsoon , I saw almost every shop  selling umbrellas. For some reason , you can't imagine a Malayali man without holding his dhoti in one hand and an umbrella in the other. December is probably the best time to visit Alleppey. Although I strongly suggest , one should get a feel of monsoon here.  Langza a village in Spiti valley (himalayas) happens to be one of the highest villages in the world is open only a few months in a year because of the heavy snowfall. Similarly , Agumbe in karnataka  records the highest rainfall every year in the country. Villages in Jaisalmer , in the state of Rajasthan which is surrounded by nothing but desert. Kerala as a state goes through rough monsoons every year . When i visited these places , I was  fascinated by the way  people got accustomed to such diverse and unforgiving weather conditions over the years.

The cuisine like rest of the Kerala mainly comprises of sea food & beef. The other thing that fascinated me in Alleppey are their bakeries. Most of the bakeries in Alleppey sell homemade breads. I was standing in a tea shop opposite to an old building across the shore.  Sipping a glass of black tea, I was waiting for the rain to let me walk along the beach . The view of the beach  was beautiful from where i was standing.  However ,  This was a few years back.  Now, the view does not  exist because of a flyover that was constructed. Well , convenience is costly isn't it?