The Return! (India, post pandemic...)

What an extraordinary, full day this was! The three of us ventured out--on a very long rickshaw ride-- to this park in the Kerala mountains. Here is the story behind the giant eagle sculpture:    "Featuring the world’s largest bird sculpture, the Jatayu Adventure Centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam, Kerala, is one-of-a-kind theme park based on the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Chadayamangalam is around 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram and the park here is a beautiful amalgam of many elements, including mythology, culture, technology and art. A perfect place for picnic-goers ( ha ha ha! food was NOT allowed... so in fact, I had to fight with the security people to get my lunch inside, stressing my hypoglycemia and the fact that they could have a dead person on their hands if I couldn't eat! )  and adventure seekers alike, the place also features a virtual reality museum ( NOPE! It was closed for renovation or whatever...why are we not surprised!??!!? ) The most interesting featu...

Ahhh, what beauty, what tranquility! A peaceful boat ride on the famous backwaters of Kerala in Kovalam... on our own little boat. By "our", I mean Johanna, her friend Patricia, and myself. We hired the boatman and "set sail" on these inland waterways, through thickets of mangroves, palms and other vegetation, viewing many beautiful birds, and just soaking in the loveliness of nature on this 2 hour journey. This was truly the most peaceful and relaxing time I have had in India so far! If you ever go to Kerala, this experience is NOT to be missed!!! Some boats, such as this one, are commandeered the old fashioned way, with a boatman using a stick to push the boat along. Ours had a motor, but our guide went slow enough as to not disrupt the wildlife...and also so we could enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful bit of nature.  \ Our boat! Still quaint and charming, to be sure! We had a perfect morning for this outing...clear skies and still waters. This was a boon, si...