Emerald City?

Well, I guess a acclomeration of villages could be called a city, however, the term cityimplies noise, and pollution, and the villages of Keralas backwaters seem to be rather free of both those things. Still, while we were peacefully rowed through the small canals and over the large lake we could not stop thinking that the landscape looks rather like an emrald stone should appear from within. Everything around us was in different shades of green, starting with a light green of the rice fields and going to the lush darkgreen of the palmtees. In between there were shades of turquoise (the water), blue (he sky and the water) and mintish greeen (several waterplants that were growing abundantly along the shore). Now and then the green was interruppted by specks of red, and purple, and yellow as we passed by yet another hibiscus bush or another lotus bud.

Apart from that, everything sparkled and glittered so much that after a while you had to turn your head and stare at the brown planks of the boat just to relax your eyes.

Now and then the soft waves of the water where dissheveled as a fish came up for some food, a water snake swam its way, or a kingfisher dived for its lunch. Women wearing sarees along the shoreline were also fishing or getting their catch ready to be served in a tradishional fish-curry. Chlothes, dishes and children were equally washed in the canals and the aereas men gathered in the toddyshops to celebrate half a days successful work. A flock of ducks was hurrying out of the water as a ferry drove by. The people aboard transported their weeks requirements in big boxes and bags from the city to the small islands, where they live. The waterways still provide their only means of transport. And so we saw old and young paddling along, on their way to school, to work, or just to meet the women on the next island for a little chat...maybe about all these tourists that come and take a peek into their privacy without asking.