Now at Varkala which is supposed to be one of Kerala's top beaches, but St Kilda is much better! It is spectacular with a cliff top setting, but the Indians throw all the rubbish over the cliff top it ends up half way down!

Yes Nella we checked the boat and had a brilliant two days in the backwaters and along with Hampi it is the best thing we have seen or done. We got a boat from Kollam and cruised for two nights to Alleppy 80km away through lakes and small backwater canals.

We had our own bedroom with en suite and AC which only worked for one night - after all it is India! There were three crew, the captain and driver, the cook and the engineer who looked after everything mechanical!

The boat cruised at a little more than walking pace so you could see all of the villages go by. We saw lots of mango trees, jack fruit, cashew nut and bananas! jenny had lessons from Murali the cook and took lots of notes so you could all be in for some fiery South Indian dishes if you come to dinner!

On Tuesday night we leave here on the overnight train to Madurai in Tamil Nadu where the huge colourful temple is located, before the last leg to Trichy where we fly out from on Friday.