Allappey was described by our travel guide as an 'Indian Venice'. Despite two parallel canals running either side of the town, it's a pretty poor description. Although these canals lead to the famous Indian backwaters, which are used frequently by locals as a method of transport, food, washing and playing.

We stayed one night here before making the exciting journey down through the backwaters to Kollam.

The backwaters were really stunning and was a great place to take some photos. Fish eagles and red kites in there hundreds circling the fishing boats, trawlers and Chinese fishing nets which again dominated parts of the backwaters that were inhabited. Local people washing there clothes and bodies in the mud filled water made quite a scene. My favourite sight however was an elderly Indian man squatting as they all do, down by the water razor in hand having a shave.

Today I spoke to mum, Aunty Pam, granny and Hannah Brown since it was Pam's, and therefore would be dad's birthday. Always emotional time for me, but much better for speaking to some familiar voices.

We arrived 30 minutes early at Kollam which was a welcome surprise. Hannah had a good idea of moving straight on, despite being a little dark to our next location, Varkala. We caught the train and then rickshaw to 'the palm' hotel.