We ditched the minibus (yes – we have a 20 seater minibus just for us. It was meant to be a regular car, but when I mentioned five surfboards, well, I think they panicked) and hopped on board a couple of Tuk Tuks.

Crazy Harry at the wheel

Once we were well into the bush we then switched to a cart drawn by two Brahmin cattle. No suspension.

Speeding through the countryside.

After our bones were shaken more than we needed, we boarded a local multi-hulled canoe down the river (weed infested creek) to a local farm. Every plant and tree we saw was either edible or has herbal and medicinal uses. The farmers here have blocks of about 600 square meters to live off. So we didn’t mind paying them a few rupees to see their lifestyle. There are wild elephants in the area, so the locals sleep in theses raised platforms to stay safe.

Safe sleeping quarters. Bonus cool breezes.

And here is their house….

After this we went further down stream on the canoes through this lotus filled lake….

Lotus flowers as far as you can see

And then we had lunch cooked for us by this lovely lady at her house. Curries, fish, sambals, dhal, rice, pappadams, vegetables followed by sweet bananas. Yum as.

Lunch in the making.

Fair to say, we didn’t eat much for dinner.