Travel Review: India Tour, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kumily, Kerala, Alleppey, Spice Farm & Tea Plantation Tours, Culture & Cuisine

To say the least, we were on the move once we arrived in Mumbai after delays because of the major January snowstorm on the US East Coast.  We liked every aspect of the trip; in our opinion, here is what we really liked.  1. Houseboat -- River Cruises -- after moving around so much, it was relaxing to just lay back and explore the wetlands and rice paddy area of Alleppey.  The crew was wonderful; our room was spacious; and the food delicious.  2. Hotels -- we stayed in what I would call funky country -- based upon a colleagues recommendation to more upscale at the hotel in Kochi and one in Kumily.  They were all different with hotel in Kumily the most modern.  Dining on the pier that extends out from the Fort Hotel was special -- be sure to try the Kerala dishes there.  3. Cultural sites -- we particularly enjoyed the Koodiyattam Theater in Kochi -- go early to see the make-up being applied to one of the actors and go backstage afterwards to see them in a more natural setting; the Museum in Kochi though would have liked more time; the Spice Farm in Kumily (buy spices there -- very fresh); and the Harrison Malayalam Tea Plantation down the road to see the tea shrubs and the processing plant where you can observe how tea leaves are dried and processed into what we know as tea (we bought white and green tea there).  4. Guides -- overall the guides were very knowledgeable.  5. A special thanks to our driver from our Kochi airport arrival to departure.  He was very cheerful and helpful; we were amazed how he could negotiate the traffic throughout the trip -- the cities and backroads.  BTW -- everyone was prompt and on time.