My boat 'The Spirit of Meenachil'

Many people may wonder why my blog is known as 'Spirit of Meenachil'. The Meenachil is the name of the river that flows through our ancestral areas in and around Teekoy, and discharges into the Vembanad Lake at Kottayam. The very name 'Meenachil' brings delight in the minds and hearts of all Meenachilkars (people of Meenachil).
In addition, my boat is also called Spirit of Meenachil . My boat has given me (and my family and friends) so much joy and pleasure over the last ten years or so, that I thought I should include at least a few photographs of it in my blog. So here they are:

The ladies have a toddy break during a boat ride

Quite high after all that toddy!

I wait patiently for the ladies outside Champakulam church

Simmy in the boat

The boat docked at the Sailing Club

Learning the tricks from Papa

Tonya the ace pilot in the Vembanad Lake 

Father and son relaxing 

At peace with the world

On his own

Enjoying the lake 

In keeping with its name, The Spirit of Meenachil has always uplifted my spirits. Whenever I am down and out, a quick ride in the boat never fails to refresh me. Thanks to the boat, I now know the backwaters of Kerala like the palm of my hand! Initially I needed a map for navigation; but now, I can do most stretches on my own. The ride to Champakulam, my maternal home, is particularly beautiful and I always look forward to that destination. R Block, Alleppey, Karumady, Thanneermukkom, Kainakary, and Kuppapuram are some of the other picturesque places on the way. Once in a way, Simmy and I also make it to Cochin, where we head straight for the Yacht Club, and then onto Taj Malabar in the boat, for a sumptuous lunch there, always the highlight of the little adventure. I then come back to the Club, feeling very tycoonish!