Sorry if we've been a little MIA (parent translation: missing in action), but it's for good reason! We spent a week relaxing in Goa, a hippie beach town in southern India, and then attended a 5-day meditation and yoga retreat. The time to chill was a welcome respite, but for the blog's sake, not much to write home about!

We ended our 6 weeks in India with a short trip to Kerala, a historically diverse and highly literate state in southwestern India. Kerala is beautiful and lush - named by locals as "God's Own Country."

While in Kerala, we visited Munnar, a hill station covered in vibrant green tea bushes, and Cochin, a major port city with a colonial feel and often visited for its proximity to the backwaters of Alleppey, where thousands of tourists cruise every year.

Check out the photo tour!

Munnar

We luckily took the scenic route to Munnar, which wound through a tiger reserve swarming with monkeys and gave way to a windy mountain road with waterfalls and lush green tea bushes as far as the eye could see. Offset by trees with bright red flowers, the landscape was maybe the most stunning I'd ever seen.

Driving the windy road that snakes through the hills on the way to Munnar.

Women working the fields, picking tea leaves.

The view from our terrace everyday.  We could definitely breathe better here than in the cities of India! — The view from our terrace everyday. We could definitely breathe better here than in the cities of India!

Cochin

Cochin was small, laid-back, and friendly. We stayed at an old Portuguese mansion right by the water, which was an amazing experience.

Historically, Cochin was the center of the world spice trade for many centuries, and it is from this small city that the European colonization of India began. As a port city, it was relatively easy for the explorers to establish a presence - first the Portuguese, then the Dutch via the Dutch East India Company, and later the British. As a result, there is a heavy Indian influence in terms of food and religion, but given the mix of different cultures that have made an impact on the area, we also found Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and Arab influences abounding. Not only did we visit old churches and palaces, we visited a working synagogue (according to our taxi driver, there are only 6 Jews left in Cochin)! It's no wonder that the city felt more progressive and tolerant than all of the other cities we visited in India.

Buses all over India are colorfully decorated, and this was no exception in Kerala.

Streets of Old Cochin (looks like he may be doing something a little shady...)

At the Paradesi Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the entire British Empire, built in 1568.

Strolling through Jew Town.  It was surreal to hear Indian men speaking a bit of Hebrew and selling menorahs and other traditionally Jewish items! — Strolling through Jew Town. It was surreal to hear Indian men speaking a bit of Hebrew and selling menorahs and other traditionally Jewish items!

Backwaters Cruise

A hugely popular "attraction" in Kerala is to cruise the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom in a houseboat. We rented a boat overnight with a bedroom and bathroom, and were enthusiastically guided through the snaking network of lakes and lagoons by two drivers and a chef.

It was cool to observe the life of the people along the backwaters - fishermen, rice farmers, families, construction workers. This was an incredibly relaxing and special way to end our trip to India!

Fishermen manually spearing fish in the lake.

Our driver guiding us through the backwaters of Alleppey.

A rice farmer taking a break on his boat.

Egrets love to catch small fish in the recently harvested and drowned rice fields.

Fishermen saying hello along the backwaters.

Children fishing on the banks of the backwaters.

Another houseboat.  Birds love getting free rides up top. — Another houseboat. Birds love getting free rides up top.

Imagine construction workers in America dressed like this!

Most people we met in Kerala were Christian, and there was no shortage of churches.

Inside St. Mary's Church along the backwaters.

Morning light in Alleppey.  We slept like babies on the quiet houseboat. — Morning light in Alleppey. We slept like babies on the quiet houseboat.

Our caption parked our boat overnight not far from his house.  He was scanning the banks for his wife who takes long walks with their baby in the mornings.  So cute! — Our caption parked our boat overnight not far from his house. He was scanning the banks for his wife who takes long walks with their baby in the mornings. So cute!

The houseboats are waking up for the day.

Checking the nets for any fish or prawns.

Pulling back into the dock!  What a cool way to end our trip! — Pulling back into the dock! What a cool way to end our trip!

After traveling for six weeks in India, having arrived with mounds of worries and warnings, I am shocked mostly by two things: 1) We survived and 2) I can't believe how much I loved every second. The energy, the people, the colors, the food, the smiles - there is no other place in the world like it. We can't wait to come back.

-Michelle