Washing up.

Compared with other parts of India Kerala is relatively affluent, people work either in the paddy fields or earn a living from fishing.
The villages along the back waters didn't get roads until the 1990's (and the heavy monsoon makes those difficult to maintain) but many families have quite modern and colourful homes as in this picture. Despite this they stick to the old ways and the canals are a source of water for all chores. Each dwelling has steps down to the water to moor a boat, wash clothes, wash the children and themselves and do the washing up!

A trip through the backwaters is one of endless fascination and a great insight into the lives of the people who live here. We spent all day today doing just that in a small boat with a stop for lunch of locally caught tiger prawns- mmm.