Viswa and I set off Sunday morning to enjoy the service of SpiceJet - flight from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry. A prop plane, nice service and a 1 hour flight took about an hour. Here is how we got there and where we went. The map is interactive so you can enlarge or shrink using the slider on the left side
And the picture story
It all started with a visit to a temple - where folks were washing themselves, washing their clothes, watching the river and watching me. I suspect watching me was much more interesting that washing clothes. Early morning fishing
Morning bathing
Morning fishing - by net
A nearby temple (Shiva, I think)
A view of the temple courtyard
Then off we went in search of the boat to take up up the river. And here was sunrise
And a bunch of sunrise guys
Driving along the road - early morning reflections
Sort of a blurred corn field. I was really really impressed with the green. Having spent most of my India time in Tamil Nadu - I was used to dry fields
A round house
Suddenly we stopped - moving was slow - and hmmmm - paving in action
A village road (to the Godavari River, I suppose)
And our destination - a boat place
An incoming ferry - full of surprises
First - greeted by a bunch of folks taking a bath in the river
Folks exiting the boat
Motorcycles exiting the boat
A motorcycle with chickens exiting the boat
Another view of chicken man
And a much closer view of the chickens and chicken man
We are off - a bit of net repair
River reflections
A riverside village
Morning chores
Boat stop at an interesting temple
Walking back to the boat - there was this interesting "orange man". I gave him all the rupee change in exchange for a few photos
Another view
Return to the boat
And again we are off - and a friendly wave from a fishing family
More fishing - I suppose
And something absolutely unique to India - whether Tamil Nadu, Karnatika, Andra Pradesh or whether - washing laundry by beating it on a stone. - then drying by laying over the grass. This happened to Ellen once in Chennai at IIT-Madras and that was the last time she took our laundry to the IIT laundry.
A closer view of washing
An action shot
Further up the river - several trees with bats hanging from limbs - and here is a flying bat
The bat trees
Guys fishing
And you'll note the 1m x 1m sort-of white platform - this turns out to be a fairly low budget boat for fishing - just a block of styrofoam and a lot of patience
The countryside - and a cornfield to the lower left
Another example of the economy fishing platform
As the water recedes folks set up housekeeping close to the water.
Sandbar men
A small home, boats and a fishing net hanging from the pole on the right
Another home - this time with tents and a thatched shelter
Yet another small homemaking setup
Water man
Another water-side home
A group of ducks - just spooked by our boat
Take-off
Full flight
Boat reflection
Calm water, boat reflection and the driver's partner sleeping over the bow
Two laid-back fishermen
Tending their net
My friend, Viswa - taking photos and movies for his daughter
Hmm - noticed me
Looking back - the mountains, the water, colorful tents
I think this is another ferry - manual power this time
Herding cattle
More economy fishing platforms
The ferry folks have caught me taking their photo
Tending a fishing line
A village - you can see the thatched roofs between the trees
Herding cattle - the red person is a lady - and I suppose her husband is supervising - usual that the men take on supervision
Actually - the man is working also - the red lady is working and the umbrella lady is - well just keeping cool
A dugout canoe filled with smiles
Small small village - ferry and boats
Looking down the river - the scenery was really quite unexpected
Another canoe
At the halfway point - I met these folks on the boat. They are going to continue up the river - by land
Our boat
I got off - took a photo of this yellow flower
A view of the river and our boat
Going down the river - another riverside home
Guys carrying either firewood or sugarcane
Looking down the river
Another village between the trees
Red lady with a water jug
Peaceful riverside
Another ferry
Corn fields, palm trees and quiet
More corn fields
It's about 4pm and the sun is beginning to set.
Silhouette of fishermen
Sailing
Golden sunset
Another silhouette
A bit later
Water jet and corn field
Golden sun
Golden sunlight reflection and a silhouette
Our boat flag and the sunset
Another view of the flag and hazy sunset
Sunset fishing
Last sunset viewed from our boat
C. Frank Starmer