HOT HOT HOT!!!!

Hello! This is going to be a quick blog entry- I am sitting in a small office and there is someone waiting....so, a brief update.
We left the most beautiful city, where water meets water, to travel to the state of Kerala. We have been here, in a small city called Allepey, for four nights. It is called the "Venice of the East", because it is built on a series of canals. The main reason tourists come here is to take advantage of what is called the "backwaters"- a series of canals ranging in size from the width of a canoe to large enough to fit several boats. There is a lake here that is one of the largest in Asia, 64km long!, and also the beach on the Arabian Sea. Lots of water, yay!
Matt and I spent the first night getting our bearings, the first day at the beach, and the third day/night on a houseboat we rented for 24 hours. The way it works is this: you sign up at your hotel, and the company staffs the boat with people who take you around for a whole day, dock for a night, and cruise back in the late morning. The boat is fully equipped: one bedroom ( in our case), a living/dining area, kitchen, and even a TV! (No, we did not even think of turning the thing on!). We had three guys on the boat with us: a cook and two "pilots"- a mini-Love Boat, almost....
Our cook brought us wonderful snacks and fantastic meals and beer. Our pilots took us all around the canals, getting out for a walk into one of the villages. The whole experience felt a little too-um- colonial, I guess? at first, but then after a while we just got into it. I mean, we paid good money, right? :)
Anyway, the scenery was unbeatable and the most exotic thing we have done thus far. I really felt transported back in time to another world. It was eerily quiet at times, with just the sounds of birds and women on the side of the river washing their laundry. At night we sat under the stars at the front of the boat and gazed at the lightening bugs, the palm trees, and the HUGE bats! (Fruit bats- scary!!! The size of seagulls practically!) In the morning we awoke to religious chanting that continued throughout the sunrise. I am so glad we had the chance to embark on such a magical journey. It was indescribably pleasant to get away from the heat and noise of the city for a day.
Today we are back at the hotel and tomorrow we head off to an ashram to so some yoga. Matt and I are about have our own little "Eat, Pray, Love" experience- oh, goodness. Really it is much more simple than that. We aren't two frustrated middle aged women, after all. We are just looking for a little quiet and some exercise!
OK, I am getting looks...better go. More later!
p.s. The reason for the title of this post? It is SERIOUSLY HOT HERE!!!!!!! WOW.
OK, bye for now!