Behind the scenes: Kerala Backwaters

So today I feel more like myself. I woke up ready to shoot, but plans changed as they often do in India, and I ran some errands and have been staring at this computer, editing 1500 pictures from the last five days. On Sunday morning, I left on a train with my friends, Raj & Susan, to jump on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. The trip was AMAZING! The whole point was for me to see all of the elements and industries available for story topics in the backwaters, and decide what I wanted to focus on so we could eventually find a family I could live with for a couple of days while I shoot my story. The possibilities were endless and I was quickly overwhelmed. But meanwhile I took a ton of interesting pictures and learned so much about life in Kerala and the resourcefulness of the communities that live in this beautiful region. I even got to make coir, which is rope from cocunut husk fibers. I also had a personal photographer documenting my journey. (Thanks Susan!) By Tuesday I was exhausted and coming down with a cold, but full of ideas and inspiration. Here is a behind the scenes look at my trip... (I will post some of the pictures I took later.)

Oh - I forgot to mention that we ate amazing food on the trip as well! Every meal consisted of several different flavors of all colors and consistencies - and every single one was delicious!

Who knew I would ever love tea with milk and sugar?!?!

This is where I got to make the coir. Of course I had the help of these lovely ladies.

...and then I got to keep my rope as a souvenir!

This deck was a typical spot to relax and a great vantage point for shooting.

And last, but not least, a picture of me tucked in a luggage rack on the train ride back to Trivandrum. Yes, Susan and I really rode up there so we didn't have to be squashed standing amongst a bunch of random Indian men! It was a fun spot where I was able to take some cool pictures which I will share later...