The beam of the lighthouse shows as dusk comes to the beach by Alleppey
Alleppey lies a few miles south of Cochin on the Kerala coast. It offers the moderate climate of Kerala with the sands and palms that tourists desire. In the 90s, when these photos were taken, few foreigners visited the area and it was the playground of the Indian middle classes - particularly students - who came to walk and swim. The current rendering of the name is Alappuzha coming from the state language of Malayalam, it is hard to reproduce in English.
Ceremonial boat well away from the water
This line of boats with their many seats would have few practical purposes
Another ceremonial boat with added flowers
However, these boats seem to have room for working
Boats drawn away from the water with protective palm covers
Silhouettes in the dusk as...
...fishermen haul in their nets, watched by three students
Another means of fishing - a crossbow harpoon
Shop near the river mouth
Dhoti up, and half down...
Palm grove near the river's entrance to the sea
Pool on the landward-side of the palms
Too much beer...
...with some less inebriated friends
The spit of sand at the river's mouth
Bathers attend to the surf
Absorbed...
On the beach families, children and crows mingle...
...and just below the breakers crash and rattle
Bathers turn towards an incoming wave
Indian men, and the more middle class women...
...be they students...
...friends...
...or families, do enjoy posing...
...whether at play, or at work
The lighthouse begins to flash...
...and the tropical sun sets vertically into the sea...
...and leaves the world to...
Trailers...
The next page
goes to the other side of India - to Chennai (Madras).
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is
headed 'Idealism'.
Or go to the contents of the Mosaic Section.
The last page had images showing the Lift-nets of Kerala
From golden sands to the black rocks of Tenerife
A page on a tourist beach in northern Vietnam
