Rubber Plantations from Kumarakom to Kumily

We rode through the backwaters after leaving Coconut Lagoon.

Lots is going on in this picture, including the children who wave to our passing boat.



Washing clothes by beating them on rocks at ghat (steps leading into the river).


Driving through what we call Kerala's "Bible Belt" we pass church after church. This one is the same bright blue as Kidcity.



These kids busted out of sunday school when they saw Mark and his camera.

We were amazed to learn about the rubber plantations here. There are many small farmers with 5 or 10 acres and they tap the rubber trees on their land. Here's how it works:



Every few days, a farmer will put taps on a stand of trees, shown here with plastic collars.


Liquid rubber runs down a track cut in the bark, into a cup where it is collected. One tree can produce about one kilo of rubber every other day. The price of rubber has dramatically increased in recent years. It's a workable crop for a smaller farmer, unlike tea.


The white rubber is collected and rolled into a sheet, shown here drying by the roadside. When it is fully dry, it will turn black.

Driving through Kerala we've seen many communist symbols painted on walls and flags, but this was the first monument:


The communist government won the last state-wide election in Kerala, defeating the Congress party.