KAYAK, CURRY, KERALA EXPLORATION, FAILURE, DISASTER, AND HOPE IN SOUTHERN INDIA
A successful kayak trip is like a spicy Indian curry: the experience only becomes extraordinary and burns itself into the memory when all the ingredients and aromas harmonize perfectly. Of course, moderate spiciness and some acidity provide curry's necessary exotic flair, but the strange and unfamiliar complement and offset other, equally essential familiar flavors. With the ideal combination of many different spices, a curry becomes an intense aroma explosion. However, as soon as one or more spices predominate, the fine balance begins to waiver, and the food becomes bitter, even inedible.
In summer 2018 all the ingredients seemed to be ready for a perfect meal. Filmmaker Olaf Obsommer had put together a powerful team for a kayak expedition to the state of Kerala, South India; an illustrious group of experienced kayakers and world-class paddlers, including Nouria Newman, Quinn Connell, Philip Baues and Thilo Schmitt. The few existing river descriptions were enticing, and the icing on the cake was the promise of local support from Kerala's Tourist Board. I didn't hesitate long when Olaf invited me to accompany him with kayak and camera.
India! Deserts and jungles, but also huge mountain ranges like the Himalayas characterize this massive country. As a subcontinent with over one billion inhabitants, India is far more than a place to visit for kayaking. Its millennia-old culture, up-and-coming society, and regions still largely unexplored by paddlers make India an incredibly versatile and attractive travel destination. Kerala, a state on the southwest corner of India's tropical Malabar Coast is best known for its palm-lined beaches and networks of canals. Inland lie the Western Ghats, mountains whose slopes are gaining renown for the whitewater careening through their hills and valleys.
