On the boat trips we were able to observe village life and crafts. These folk are so skilled. Here the ladies are 'coir' making. The coir fibre is made out of the outer part of coconuts which is soaked and beaten into individual fibres, then dried in the sun. This is then spun into individual thin ropes, and then 2 of these are spun together to make a stronger rope. It was a very impressive and slick process, and good to watch.

These men are building a 'kettuvallam' or rice barge. It takes a team of men 2 1/2 months to build one boat which is then sold for approximately 1000 pounds. The boat is STITCHED together with coconut fibre (Coconuts are well used!). Quite a skill.