After a total of 31 hours travel time from Minneapolis, our trip to India started in a small village called Kurumassery in the Ernakulam district of Kerala state.

A catholic priest friend of Maggie’s kindly set us up with sleeping and hospitality arrangements. For the six nights we stayed in Kurumassery, I stayed with Father Xavier in his rectory guest room. Maggie stayed a half mile away at a convent. His hospitality was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and I’m so grateful for his kindness.

During our seven days in Kerala, Father Xavier and his driver Kuttan took us all over. They invited us into their family’s homes and took wonderful care of us.

All photos were taken with an iPhone 6s plus and a Canon Digital Rebel. Here are some of my favorite shots from the experience.


View looking out from my guest room. Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Street views, Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India On a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India On a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India Fishing nets, on a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India Fishing nets, on a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India Father Xavier, on a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India Father Xavier and Kuttan, on a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India On a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India On a boat tour of the backwaters, Kerala, India Flowers at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Flowers at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Flowers at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Father Xavier, crossing a bridge at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Father Xavier walking around at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Monkeys around Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Monkeys around Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Monkeys around Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Rapid water at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenery and happy new year at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Tree house at Athirappilly Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Kuttan, Father Xavier, and me getting tea at a stop by Vazhachal Waterfalls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Hungry monkey at a stop by Vazhachal Waterfalls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Hungry monkey at a stop by Vazhachal Waterfalls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Walking along the water at Vazhachal Waterfalls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India On the lookout for elephants in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Pausing to enjoy the scenery while on the lookout for elephants near Vazhachal Waterfalls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Road jam, elephants spotted in the distance. In hindsight, I should've brought a zoom lens. It was still quite an experience seeing elephants in the wild. Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Elephants in the wild, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Zoomed in on elephants in the wild, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Humorous signage somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views, somewhere in Vazhachal Range, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Woman walking across water somewhere around Vazhachal Falls Ernakulam, Kerala, India Scenic views somewhere around Vazhachal Falls Ernakulam, Kerala, India Woman balancing object on her head near her home, somewhere around Vazhachal Falls Ernakulam, Kerala, India Woman washing clothes in the water, somewhere around Vazhachal Falls Ernakulam, Kerala, India Woman washing clothes in the water, somewhere around Vazhachal Falls Ernakulam, Kerala, India Rapid water at Vazhachal Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Signage Vazhachal Forest Division, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Vazhachal Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Silhouette of a man washing clothes at dusk, near Vazhachal Falls, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Me and Kuttan enjoying some tea and snacks around Ernakulam, Kerala, India Dinner in Father Xavier's childhood home (now his brother's home), Ernakulam, Kerala, India Kuttan enjoying dinner in Father Xavier's childhood home (now his brother's home), Ernakulam, Kerala, India View along the water near a Hindu temple, Ernakulam, Kerala, India At the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Birds on boats, at the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Birds on boats, at the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Boats at the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Running at the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Boat textures at the beach along the Arabian sea, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Snapshots from a moving car, somewhere in Ernakulam, Kerala, India Boat coming to shore somewhere in Ernakulam, Kerala, India Traditional drummers at a religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Traditional drummers at a religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India People photographed through the trees at a religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Man on a bike riding past a religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Traditional drummers at a religious festival in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India Temple all lit up for a religious ceremony in Kurumassery, Ernakulam, Kerala, India