Two kayaks, one journey

Anees Madathil and Vipin Ravindranath, two young Malayalis who live in Bangaluru, are preparing for a kayaking expedition on the Kollam-Kottapuram National Waterway 3, which spans 200 km across the State. Their plan is to explore the stretch over six days starting from January 14.

The idea was that of Vipin, a consultant coach and facilitator and ex-IBM man and more importantly someone who likes to try new adventures. While in the US, he earned his pilot’s licence and when he finally returned, he brought along with him a kayak. In 2005, he made his maiden kayaking trip in the Alappuzha backwaters all by himself. He says that that the aim of the forthcoming expedition from Kollam is to salute the rice boat people who once dominated the waterways but are now nearly gone after the rice boats were are all converted to houseboats. “The expedition also intends to convey a message on environmental sensitivity and necessity of saving natural resources,” he says.

In fact, the idea of such a journey, which he hopes will be an annual event, struck him when he met rice boat people during his first trip in 2005. “I have been on the look out for a partner for quite some time. Interestingly, a few weeks ago, Anees came forward. We decided that our journey will be a tribute to the thousands of men who plied their ‘kettuvallams’, on these waters for thousands of years. We are looking for support and are in talks with various government departments,” he says.

Anees Madathil, a media and web technology professional, narrates how he saw a status update about the planned trip on Vipin’s Facebook page and immediately got in touch with him. “Being a passionate traveller, I have done many treks, but this will be special,” he says.