There might be many ways to relish the beauty of Alappuzha’s backwaters, and Jurg Rosenberger and his friends have decided to do it in the way they like it most – by rowing in small canoes.
The 56-year-old Swiss national, rowing ever since he could make a boat move on his own, is taking a break from his own corporate design agency in Zurich, Switzerland to row along the backwaters here with his friends from the Guilin International Rowing Club from January 9.
The five-day, four-night programme will have four rowers covering about 40km on the backwaters every day, or whatever the heat allows them to, and then in the night, moving onto the houseboats that will be following them with their spouses.
Comprising mostly retired men, including lawyers and businessmen, Mr. Rosenberger’s team will be followed on January 19 by another similar team, the oldest member of which is aged 74.
A Swiss national rowing champion, Mr. Rosenberger told reporters here on Thursday that the idea of rowing tours had first hit him and his friends about five years back and the first such tour they undertook was to China. For four years, drawing participants from across the world including from Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and Switzerland, they rowed along the Li River in Guilin in China. The Guilin International Rowing Club was thus founded. However, with the club running into rough weather with Chinese officials, they decided to shift loyalties to the backwaters here.
“The people and authorities here are easier to get along with. And what we aim at is a sporty vacation, nothing else, no competitions,” he said, adding that if everything worked out well, a club similar to the Guilin club could be thought about here as well.
The backwater tour will include visits to coconut oil mills, coir manufacturing units, massages at Ayurveda centres and yes, a quick visit to the lush, green paddy fields as well, said Mr. Rosenberger.
