Australian students on holiday with a missionary streak

Alappuzha, July 4 : Back waters, idyllic houseboat rides with a sprinkling of social work thrown in. Nearly 60 Australian students will combine their holiday in this popular tourist destination in Kerala with charity work.

Speaking to IANS Tomy Pulikattil, who owns a dozen houseboats, said that the first batch of students will arrive next week and the last group by end of August.

'The package is for five days and they will stay in houseboats during the night while during the day they will visit schools and other institutions on the river bank. If the school needs a fresh coat of paint they will do it. They will also take classes in English and teach computers,' said Pulikattil.

Pulikattil has in the past come up with innovative packages like taking tourists in a houseboat during election campaigns and a houseboat with ayurvedic massages and spa.

Alappuzha, around 120 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, is known as the Venice of East for its nearly 500 well-decked houseboats criss-crossing the picturesque Vembanad lake.

'This monsoon season has been one of the worst for the houseboat industry and hence this innovative idea has been worked out to attract more tourists,' added Pulikattil.