Once you’ve tired of soaking up the history, caught the Chinese fishing nets in action and stocked up on spices, head down the coast to Alleppey and hire yourself a boat for a few days.  One overnight is definitely enough, but if you truly love boats and want to see more scenery book longer.   You can book in advance which might mean paying more or you can roll the dice and negotiate with the many vendors in the canals.  Be sure to inspect your boat before finalizing the deal and confirm as many details as possible.  One recommended backwater tour operator is Moni Kuncheria with Cruisor.  A couple of tips: ask exactly how long you’ll be cruising for (including breaks), when you leave and come back, meals that are included and crew members and ask if there is anything not included.  Be very specific and don’t fall for any scams involving giant prawns!  Request a Kerala fish fry as well. 

After relaxing for a few days in the backwaters you have the options of visiting one of the many backwater villages, journeying to sun streaked beaches along the coast or if you’ve had enough heat, heading toward the interior to some of the cooler hill stations in the Western Ghats to visit tea and exotic spice plantations. 

When You Visit:

Kochi Accommodations
Walton’s Home Stay
1 / 39, Walton Hall, Princess Street, Kochi
The Fort House
2/6 A, Calvathi Road, Kochi, Ph: 2217103

Kochi Restaurants
Anchor House
Near where Cavalthy road bends at the northernmost point of Kochi into Bazar Road

Backwater Cruising
Cruisor -  Moni Kuncheria
Mobile  +91 98460 32606,
cruisor@rediffmail.com,
Near Finishing Point, Alleppey

The situation reminded me of a wedding I attended a few months ago where all of the out-of-town guests were asking us for directions and recommendations for where to go afterwards.  If they knew to download GoTime.com, where the happy hours never end, the after party wouldn’t either.  Check it out!

Thanks to Petitshoo for the photo.

How to Register for Pots

Tip #1 Register for many single pots rather than a set

Oftentimes when you go to Macy’s or other stores they’ll tell you to register for individual pots and then exchange them after the wedding for a packaged set.  The reason for doing this is so that guests can purchase something at a reasonable price rather than paying $500-$1,000 for one gift.  When registering for pots I recommend choosing them for the price range rather than for what you’d actually need.

Tip #2 Think about the pots you have used

There’s no doubt about it, purchasing a set over individual pots saves money.  However, some of the larger sets might not be adding much value and may be unnecessarily cluttering your kitchen.  Here are the pots I use 95% of the time:

• 6 quart stock pot – soups, boiling water for pasta, cooking for company
• 2 quart sauce pan – sauces and veggies
• 3.5 quart sauce pan – for when my 2 quart is in use and sauces
• non-stick fry pan - everything

And the pots I use 5% of the time but can’t live without:

• 12-16 quart stock pot with steamer options – pasta for the masses, lobster and crab, corn-on-the-cob, it’s my “party pot”
• 3 quart cassoulette- coq au vin, I love its multi-use stovetop and oven, great for entertaining

Once it’s time to return the individual pots for your set, do your research on what you’d like to get in return.  The sets are often great deals, but sometimes they sneak pots that aren’t very valuable into the larger sets.  A good example of this is the omelette pan.  They’ll throw in a six and an eight inch omelette pan and charge $200 more than a set without those pans, when the added value is only $50.  Not only that, but I wouldn’t use those two particular pans when I prefer my all-purpose nonstick 10″ fry pan.

Tip #3 Pick a slow day to complete your registry

If you go on a Saturday morning there won’t  be enough associates working to help carry the items from your car, you’ll have to wait and they won’t have the time to make sure you get what you need.   If you instead go on a Tuesday morning, you’ll have the store to yourself and the sales associate will be more entertained and interested in helping you complete your registry to your advantage. (see the next tip!)

Tip #4 Swap out lame bonuses for real value

Often All-Clad or Calphalon will have the double bonuses if you spend enough money on their cookware.  One bonus might be a nice steamer and the other could be an apron and spatula.  Ask the sales associate if it’s possible to switch out the one you don’t want for something else that’s more useful to you.  At Macy’s I purchased a smaller All-Clad set and augmented it with a large 12 quart stock pan and steamer and a smaller sauce pan as their summer double bonus ~ free!  Originally they’d been offering a panini grill pan but as cool as that sounded I thought the sauce pan would get more use in the end.

Tip #5 Get 20% off for completing at one time instead of 10%

Macy’s typically gives you 10% off wedding registry completion purchases if you come to the store within 90 days of your wedding.  Try to get 20% off – it’s possible!  This past weekend, for example, they had a semi-annual home sale where they gave 20% off “when you complete your gift registry any day of our home sale”.   In the fine print they say it lasts from July 23 – August 16^th,2009 (for Seattle stores).  Chances are if you ask nicely when the last home sale was or when the next one is and are they running their 20% special, you’ll be able to get it.

 Step 1: Marriage License – get it and at least one certified copy.  This way you have one safely at home while you send the other one way for various things such as your new passport.

 Step 2: Social Security Office for a new Social Security Card- Bring your marriage license, driver’s license and passport (just in case.)  Yes, the Social Security Office is not a fun place to be, but it didn’t take too long in my case.  They’ll give you a receipt and send you the card within a couple weeks.

Step 3: WA State DOL for a new Driver’s License – Bring you marriage license.  They will take a new picture!  Check for wait times before you go, they’ve been over an hour for a while now. Cost $10

Step 4: US Dept of State for a new Passport – You’ll need to send you marriage license in, they don’t accept photocopies.  If you’re renewing you can send in your current passport, two new photos, the marriage license, the form, and fee and you’re good to go.  Passport processing is a lot faster than it used to be.  Cost $75

Those are the best steps to take first, and then the others can be done at home, online or on the phone!  Here is another list of places you may want to change your name with.  Most you can send a copy of the marriage license or driver’s license if required. 

• E-mail
• Facebook and other social networks
• Credit Card Companies
• Banks
• Academic Institutions – and student loans
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Employer/Spouse Employer
• Library
• Financial Institutions and Retirement Plans
• Voter Registration
• Cell Phone
• Your Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant etc
• Frequent Flyers