Kochi adventures

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Hello hello!

It has been a little while since we last updated this so here goes! It will probably be in several installments as we are running out of internet time but just stay tuned.

We arrived in Kochi to find that a lot of places were booked up and it turned out to be a lot more touristy than either of us expected. Very pretty though, almost a Mediterranean feel to it. After discovering that most places were fully booked, we finally ended up staying in a cute little "home stay". The room was tiny but clean and gave out on a nice little courtyard and despite his many rules and regulations, the owner was terribly helpful.

We got up early early in the morning and headed out to the Kodunadu elephant training camp about an hour's drive away and actually had to ask the driver to hurry up so that we didn't miss the elephants arriving at the river - not something either of us ever imagined having to do! Anyway, after all that we arrived early but that was a good thing as it wasn't too busy. We got to have our photos taken with the beasts and even get our hands dirty - quite literally since Julia ended up with elephant poo on her hand after washing a six year old elephant!

We were hoping to go on an elephant ride afterwards but unfortunately it was ill so this was not possible. We decided to do the alternative and visit the animal "sanctuary" instead but it was horrible - all the animals looked really sad and were locked up in tiny, flithy amd crowded cages...

In the evening, we went to a Kathakali performance, a typical Keralan art which involves up to 14 years of training in singing, drumming, facial expressions and elaborate make-up. It was very impressive!

Unfortunately we didn't have time to see much more of Kochi since we were both hit by a pretty bad bout of food poisonning which meant we spent 36 hours in bed - not fun!!

Fortunately we are both a lot better now and were able to get our first night train here to Gokarna. We were quite surprised at the train as it was a lot cleaner and comfier than expected! Although being woken up by "chai chai chai, coppee coppee, chai chai chai, coppee coppee" was a little annoying,,,!

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Comments

[anonymous]

hi
Hi, I will be travelling to Goa for a week from 16th onwrds, wanted to know if you woul like to accompany? If yes you can write me at [e-mail]