Blogs from Kochi, Kerala, India, Asia - page 17

We flew into Kochi after a nice flight from New Delhi -- impressed with the domestic airport and the efficiency. Really it has been quite easy to get from point A to point B on this trip -- everything on time, all in reasonable condition, staff efficient and pleasant -- but still, in India, it is never really easy -- it is, after all, India. So after getting to Kochi we have slowed the pace. Also because we are in the tropics now and it is really hot. Kochi was a nice little town but just too hot for us to do much during the day. Like most Indian towns, it is dead at night. Anyway, one day we did have a bit of a walk around and came back exhausted and didn't leave the room ... read more

Kochi was our first stop in Kerala. We spent the morning there before heading north to Varkala Beach. While visiting the Palace of Kerala, we learned that woman play a central position in Kerala society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy “Matrifocality refers to societies in which women, especially mothers, occupy a central position, and the term does necessarily imply domination by women or mothers. Anthropologist R. L. Smith (2002) refers to 'matrifocality' as the kinship structure of a social system where the mothers assume structural prominence. The Nair community in Kerala in South India is a prime example of matrifocality.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin “Kochi was the centre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the Yavanas (Greeks) as well as Romans, Jews, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times. Kochi rose to significance as a trad... read more

Started today with porridge and banana at our hotel mm mmm. We decided to walk to the Dutch Cemetery (which you can only view through locked gates) and then down Bazaar Rd (a street filled with shops - lots and lots selling spices) to Mattancherry area. We spied an old abandoned mansion on our way and decided to have a quick neb round the outside of it. Once in Mattanchetty we saw the Dutch Palace (from the outside) which didn't look too impressive and the Jewish Cemetery through yet more locked gates! It is very, very hot and we were quite knackered after our 2hr saunter. I quite like it here, it's relaxing and much less manic than some of the places we've been...if only the rickshaw drivers would stop hassling us! Had veg noodles for ... read more

My short stay in Kumily was really nice. The things to see around the Wildlife Sanctuary are quite limited though, unless one is willing to spend more money to do organized tours. Of course I am too cheap to do that so I only did the little boat trip on the lake, which was quite boring and not so comfortable with the huge life vest we all had to wear. Still, I am happy I went to that village, really enjoyed the hotel where I was and also the drive to get there and then to Cochi was very beautiful. Spice plantations, tea plantations, rubber tree plantations... And many bus stands! It was a 6 or 7 hour bus trip from there to Cochi. The trick when you travel alone by bus is not to drink ... read more

I find it completely odd to be sweating in a hot and humid room at 9.30 on a January morning while trying to ignore the itch of mosquito bites :) It's been a bit of a whirlwind few days since leaving the congestion, chaos and edible delights of Kolkata and am now situated in the serene and tropical province of Kerala in southwest India. Though I loved the vibrancy and energy of Kolkata, I'm glad to be out of the major city centres for a while and into the lush and green jungles of the tropical south. Kolkata is often discussed in terms of its notorious poverty and sadly, it is a blight on the city that is impossible to ignore. However, to reduce Kolkata to a city of poverty (which is often the case) ignores ... read more