Blogs from Kochi, Kerala, India, Asia - page 8

Well namaste to you all and as a brief introduction, this trip (well, the first half anyway) is a little different than our normal travels. First of all it has incorporated many more people – namely Jane’s family - parents Ann and Peter, brothers Jack and Tom, as well as Beth who married Tom but a few weeks ago - thus the moniker of the ‘familymoon’. Secondly, we are staying in surroundings that are generally a step or two up from our normal lodgings - envision some wonderfully restored colonial houses and even the odd palace. And thirdly, instead of braving broken down public buses and the like, we have been ferried around in our very own minibus (the ubiquitous ’Tempo Traveller’) complete with driver - namely the wonderf... read more

As soon when I came out from St. Francis Xavier church, I turned right and walked about 10 minutes, I finally saw the fishing village. This whole area is known as Fort Kochi. Very shady, many tall tree that umbrella the whole area giving the best shade ever on a sunny day like this. What attracted me most is the “Cheena Vala”, the Chinese Fishing Nets. The fishermen were friendly, invited me aboard their platform, having photos taken as I stood sometime watching them do the job, how the mechanism works. The fascinating thing being on board the platform is that it has a great view, good breeze and imagine myself stood above the great Arabian Sea was something I never imagine. But I did not mind the fishy smell that surround me. History wrote it ... read more

As mentioned on the previous day, this Port day apparently was nothing like what most cruisers had ever experienced in terms of getting off for the day. We were all allocated the numbers the previous night before being invited to go in and get our passports checked and approved for getting off the boat. This was to all start from 7am with docking time at 8am. It was only later when we had returned to the boat that we discovered that the last person to have their passport checked was at 10:30am … If I was that person I wouldn’t have been too happy! Thankfully Roberta tipped some man and was re-allocated 1stchecking tickets … a lot nicer than our number 16 tickets, and others in our groups’ number 23’s!!! It was a 6am wake up ... read more

I split off from my company and am back on the road alone now! I booked a flight back up to delhi (expensive but 6 hours of travelling verses 78...) but wanted to see Kochi first. Unfortunately I didnt factor just how long it would take to get to Kochi from Kumily! So I didnt arrive till 5pm! Still I got to have a nice evening walking round looking at the various sights and also went to a Kathakali performance. This was an interesting experience. Kathakali acting involves very mime-like facial gestures and the actors are very good really. But they don't talk and instead communicate the 'dialogue' with the most long-winded form of sign language ever!! Basically, what could have been conversed in 3-4 mins (with emotion and time to spare) took half an hour ... read more

7 avril 2012, Fort-Cochin & Allepey Bien le bonjour à vous chers lecteurs, ne vous inquiétez pas, je ne vous ai pas oublié! J’étais seulement très occupée lors de nos deux dernières visites, qui encore une fois étaient bien différentes de ce nous avons vu jusqu’ici. Et ce, pour seulement quelques heures d’autobus local, dans un paysage vraiment exotique. Le Kerala est une région que j’apprécie pour sa diversité et la gentillesse de ses gens, mais surtout pour sa luxuriante nature. La vie en vert! Nous avons passé 4 jours à Fort-Cochin, une ville portuaire où se côtoient les influences anglaises, portugaises et chinoises. Les bâtiments patrimoniaux blanchis à la chaux et les toitures Terracotta donnent un petit air européen à l’ensemble, alors que les filets de pêches qui jalonnent la plage vous ramènent en campagne ... read more