Abad Airport Kochi

... These giant nets date back to Kubla Khan. The next is about 20 feet by 20 feet and is supported by two long timbers on each side. The top of the net is lowered into the water using a pivot point with counter-weights that are large rocks tied onto long ropes. It takes 5 men to handle the ropes. <br><br> Dozens of these large nets line the shoreline and are still in active use. For the tourists they invite you up on the working ...

... a non-spoken alphabet (like the deaf sign), so you can guess how much of the story I was able to get, and the main actors don't quite dance but they follow the music (it is most likely rather the opposite, the music follows the actor's movements) and they perform some weird and exaggerated movements. The final outcome, from the abridged scenes that I witnessed, is very colorful and interesting, but I doubt I could endure the 9-hours long version.<br><br>

... and lots of rubbish lying around. In the main the people are very poor and aparently about 94% of the population of India is illiterate, a problem with the government is trying hard to change. All the women we saw were wearing Indian dress and although a lot of the men were in western dress there were still a lot in sarongs and 'nappies' (not sure what they are called) as this is Gandhi country. There were a number of cows and ...

... coast for 2000 years, and the Jews also settled here immediately after the destruction of the second temple by the Romans. And let's not forget the Christians, who have been here for longer than they have been in northern Europe, as is attested to the myriad churches and basilicas dotting Kochi. All in all, at least historically, Kochi has seen quite a trade in ideas as well as spices and precious stones. Interestingly, among the churches, synagogues and mosques, we have ...

... in the sunset at Ken Livingstone's cafe. The owner glad to see us back though not as glad when that's all we order. Still, a likable bloke and puts us in good humour. The train station is it's usual chaos and we notice our seats are confirmed on the notice board. The train is scheduled to leave platform 2 though this changes to platform 5 quickly. We order some thali in the station cafe and suddenly find ourselves plunged into darkness. The world around me stops ...

... of rupees each. In the evening after eating another great meal, went out with the guys from the homestay for a couple of beers. In Kerala the sale of alcohol is very limited due to strict laws, so the restaurants get around this by selling beer in teapots and mugs. The whole restaurant appears to be drinking chi, but really everyone is drinking Kingfisher beer out of mugs, very funny sight. When you want more beer you ask for another pot of chi! Day 18 - 11/03/08 ...

... proceeded to hack them open so we could each drink the cool water and then split it further for us to enjoy the flesh. It was so good. You know Dad and Brendon - it brought back so many happy memories of our holidays in Malaysia. Kerala is so much like Malacca and Katong when there was a sea-wall. Lots of villages and an immense number of coconut trees. There were beautiful Kingfishers, water snakes and ...

... the river banks. It feels like the whole town comes and sits round them waiting to see what the days catch is going to be. About 5-6 people operate them, dipping them into the river for only a minute, before bringing them back up with the net full of fish. They look like some ancient fishing method which is obviously still very effective. We spent most of the day wandering around, reading and drinking freshly squeezed pineapple juice. On the night we opted for some culture however ...

... unlike anything else we had experienced so far. Part of it reminded us of Portugal, especially the pastel-coloured houses and the narrow streets. But the abundance of water and the churches looked very much like similar places in Delft or Leiden. And finally Fort Cochin has always had a strong Jewish history and the synagogue was similar to the one in Krakau. It was like we were no longer in India...except for the autorickshaws of course. We ...

... happens: the evolutionary impulse occurs and we shift ever so slightly. So slightly that only time elapsed photography could pick it up. Deftly arrange all the photos from a life time and speedily flip through them to make a film and snap: Enlightenment in a flash. No guru required, or should I say many gurus. Any moment can be a teacher. Not in a new age, sort of everything happens for a reason, so why did I choose on some subconscious level to make this happen to myself ...