Best Western Marickar Hotel And Suites Nedumbassery Kochi

... nice teashop with real character, that we've visited twice so far and will probably become our local, being our substitute for the non-existence of bars or any nightlife. <br>Tonight we're excited about going to see Kathakali Theatre! Its the dramatic art of Kerala and is suppossed to be something special.<br>Kerala has very similar scenery to goa although we are now coast to a different sea, the "lackschweep... sea ...

Our first stop in India is in the south in the state of Kerala. Kerala, as far as India goes is supposed to be 'where India slips into second gear, stops to smell the roses and always stops to talk to strangers' according to the Lonely Planet. This seemed to be a good place to start our Indian journey - Delhi and Rajasthan can wait till we are more acclimatized. Also, it is getting very hot in the North so we may not want to spend much time lingering there ...

... behind her. she leisurely laid her body into the water as us honkeys snapped away with our cameras. almost posing as she lifted her trunk up and rolled onto her back, her mahout got to work scrubbing her with a coconut husk and trimming her cuticles. sooo not kidding about the cuticles, they take a knife and trim around her nails. don't know why but it looked painful. she was chill about it so i guess it wasn't so ...

Hi friends and family! I know, I know, I'm a total slacker and haven't had much time to write a blog. I recently went on a twenty day trip to Southern India. Meagan (my sister- for those of you know don't know) came and visited me from September 26- October 19, almost a month. We had a really great time traveling together. AGRA Agra- home of the Taj Mahal. I've already been once, but the Taj is so breathtaking that I was ...

... operated by several fishermen, making unique use of the huge pulley like system to lift the huge mass below. The sheer number makes for an impressive site and the fisherman are happy to demonstrate and may ask you to pull one of the ropes yourself, though after which they will expect a tip from you. After a brief stroll, i returned to my island (Ernakulam) to see what this festival at the temple was all about. The religious significance of the festival was ...

... Our tour guide had a thick accent which required some concentration to follow, but by relaxing I was able to understand him completely. We had a one hour and 45 minute bus ride each way. These fishing nets were our first sight, just as we were beginning the bus ride. These cantilevered nets take about 4 fishermen to operate, and they are raised and lowered several times a day. We were in Cochin on Sunday, which is their day ...

... impressed with the smell than we were... but found that fresh lemon juice is a good kitty deterent as well as a fine accompaniment to snapper. Kathakali. Well what can you say. Amazingly painted actors doing fine impressions of a constipated jowly Christopher Biggins dressed for panto and struggling in vain to release the wonderlog. It was altogether confusing, entertaining, complicated and shambolic... but brilliant. The actors don't speak but ...

... enough to leave early,we managed to get three tickets for the 7-9 boat ride,though the upper deck was already full.We were told that a boatride through the entire Periyar would take 2hrs atleast.I smiled at myself and wished it would take longer.As we made our way through the Periyar,I felt an unusual thrill.No sooner had we coursed a short distance ,we spotted a few deers quenching their thirst by the river bank.Heads turned and cameras flashed,the next exciting part was spotting a ...

... and grown over millennia. In this time, the men have grown to see the prudence of the skirt. Many wear long wraps around their lower halves, leaving them down to their ankles at times, and doubling them at the knee, wearing them short at others. The faces are richly varied. Streaks of white, red and saffron color foreheads and throats. Women, men and children punctuate the center of their brow with markings: dots, patterns and gems symbolizing their faith. In facial structure I see ...

When I arrived at Madurai Junction, the train was already waiting on the platform. Trains in India are very, very long so it can take a while to find the correct carriage. While walking along the platform I stocked up on water and bananas for the 8 hour journey. The first thing I did once I found my bunk was accidently squash all my bananas by throwing my backpack onto the upper bunk (I did a similar thing on a more recent journal, but there ...