Jj Inn Kochi

... a ceiling fan and TV for 500 rupees- good value. We had decided to stay here rather than the touristy Fort Cochi (Kochin) across the harbour by ferry as it is more expensive there. A very long cold shower and fresh clothes and we were human again. Later in the afternoon we headed out to the ferry jetty 5 mins walk away and got some information about ferries across to Fort Kochi and tours we might want to do. We booked a full day tour of the Keral backwaters for Saturday with the ...

... Eric. On en profite pour aller ce ballader le soir hors de la ville. Nous nous arretons en bord de mer pour regarder le coucher de soleil mais nous n'attendons pas qu'il soit couche car sinon on va se faire devorer par les moustiques. 25 avril reveil de plus en plus tard... on grimpe sur nos scoot et fillons vers une ile face a Fort Kochi. Nous traversons via un bac puis traversons toute l'ile pour atteindre une belle ...

... generally did a good job naming me, but I do have one gripe...that is my middle name Joan. The combination is so bizarre that I wonder whether they were a) trying to be all pretentious by making some sort of political statement about cultural harmony through linguistic juxtaposition (unlikely), b) thought it sounded good and wanted to name me after my paternal grandmother, or c) were on crack. I think b) is perhaps the most likely although I secretly want it to be c ...

... But everything was efficient and orderly. Our Kingfisher Airline flight made 2 stops on the way to Kochi. So, at the start of the flight and after each stop the stewardess passed our a tray with pens, mentos, and face wipes and we got a meal. We ate the first one, picked around the edges of the 2nd one, and refused the 3rd one. After a stoip, they checked each person's boarding card and ...

... water, waited a bit, and pulled them up, hoping that a dozen or so fish will be caught in the sag in the center. Crows ride the edges of the nets on the way up and try to swoop in for easy prey before the fishermen. I didn't see any crows succeed. On the way into the hotel a guy at the front desk gave me two roses to bring up, which I did, pretending that I'd remembered it was Valentine's Day and I'd bought flowers. Amy wasn't ...

... we didn't have much interest in sightseeing having been there once before and instead enrolled in some cookery courses. Our teacher had also taught Darina Allen so we were in good hands. Jono turned out to be a natural at making dosas (similar to crepes but made with rice and lentils) but I was rather embarassingly bad! I don't know how much of what we've learnt we'll attempt or be able to cook but you never know!

... tomorrow and I have decided to stay in her sister's house which is right next to hers. They are also right down from the Raintree. Already they are treating me like family so I feel safe and am looking forward to staying put here for a while. The room is very simple but i dont need anything fancy. Cochin is like a small fishing village with old fashioned japanese fishing nets that are probably at least 50 ...

... decided to go and see the famous Keralan dance called Kathakali. This is a dance/play about some story i.e. Girl wants boy, she is evil, he kills her, kind of crack. Anyway its not really about the story, it is the flamboyant make up, costume and strange facial expressions that are used to portray the story. So there we were packed into a sweaty theatre house with all the other culture vultures. The actors demonstrated the application of the make-up for about an hour (we went for ...

... later that morning and we immediately took a rickshaw to the station and caught a train for a short distance up to Alleppey. Stayed at a homestay by the name of 'Johnson's Nest', had an afternoon snack at the excellent 'Indian Coffee Shop' part of small chain in Kerela - and investigated our onward travel by ferry the next day. Felt a bit off colour that evening, a sight giddiness, as if I was rocking back and forth - not pleasant! The following day we caught ...

We collected our sarees in the morning, after some tiny tweaks to the blouse and then raced around trying to sort out things like emails and flight bookings before catcha bus at 1415 back to Cochin, We also said goodbye to Kit, this time for good as her was going off to look for work. The journey took us about 6hrs and went through the most amazing countryside, adn the windyest, pothole riddled roads yet still I ...