Fort Kochi and Matancherry

Kochi 23
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Arrived at Kochi and took a cab to Ernakulum where I am staying. The area is tropical and threaded with a network of waterways fringed with palm trees. The attitude is much more relaxed than in the north.  I've done a little bit of exploring and figured out where the important things are (the nice coffee shop, the supermarket, the internet place etc)

I'm staying very close to the main jetty, where I can catch boats to the various surrounding islands. I took a boat trip to Fort Kochi which has long been associated with european colonialism; Dutch, British, French - all have left their mark. The church of St. Francis is reputed to be the first christian church in India. Vasco de Gama was buried there for a while before being later removed to Portugal. A small jewish community here too, and an old synagogue.

...waterways fringed with palm trees.

Kochi 28
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On the shore line, chinese fishing nets; large nets suspendended from wooden poles which are lowered into the water using a counter-weight/cantilever system (you'll see when I get the pics online).

Locals laws discourage the drinking of alcohol in this state, though it is possible to get a beer in the fancier hotels. The interiors are terribly elegant, the service attentive and polite. Nevertheless, the bill, when it arrives, is always a pleasant surprise.

My daily routine starts with a 2.5 Rupee commute on a small ferry across to Fort Kochi. This morning, as I was waiting to cross the busy road to the jetty, I was saluted by a young Indian chap from the window of his Land-Rover. I returned it with a flourish! How come I don't get this kind of respect in the UK? On the way over on the boat, I saw a couple of dolphins near the side of the boat, breaking the surface to breathe, their grey bodies spashed with white near the fin and beak.

Kochi 29
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The Cafe Vasco is my favourite spot for breakfast. I can sit and read 'The Hindu', with my coffee, events in the outside world neatly reduced to a single page. Vegetarianism is the norm here, so no worries about finding good food to eat.