November 3, 2008 – Cochin, India

We arrived at the dock at 6:30am in Cochin in the Kerala region near the southwestern tip of India. The area is different from most of India in that Hindus make up about 50% of the population and Christians 30%. Muslims and Jews also inhabit the area. Tea, cardamom, peppercorns, ginger and other spices are grown here. The food reflects the local spices in that curry isn’t big and flavorful spices without being hot. Vasco da Gama visited here and after Portuguese occupation the Dutch took over followed by the British. Chinese traders in the 14th century established a unique fishing net system still in use today. The precarious looking bamboo & wood structures are mounted on the shore with a tripod shaped net attached to the ends of 3 bamboo poles. The nets are lowered into the water and left for awhile. They are later lifted out of the water by pulling on ropes and assisted by counterbalancing rocks at the back. The fish are scooped out of the nets and put immediately in fish shops behind them and sold quickly.

Masses of water lilies are floating around the harbor this time of year. We attended a complimentary event at the Taj Malabar Hotel, a beautiful upscale facility of the Taj group, where we were greeted by 2 massive elephants with riders on top (one elephant did his toilet duty on the driveway), a percussion band, lovely ladies in saris holding bowls of flowers with a candle in the middle, and a glass of fresh coconut water. We were under open sided tents where various activities happened. Beer was passed around and we saw performances of local pageantry with elaborately costumed men dressed as women. Food stations surrounded 3 sides with quite an array of items to try, sort of like tapas. The food was interesting and quite delicious. The whole event lasted about 4 hours during this 5 hour visit. The sail away was interesting and we were treated to antics of many dolphins as we sailed out to the Indian Ocean. Cochin is very scenic and lush with plant life and looks much different from the Mumbai & New Delhi areas. It’s a place we’d love to visit again and spend a few days. Before dinner there was a block party where stewardesses are in the stateroom halls with wine & cheese and guests bring a glass from their room, have wine and meet the others on the same floor. The clocks were turned back ½ hour so we are now 10 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.