Colourful Cochin
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Fri 28 Jan 2011 04:41
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Friday 28th January
We've been getting over our short but
exciting trip and haven't managed to do much over the last few days. Jackamy has
had a thorough clean as we have access to water on the pontoon, the first time
since Phuket, so we can now touch surfaces without getting covered in salt.
Other than that though we have just been making use of the hotel
facilities, the gym and the swimming pool, and taking a break from the constant
touring.
However, we did have a walk around one
afternoon and had our first proper introduction to India. The busy,
bustling, dirty, crowded and colourful India. As we stepped off the ferry and
rounded the corner we were greeted with fruit stalls and rickshaws on a filthy
smelly street. But we made our way through the puddles and rubbish and found
ourselves on a busy main road where all you could hear was car horns and all you
could see was colour. Nothing is bland in this country, in particular men and
womens clothes, the sari's and dhoti's are always bright and
colourful. Further down the road we came across the Youth Festival.
Some people were playing instruments and some dancing, others
were just waiting for a procession to start. It was utter chaos though
as the road remained open whilst hundreds of onlookers and participants filled
the street and cars tried to fight their way through, but it worked and no-one
became angry or frustrated.
 Fruit stalls at the
roadside
  A band leading the
procession................Cars fighting their way through
 Peacock costumes
 Kathakali dancers
Last night we went out to The Grand Hotel
for Sheila's birthday. Around 25 of us hopped onto the ferry and piled
into rickshaws and raced through the back streets, laughing away we
stumbled out of the rickshaws at the feet of a suited and booted door man with
an impressive mustache. It would seem that if you can grow a mustache then you
have one, no matter what your age is. We had a great evening and ate some
delicious food. The food was surprising through as it is nowhere near as spicy
as we'd expected it to be. I think they must tone it down for us as they don't
think we can handle it.
 On the ferry...........Birthday
girl
 All the girls
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