KOCHI

Kochi, India 18Mar11

Our first visit to India was enhanced by a tour guide extraordinaire. His name was Chester and he absolutely helped wash away our (my) apprehensions of visiting India. An affable Canadian couple organized an off-the-ship tour via the internet and invited us along. Normally, this is something we would do ourselves but due to liability concerns as a result of our status representing Vacation.com, we are unable to do it on this trip.

We were a party of nine, 5 Aussies, 2 Canadians and us. First off the ship and onto a fifteen passenger minibus with excellent air conditioning. After a hair raising 2 hour ride over narrow two lane roads that were often treated as four lanes (reminded me of Egypt), we arrived at Kerala Backwaters, a series of freshwater canals that were formerly rice paddies. There we boarded a vessel that appeared to be hand built with thatch consisting of a living room, where we spent most of our time, two bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen. We cruised the canals for an hour and a half, being served a lovely meal of fried chicken, fried fish, yogurt, fresh pineapple, a whole coconut with straw, curried vegetables, rice, papadam, green beans and (for me) Kingfisher Beer. Tranquil serenity in an area of constant noise and motion. A very enjoyable experience.

From the houseboat we journeyed back toward the ship making several unscheduled stops including a once a year Hindi festival which involved fifteen elephants dressed in their Sunday best even though it was a Friday. We visited the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Cochin, ancient hand constructed fulcrum principled devices that are still in use today. But the best stop of all was a stop at Chester’s modest home in Fort Cochin where we were introduced to his mother and two of his sisters, who served us all coffee. This two room plus kitchen, corrugated tin roofed home was clean and well kept. Our reception by his family will remain with me for a long time. The living room was dominated by at least four different pictures of Jesus and a 24” HD TV with satellite reception.

This area having been dominated by the Portuguese for years before the British took over, Christianity still flourishes, at least in this part of India. Muslim and Hindu are the major players here, leaving me to wonder why Pakistan was ever created. Have to ask Ben Kingsley I guess.

Off to Mumbai for two days. I hope we have a similar Indian experience, but I’m not countind on it.

Joe Wagg