Exploring Fort Kochi
The hot and humid air of Kochi did not deter us from exploring this city. I was thankful that I could finally wear my shorts after putting on as many pieces of clothing just to stay warm in the northern states of India.
The first thing on my list was to visit the nearby beach. As someone who lives in the tropics I have very high standards for beaches.
The beach in Fort Kochi was nothing special, but it did make for a good refreshing afternoon and early evening walk as the shore bustles with locals selling all sorts of seafood. There were quite a few Chinese fishing nets that the locals use to catch fish, and they also made a for a good photo op during sunset.
It was a great time to take photos of the sunset!
Seafood! Seafood everywhere! The man-skirt reminded me of the Burmese during my trip to Myanmar a couple of years ago.
The auto-rickshaw is an ever present vehicle roaming the streets of Indian cities from south to north.
The spices used in Indian food gives one, a one of a kind kick that made my tongue burn quite a few times, especially when I told the waiter to keep it spicy. Even if you tell them not too spicy, the food is still rather spicy!
More men wearing man-skirts, maybe I should wait for someone to start playing a bagpipe, kidding aside...
The sight of an old colonial church made me think of home. Apparently this part of Kerala has Christian influence.
There was nothing much to see inside the Mattancherry Palace aside from a few relics and information about royalty and some of the colonizers.
Jewish influence is seen in some parts of Kochi. The market area in Jew Town was brimming with life, all sorts of shops lined the narrow streets.
Would it still be India if there were no Jain temples in town?
There were two other old colonial churches in Fort Kochi. The design of the churches were quite similar to the ones I've seen back home, but I found the baroque churches back home more beautiful compared to the ones I've seen in other parts of Asia, including India.
One Ride Away
My friend and I decided to ride the ferry to get to Ernakulam town. As always, public transportation in India is so dirt cheap.
There were cruise ships and hustle and bustle of a booming pier town, as we slowly sailed along to another island.
Ernakulam town had all the makings of a booming port city, with high-rise buildings and all sorts of commercial establishments. What I loved about Kochi was the melting pot feel it created. It had ties to its rich culture and vibrant past while moving forward with all sorts of developments.
More sunsets! There is something about a sunset that reminds you of an ending but an approaching new beginning.