Hot day in Cochin, India
Trip Start
Mar 07, 2010
1
23
25
Trip End
Apr 22, 2010
Cochin, Kerala, India
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
We first go to this place called the Dutch Palace from 1600 something. It was built by Portuguese merchants. Sorry, hard to pay attention when you are dying of the heat. As soon as we start pulling into area to park.....mass chaos. Hands start reaching up to our open windows with stuff for sale like post cards, pens, fans, these wooden puzzle boxes in shapes of elephants and cats, and these long threads with beads and plastic elephants on them. Everything was $2. Then you get out of the bus and they swarm you. "My friend, my friend...please, please...look, look...buy, buy. Please, my friend." They are not mean in any way. They are pleading so badly you feel bad for them but you gotta avoid eye contact. I had many keep following me and showing me their stuff and begging me...even lowering it to $1. Our guide said Cochin is nothing like most of India that is in poverty and said we would not see anyone begging. I saw numerous people begging. The average income in India is equivalent to only $1800 a year. The Dutch Palace was so crowded and stuffy in there. People were leaving because they were having trouble breathing in there.
Next we walk the streets there to see the spice market and synagogue (closed due to passover) in the Jewish area. There are only ten Jewish residents of Cochin. All the store owners are in the street begging you to come in for "special price, my friend...just for you." It was hysterical...our whole group was clinging together and walking as a pack. We were all so overwhelmed and scared of getting separated from the others and *gasp* lost. So after that was back to the bus and then a visit to a museum that was across from a school. The children all ran over to check out the tourists. Next was a church where Vasco da Gama was buried (but later moved to Portugal in 1538). The original grave site is still in the church. We then walked to the shoreline (5 minutes from there) to see the Chinese fishing nets. They are these huge wooden structures with nets that they dip into the water to collect fish. It stunk very bad there. We walk up to the stands selling fish and these guys immediately start picking up fish to try and sell us....hammerhead shark and who knows what else. There was garbage everywhere....even in the disgusting brown water. We walked past many stands and all the while being followed around by people selling all kinds of stuff. There are all kinds of carts selling food and I did a double take...a goat was sneaking between two people and eating lettuce off a cart until he got caught. Next stopped at a hotel and had a can of soda (included in price of tour). Chris and I then went across the street to a store for some shopping...it had a/c so it was good in my book. We rushed back to hotel to meet our group and go for the boat ride that is located in back of hotel. Oh boy...that's all I gotta say. You climb to the second floor and there are plastic chairs all tied along the sides with bungee cords. Then this guy hands us all life jackets and gets mad that we don't start putting them on. Safe much? The ride was about 40 minutes. I was so happy though. I saw tons of dolphins. We passed our ship and they dropped us right by it. Thankfully only 5 more minutes in the hot bus and we were back on the air conditioned ship...yay.
After we rushed up to lunch that was ending. At 4 they had some local people come on board to put on a traditional Indian show of dance and acting through dance. It is called Kathakali and Mohiniattan. It was entertaining and silly at times. It was an hour long. After ran up to top deck to watch the sail away and walk around. Took some pics. All these people were on the shoreline waving at us and taking pictures. After dinner we were too tired for the show (a comedian). This heat just takes all your energy. I'm very happy for a sea day tomorrow to rest up before the big trip to the Taj Mahal.
