KOCHI (COCHIN) CITY   Feb. 2

We left our boat mooring on the waterway after breakfast and cruised back to the big lake and our landing port. We rode a tuk-tuk again to the bus down winding roads. The bus ride took us on the coast road so we could stop at the Arabian Sea - I had already be in it in Dubai so only went down to feel the temperature. And a wave covered my sneakers!! I spent the ride into Cochin barefoot with my socks hanging in the sun on the rope across the window!

Fishermen at the beach had been out on these foam rafts with a make-shift paddle and a very fine net. They were removing the tiny fish and shrimp like animals from the net. They apparently go out several times a day.

The road was REALLY wind-y, twisted, not blowing! on the way into the city. We made a stop at the co-op laundry where there were booths to wash and beat on a rock your laundry, then it was hung on communal lines, no clothespins but a twisted rope like my travel clothesline that you stick a corner into the twist. Inside men were ironing with VERY heavy electric irons - doing an amazing job on men’s shirts. We heard it was 2 Rs for just ironing and maybe 10 if you wanted starch. One woman was sprinkling water on a pile of folded saris to be ironed later, I guess. 

Nearby was St. Francis church, the first European church built i India. It was under renovation so the whole altar was blocked. The one interesting thing was the vault where Vasco de Gama had been buried, when this was a Catholic church by the Portuguese, but his body was then removed to Lisbon where it rests. Then it was a Dutch church so the front fascade was altered to a bell-shape. And finally it became an Anglican church under the British. 

There is a huge Navy yard here and we saw an aircraft carrier being built for the Indian Navy on one of the rivers. It’s also a headquarters for the Coast Guard. 

This was a major stop on the Spice Route that went across the Arabian Sea to Yemen, up through the Nile to Alexandria and across to Europe. This was before the Portuguese were able to sail around Africa and come by water. 

Our hotel, the Trident is very nice and there is a spa I have my eye on for today when we are on our own for lunch and have a long break. Last night we attended an optional performance of a culture thing called Kathali. It means “story” “theater or performance.”  It was a quite small theater, only for tourists. This performance is a couple of thousand years old and historically begins about 8 p.m. and goes all night until maybe 7 a.m.! Sometimes it is still performed in temples. But we got a tiny segment. First we watched the two characters apply their makeup for 1/2 an hour. Then the director of the theater explained how the actors don’t speak but use eye movements and gestures to convey feelings. The one guy, who played the woman (women were not allowed out at night and so, like in Shakespeare’s time, the women are played by men). He demonstrated the 9 emotions and how they were conveyed. It was quite amazing!

Fishermen sorting their catch.

Getting feet wet at the Arabian Sea.

Elephants everywhere, Sarah!

Too heavy to bring home!

Nice Buddha!

Visit to the community laundry.

Then the two actors acted the story of the one guy who was a handsome prince, with the woman trying to seduce him. Turns out she’s really a demon and when she is thwarted in trying to get the prince to succumb, she gets angry and turns back into the demoness. The Prince cuts off her breasts, ears and nose and sends her packing!! 

applying makeup

emotions

Proud

Add caption

Disgust!

Fear!

Peace!

Audience involved.

Prince and Demoness

Interesting! Back to the hotel for dinner. I had thoughts of trying the pool but was too tired. No free internet here so I’ll have to upload maybe on my break today and pay.