Kovalam, Munnar to Kochin (Day 5)

Due to Internet access being limited to Internet cafes on this road trip I have condensed the past four days into one blog.  Thank God! I can hear you saying  (or Allah or whoever you may worship, after all we are in the land of religions). 

Each morning Hari, our driver asks “What is your program today?”  We say as little as possible, we don’t like being on the go all day.  Mainly because it is so hot and the humidity is rising as each day goes by.  Luckily we are flying out at the end of the month, as next month will be unbearable.

It was lovely to spend a few days in the mountains especially in the cooler climate.  We stayed in a home stay on the river with a pretty manicured garden.  Our room was on the back verandah overlooking the garden and river.  

Home stays are a popular Kerala option to accommodation.  They are people’s homes of various standards where you have a room with ensuite.

 

In Munnar we saw traditional performances of Kathakali (classical dance drama – similar to Shakespeare and created around the same era) & Kalarippayattu (traditional martial arts) performances.  He was encouraging us to go early to watch the dancers apply their make up and help each other with their costumes.  It was well worth it.  Both performances were amazing and entertaining.

We also enjoyed a half-day trek through tea plantations up to the top of the mountain (2000mtrs).  The scenery was spectacular.  When we got to the top of the mountain Jim says “you didn’t complain once” sarcasm for those of you who know how much Jim dislikes walking, I replied with “I bet you were dying to”.  He actually quite enjoyed the walk or it could have been the banter of the four young (good looking) French girls we were walking with and our guide.  They were all fun walking companions.

We visited the tea museum the morning before we left Munnar for Kochin.  Being a tea drinker it was really interesting and the video on how the English introduced tea growing to the area in 1880 etc.  I could go on for a bit but I’ll stop I can see you rolling your eyes.  Bought a packet of tea for the boys Riju and JC back at Sea Flower.  The last few days we were there they were including me in their afternoon tea sessions. 

Today is day five of our road trip and this is our second night in Kochin.  We are staying at another home stay.  This house is quite a grand Kerala house also with a beautiful garden.  We arrived in Cochin late yesterday afternoon.  The place has a light slow pace feeling besides the humidity I mean.  We are staying in the Fort Cochin area, very much a touristy area but still nice as you can walk around to most of the sites which we did today.

Tomorrow morning I am going to a meditation session titled ‘Power of Ragas’ with live Indian classical music with a sitar and tabla  Will let you know how it goes needless to say Jim is meeting me for breakfast afterwards. 

Trekking - reached the top of the mountain 

Munnar bazaar

Trekking group

Chinese fishing net at Kochin

Kochin streetscape

Catch from Chinese nets