Three Hits and a Miss

So we have navigated the three corners of our Golden Triangle and have made the 180 degree navigation with one obtuse angle, two acute angles and no complications or surprises. But as fate would have it our trip south starts with a bit of a hiccup when we miss our connecting flight from Mumbai. The flight from Delhi was delayed by an hour due to heavy smog. Not surprising considering we have had smog virtually every day with the exception of our day at the Taj Mahal. After a five hour layover in Mumbai (one of the lousiest airports we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing but also one of the nicest airport waiters we have encountered) and a change in airlines, we finally make it to Southern India to the port city of Cochin or Kochin. Take your pick on the spelling.

We had been told and had read that there would be a change from the north to the south but within 15 minutes of driving through the city, you realize the change is profound. The province of Kerala has a literacy rate well in excess of 90% and in the last election over 90% of the population participated in the choosing of the new Prime Minister, Mr Modi. It just goes to prove that education leads to prosperity. It is a totally different experience from the north. More in keeping with what I had been expecting. No beggars to be seen and relatively little garbage strewn about, the landscape is far more lush and green to what we had been experiencing in the north.

We awake the following morning to a wonderful hotel with a corner room view from the fifth floor. The panoramic view of the deep water harbour is truly impressive and the ship sightings are so interesting. Naval ships, tankers, cargo, container, tugboats, water taxis, and fishing boats both large and small, all navigate this waterway. The passageway from and to the east is the primary routing for all traffic travelling from Southeast Asia and up to the Suez Canal on the way to the west. Oil from Quatar, textiles from Thailand and spices from India, along with the cheap goods from China being shipped to Costco all ply these waters. See video

The day itself was fairly uninspiring with the usual tours of the historic church and synagogue as well as the local fort and museum. Discovered in early 16^th century by the Portuguese there is a definite and interesting history, but I won’t bore you with that today. What I did find extremely interesting was the trip into the old town and the fishing area. Known for the fishing nets, whose origin are Chinese, the cantilever nets were a innovative method to catch fish and are still in use today. See video below.

A trip to India wouldn't be complete without a trip to the local laundry. Lots of colour and the methods still in use today, including a cast iron/iron filled with lit charcoal for the heat source are lots of fun to see. The meticulous method they iron and fold would put any Chinese laundry on their guard for bragging rights.

Another supposed highlight was the Kathakali Dance Performance but I have to admit it didn’t rock my boat. The application of the makeup was interesting but the show was a great power nap and the music isn’t likely to get any Grammy nominations. I guess there were some totally enthralled, but don’t count me as one of them.

We are both exhausted due to the very early rise the previous morning and the stress of missing a flight. We wish had more time to chill at our hotel, but the show will carry on. I go into Hindi mode and just accept what has happened and hold no grudges because in the end all was good and in order. Namaste.