Wednesday 23 February 2011

23rd February

Found this internet cafe in Kochi to keep you up to date though without photos for the moment. The overnight train journey from Chennai was much better than we expected as we both managed to sleep for most of the journey. The ferry from Ernakalum, where the station is ,across to Fort Kochi was great value at 2.50 Rs each! We arrived at our accomodation(Waltons homestay) and dropped off our luggage before going for breakfast and having a wander around the town. At one point we were invited onto one of the Chinese fishing net platforms and Cath helped pull in a catch of sardines. Pete just missed a great photo of a Coucal posed wonderfully in the Dutch cemetery until the point at which he pointed the camera !
We knew about the Portuguese connections here but didn't appreciate the Dutch presence later on mid 17th C. In fact the Dutch East India company were here before the British equivalent.
The town has many old merchant houses in various states of repair and a colonial feel as in Shimla although more cosmopolitan. We have visited Portuguese Catholic churches, a Jewish synagogue and walked past mosques and Jain temple but it is much more a christian presence here than other places we have been.
Tomorrow we are off to the Hornbill Camp for 6 days birding in Thekkady Nat.Park and Munnar.

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