Kochi, Kerala, 2015

Well here we are today in Kochi, also known as Cochin. Cochin is a city in southwest India's coastal Kerala state. Strictly speaking, Cochin is a small town. But, Cochin has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town, which now includes Cochin, Fort Kochi, Mattanchery and Ernakulam.

We have unfortunatly only a short stay of around ten hours before our journey moves on. Strict time constraints is one of the downsides of visiting anywhere by cruise ship. But as always i will try to expierience as much of the local culture as i can.

The period December to February is comparatively cooler than the rest of the year and we are lucky to have missed the winter Monsoon period, as it is now late January. The temperature is currently in the low thirties, so is relativly comfertable compared to the temperatures in the middle east.

Enougth of the background information, lets see what this seaside city has to offer.

The first thing you cannot fail to notice Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi and all along this section of coast is the chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) that are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler, Kublai Khan introduced these nets here.

Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside of China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets.

A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.

A short journey inland presents you with a more traditional view of state of Kerela and pherhaps India itself. Here you quickly lose the old colonial architecture and influences.

This was much too short a time, in such a wonderously interesting place.