Thursday, 14 February 2013

Cochin 12th Feb


12 Feb 2013

We did a lot of walking today, despite the heat.  We went to see the Basilica, and then walked all the way to Mattanchery, through the wholesale spice market on Bazaar Street with the most wonderful smells.  On the way we stopped to have a look at the displays at Pepper House, using our Biennale ticket.  We carried on walking and arrived at the Dutch Palace where it cost us 5 rupees (5p) each to enter. 

More walking brought us to Jew Town where we were hoping to visit the Jewish Synagogue but sadly this was closed and will have to be done another day.  Carol bought some funny trousers (ali baba style)!  

We decided, sensibly to take an Indian Ferrari (tuk- tuk) back home.   The tuk- tuk driver gave us his card in case we want to use him again for some ‘sight scene’.

We have noticed an absence of cows in Cochin and a predominance of goats, they are everywhere!   Apparently all the goats have owners, they are milked in the morning & the milk given to the schoolchildren.  They are then let loose during the day to do whatever goats like to do, maybe a bit of ‘sight scene’ and then in the evening they all make their way home again by themselves, clever eh?!

In the evening before dinner we went to see a Kathakali show at the local theatre.  This is a 2.5 hour long performance, there are 3 main performers, all men and if you get there early, you can see them applying their make-up on stage.  Their costumes are stunning!  The story was the ‘killing of Kichaca’ which involved the attempted seduction and beating up of the wife of the hero, her telling her husband and him killing the bad guy with what looked like a big wooden spoon, well you would wouldn’t you!  But seriously it was a stunning performance of a distinct art form.
 
Basilica



 
 
New funny trousers!
 
 

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