Kochi - Fort Cochin
Culture and History also recovery from long flight and time change (5.5 hours ahead)
We stayed in The Arches Hotel
Very central to the tourist areas of Fort Cochin, near ferry terminal, pub round the corner all good. Hotel Restaurant is North Indian style which they call "Gravy". Food OK. No booze in hotel as it is Kerala
Sightseeing
Santa Cruz Cathedral. Very nice very peaceful. Kerala is heavy-duty Christian apparently over 30% of population and they really go for it.
The Kathkali Theatre including the 1 hour before when the actors put on their makeup. This is absolutely fantastic unmissable and famous throughout India we believe. Quite a small theatre but packed with international tourists and rightly so.
Chinese Fishing Nets the promenade and the beaches of Fort Cochin. Very interesting and atmospheric. Exceeded expectations
The Water Metro fabulous electric ferries very clean and quiet also AC. A recent introduction by the city and really cutting edge. Also entirely affordable. Being used by Indian tourists coming across from the noisy part of Kochi (Ernakulum) to the tourist area of Fort Cochin.
Marine Drive - the main Promenade of Kochi. Very interesting place where a lot of cruises depart from. We saw a live sparrow killed by a gang of Indian Crows - shocking
St Francis Church. There are loads and loads of churches in Kerala they are everywhere. This one was so full of tourists we couldn't get in.
The only pub in town for Valentines Night. Super romantic except for the too-loud music (this is an Indian thing)
The Kashi Art Cafe for really good coffee and nice food
An unusual musical evening upstairs in a hostel. Oh well we always get involved with these things ...
