Kochi or Cochin.... India is reverting all there Anglo names back to the original Indian names so sometimes it's very hard to find a place on the map or figure out if you have got yourself in the right place...
Our room looks like the Dhobi Ghats of Mumbai with my washing hanging everywhere . Peter opted for the laundry service but I could only think of the Dhobi ghats ...So I did my own.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we had another Bollywood star on the plane last night.. He had a beanie on and a group of minders and they were all escorted onto the plane... I asked the local guy next to me and he told me his name was Warren something and was a star in Bollywood .. Apparently they knock out around 400 movies a year in Mumbai...they must be real quality flicks.. So we have been very fortunate to have seen two so far, even if we have no idea who they are..
 Started the day in the restaurant for breakfast..So I am making a cup of tea someone pointed the kettle at the bench so I was waiting for it to boil and one of the staff comes up and turns it off and goes it's ready and pours me a Luke warm cup of tea...lol That's the second time that's happened..
We were on the bus at 0830hrs and off to Fort Kochi to see a Dutch Palace.. Our delightful tour guide Agi did not stop talking from the minute he got on the bus, inside the old Palace was a museum and thankfully we were in front of him and managed to get through the place at our pace and as we were exiting the building we saw the others still in the first room .. a few of the others straggled out so I don't know how many he ended up with.. It was hot so I gave up sitting outside and went back to the bus & read my book.. I have no idea what the others got up to but after 3 weeks of listening to Indian history I don't need any more information..
Anyway when they came back we took of to a Catholic Church where Vasco de Garma was buried, he has since been returned to his homeland but they have kept his grave in the church that dates back to the 1500s. Outside the church there was a big group of young people and they wanted a photo with us so we all had to pose...it's quite funny to be on the receiving end.
From the church we walked down the street a ways and into a nice restaurant. Lunch today was pretty good, Soup, salad, Calamari, prawns, chips and chocolate cake.. so we waddled out afterwards.
We went down to the waterfront to see the Cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets.. these are a big frame like construction which lowers a net into the water with weights they get it out again..it's very unique . All along the waterfront was like a big BIJAR ..I don't think anyone bought anything.
When we were back on the bus , he asked us if we wanted to go to another church and everyone groaned and Jan the retired single childless school teacher said "Oh yes please" so off we went to the church..Thankfully it was a short stop and apparently the church was locked so they couldn't get in so we were given a respite.
Off we went to go back to the hotel.. Right next door to the hotel was a shopping centre which I have been waiting for the whole trip..so much easier to buy without bartering..they had all the cool shops but the prices were the same as home, then at the back I found a multi level department store..Peter actually bought a new suitcase thank god ! I managed to get a couple of dresses it was great..
Tonight they have a dancing culture show ! Poke me in the eye with a stick. Peter has decided not to go so I kind of feel obligated. anyway it's not a late night so I will do it ..
Well what can I say !! 13 of us went off to the show tonight and OMG ! Thankfully we were 30 min late as the first hour was watching 2 guys putting on makeup.. There were others there who had been there for the whole hour ! Anyway it was only a small place and we spent the next hour watching the two makeup guys act with their faces..Yes you heard me they went through all the emotions with their faces..God I wanted to shoot myself..I guess I am just uncultured !