Kochi (Cochin) consists of a mainland part (Ernakulam), a peninsula (Fort Kochi (Fort Cochin)) and some islands (Vypeen and others). There are inexpensive ferries running between them, e.g. Rs2.50/$0.07 between Ernakulam and Fort Kochi.
Fort Kochi (Fort Cochin) is where most tourists head to (because mainland Ernakulam is a big dirty busy uninteresting Indian town, although that is where the train station is located (and named after)).
Highlights include:
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Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront promenade
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It’s green! As in parks, trees (reminds me a little of the French side of Pondy)
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Fresh fish catch brought in by the fishermen (which you can buy and take to a resto to have it cooked, although I didn’t actually do that)
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Refilling water bottle from a 5 gallon jug for Rs5/L (less/re-use plastic!)
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Nice sunsets!
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Kathakali Centre (if I hadn’t just seen one a performance at a temple a few nights earlier, this would be the place to go!)
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Traditional sights that didn’t wow me: a church; Santa Cruz Basilica (though on Sun evening they do a procession around the basilica while firecrackers go off)
See also my previous post(s) on Kochi…
Photos: fresh fish for sale (lobster too, in his hand); Sun evening procession around Santa Cruz Basilica
I also bought two India-related books at a bookstore here:
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Are you Experienced? by William Sutcliffe, about a first time backpacker in India (written by a 26 year old Brit, the characters are younger)
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Holy Cow! An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald (written by an Australian woman who returned to India 11 years after hating it the first time)
Restos I recommend:
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Talk of the Town – on the 1st floor (2nd floor north american naming convention)
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Salt ‘n’ Pepper – a sidewalk resto
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New Ananda Bhavan (near the Kathakali Theatre) for a great thali lunch (Rs25/$0.63)
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Ba’Sheer Juice on the waterfront for inexpensive fresh fruit juice (no water/ice/sugar!)
Misc photos: kids playing after school with what looks like a church steeple on the ground;
kid selling Spirograph (I remember having one as a kid!) for Rs60/$1.50 as he demonstrates it on his large paper
