Relaxing in Cochin with a quick stop in Bangalore

After escaping the heat for a few days in the hill top town of Munnar we were ready to get back to the coast to soak up some sun back in the town of Cochin (also called Fort Cochin, Cochi or Kochin). We had a little break from the traveller life planned for ourselves in Cochin; we used my large collection of hotel points to book ourselves a 3night stay at the Meridian.  The timing of our stint at the Meridien could not have been better, after a few weeks in the south sweating more every day that if we had run a marathon the consist AC and 3 tiered swimming pool were a welcome change. But before we could get to Cochi we needed to make the 5 hour local bus ride down the unstable mountain roads from Munnar.  The roads were so rough that I was barely able to keep the contents of my stomach down, and unfortunately the lady sitting in front of us was not.

After getting off the bus we quickly found a rickshaw to take us to the lap of luxury that awaiting. After a quick negotiation we got stuck on a price of 200 rupees. It was a bit more that I wanted to pay based on what I had heard it should cost but we were hot and tired and my insides were still turning from our 5 hour ride through the hills so we agreed to the price and he assured us he knew where the hotel was, because we had no idea. After about 20 minutes of driving our driver leans back to us and says “address please?” This was news to us since at the very beginning we told him we didn't know where it was and he told us he knew. Admittedly a little frustrated I tell him we don’t have it and he already told us he knew where he was going. He drives around for another 10mins or so before finally pulling over to ask some other drivers. 

After talking to a handful of others that didn’t know either we finally stopped at a travel agent office who lets us use his internet to look it up. Once we got the address the driver realizes it’s about 20mins back in the other direction and we head back to the rickshaw. Just as we are about to get back in he casually says that it will cost an extra 200 rupees – which we immediately tell him is not happening. An argument ensues lasting about 10mins, him dropping 25 rupees off every couple minutes and us holding our position that we will not pay extra for his mistake. After a while I grab out bags out of the rickshaw and tell him we are not going with him and are not paying him and we walk away. Apparently he doesn’t know what to do with this and follows us for a while as we talk to other drivers, each time he pulls up to them and we continue to walk away. Finally he stops and says he’ll talk us for only and extra 50 rupees ($1 CND), I was not having the best travel day so I was still angry and ready to leave this guy with nothing but Jonny was feeling guilty since now this had been about an hour and this guy made nothing so we finally agreed to jump back in.

Once we got into the lavish, luxurious, AC-filled Meridien the stress of the travel day started to melt away, and by the time they showed us to our upgraded 2 floor, 2 bath suite with a balcony that would be our home for the next 4days and 3 nights, they were totally gone.  We have absolutely loved our time traveling around India and to be totally honest we hadn’t been missing the western comforts all that much but having them again was incredibly nice. A real bed again instead of a camping mattress on a piece of wood, a toilet seat you would dare to sit one, drinkable tap water, a shower without flip-flops…… ok I kind of missed these things.

Our amazing suite

Looking down on the living room 

Jonny enjoying a real bed for the first time in ages

Since it was already late in the afternoon we decided to stay at hotel and enjoy the amenities and save the Cochin sight-seeing until the next day. The next morning we enjoyed a glorious sleep-in followed by a massive continental breakfast buffet courtesy of the Meridien before finally getting ourselves ready to brave the hot streets of the city. We walked a few feet outside of the hotel gates and flagged down a rickshaw who took us into Fort Cochin to explore for the day. We wandered around the coastline which is lined with Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that have been there for a hundred years. These are still in use and you can actually buy a fish right at the water from any number of fishermen’s catch from the day and take it to a local restaurant where they will cook it up for you. Given my total aversion to fish this doesn't exactly float by boat and although Jonny would love that he choose not to this time. After the heat started to get to us we snuck into this really quaint little café called teapot and had some tea and samosas. 

Hundred year old fishing nets

Man showing off day's haul

Boats and nets lined up along the beach

After our break from the heat we headed over to the cultural centre to take in a Kathakali show, which is a dance/performance art that originated in Kerala in the 17th century

Def:  Kathakali is a highly stylized classical indian dance-performance noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music - Courtsey of Wikepedia

Performers starting the make-up process

Getting help for final touches

In final make up and costume

Performers during the show

When the show ended took another rickshaw back to the hotel and called it a night. We had all kinds of big plans to do some more touring around Cochin but instead each day we choose to have a leisurely breakfast, enjoy out suite and lounge by the pool……Hey you would too given the chance!

After 4 days in the Meridien we were snapped back to budget traveler reality with a 14 hour overnight bus ride to Bangalore where we had one day before catching a flight up north. With only one day in Bangalore we didn’t plan to see much, we really only had 1 goal – to see a professional cricket match. Lucky for us there was a game on the only day we were there…….. unlucky for us it was one of the biggest matches of the year, Bangalore vs. Mumbai for some sort of spot to move on, so all the tickets were sold out and apparently the only scam that does not exist in India is ticket scalping. After hanging around the stadium for a good while trying to find anyone getting rid of tickets we finally gave up and headed to a pub to watch the game on T.V instead. 

After an early dinner we called it a night since we have a 3:30am wake up call to get us to the airport for our 6am flight. Next up – Darjeeling and the Indian Himalaya’s!!

OOO_Talia and Jonny