We got up early for our sail-in on a foggy/smoggy day.
Kochi Sunrise
We were greeted on the dock by dancers with drums and cymbals.
Kochi Greeting
Quite a few of our shipmates were on our panoramic tour of Kochi (formerly known as Cochin). Luckily the bus was air-conditioned because the day got progressively more hot, humid and smoggy. Unfortunately the bus also had very high steps to get on it and some people had a bit of trouble and needed help which was readily given. Our guide was southern Indian, darker skinned and, according to him, more tolerant of differences in peoples due to their long history of trade.
We drove past many scenes like this on roads crowded by tuk-tuks (a 3-wheeled local taxi), motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, buses, cars and pedestrians with haphazard traffic patterns (emphasis on the hazard, lol). Most of the men wore either trousers or dhotis, and the women saris or Punjab outfits.
Kochi Street Scene
We rode past Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, Catholic churches, finally stopping at St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in Indian, built in the early 1500’s.
St. Francis Church
It once held the remains of Vasco da Gama, buried in 1524 and them moved to Lisboa in 1538.
Not too far from the church were some of the ancient fishing nets, still in use today, that resemble those historically used in China and are an indication of trade between these countries.
Kochi
A group of fishermen demonstrated how they were used and invited those of us who wanted to to help them raise the net. They are cantilevered but still require about 5 men to lift it even when empty. Hanson had a good time pulling on one of the several ropes required to lift the huge net out of the water.
Since it was a touristy area we had lots of vendors—and our first beggars—all around but they were not quite as persistent as those in Indonesia. Back on the bus for a bit more tour of the city we saw some very nice sections but also lots of litter and poverty.
Kochi
We returned to the ship in time for a late lunch and did not go back on shore as we had an early all aboard at 4:30 p.m. Here is a panoramic of our view of the receding city on our sail away
- Kochi Sail Away
(remember to click on the image to see it full size)