Day 17: Sun 26 Nov 17 - Kochi

25 to 32 deg, 55% humidity, fine and hazy.

Had a wander around town before brekky on the rooftop at 8:30am, gentleman’s hours. Kochi merchants began trading in spices such as black pepper and cardamom with the Arabs, Dutch, Phoenicians, Portuguese, and Chinese more than 600 years ago. This helped Kochi to prosper and to become the gateway to old India. It was from Kochi that the colonization of India started. Portugal was first to establish its base in Kochi, followed by the Dutch and English. The Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1814, compelled the Dutch to hand over Kochi to the British in exchange for Bangka Island in Indonesia. The British managed to establish their influence over Kochi, limiting their direct administration to a small enclave of Fort Kochi and British Ernakulam with their capital at Bolgatty Island.

The foundations of modern Kochi city started when Sir Robert Bristow, a senior Royal Navy Engineer felt the need of a modern large port after the opening of Suez Canal. This made creation of the largest man-made island of the country, the Willingdon Island to house new Kochi Port.

With such a colourful history it’s no wonder that today’s Kochi has a great diversity of architecture and culture, however with a very Indian flavour.

Lunch was back at the XL bar with Bob and Phil and we all had the squid and prawn local specialty. Delicious. 3pm was a meeting with Mike and the team to settle our accounts. As a non-drinker I got off very lightly.

Bob, Phil, Ken and I decided on a non-curry dinner, pizza and it was great.

Some buildings have a very British style

Can't work out why they just leave rubbish everywhere

Playful pups

One soccer and four cricket matches taking place at the same time on the one small oval

Many local churches and Christian monuments

Sata Cruz Basilica

Street art

The 'Chinese" nets take the tiniest of fish

Kerala Cultural Centre



One of the many nice cafes in Kochi

Inside the Basilica

Colourful entrance to a local house

A very old Dutch graveyard

A Christian Christmas parade

Plenty of fresh spices on offer around the town

Another nice cafe; had a banana lassi - a yoghurt-based drink

Art in the cafe

Dinner - seafood pizza - hit the spot






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