Kochi Kochi Koo

What an incredible day in !ndia.... 

Up early again today and straight up to the pointy bit to see our sail in to Cochin or Kochi ....

The first thing you notice way before you can even sea land is the Algae floating around in the ocean.... not produced by the squalor of Kochi but by the water ballast brought in by foreign ships.  On to the ship popped the pilot and we were off down the river to berth at the port.

Sailing down the river gave one of the best vantage points for photographing the famous Chinese nets.  Unfortunately Garry missed it as his battery died just as we approached.  He made a mad dash downstairs but we were well and truly pass by the time he got back... not to worry cause we passed them on the way back out again...

Here in Kochi I had booked a private tour for 14 of us with Cochin Magic.  The tour included a cruise on the Allepey Backwaters and tour of the Fort Kochi area..  Our tour had to be shortened because of  our change of schedule (our arrival was 2hrs later) but we did manage the key sights...

As our tour company was able to get port clearance,  as soon as we disembarked they were there with a sign letting us know where to gather.  Then on to an air conditioned 15 seater bus and off we went for our 90min drive to Allepey or Allepoura as it is known in India..

Driving is another experience not to be missed when in India.... Road rules, what can I say.... If you want to pass someone just toot them and they should move over... If over taking, just move out into the lane of oncoming traffic and if you can’t get back into your lane don’t worry.... cause the oncoming car will veer around you....  If you are on a motorbike stick to the shoulder and hope that no one hits you... I am sure our driver drove for the whole 90 minutes without hitting the brakes once.

George our tour guide was terrific giving us lots of information and always asking if all was ok.... nothing was a bother..

Once we arrived at Allepey we were shown what are rice paddies during the summer but become fishing rivers when flooded in the wet .  So wet that we had to drive through 1 -2 feet of water to get to thw wharf where the boat was.

Spotting these very flash looking house boats I thought WOW, until we were ushered onto this little fishing type boat that consisted of a skinny aisle with a bench seat down each side... As we all snuggled in our first thought was “how are we going to eat lunch”......  All the worry was alleviated when we realised this smaller boat was only to transport us to the much larger Indian Style house boat...

These house boats are hired out like floating bed and breakfast’s.. at the front of the boat there is a large open but covered area for you to sit and enjoy the views and also where we enjoyed our Kerala style Indian lunch. Further down the boat there were 2 bedrooms with ensuite (yay European toilets ) and right down the  back was the kitchen where the meals are prepared.  These are popular for honeymooners... Check in is 12 noon you enjoy a river cruise along with a candle lit dinner and overnight stay.... Very private just you and the 4 staff that man the boat....LOL

It was amazing to sail down these water ways that were built by the Portgeguese as artificial irrigation for the rice paddies... The locals decided that they would take advantage of these exclusive water front properties which are guaranteed to flood at least once a year to build their homes... Such a contrast when you see the poorest of shanties, next door by their standards, a palatial house.  They are called the backwaters cause at high tide the water flows in from the ocean and flows back again at low tide.

You just couldn’t help but gaze at the woman standing in waterway washing their clothes, dishes and themselves all at the same time.  Then there were the screen off areas in the water where you just knew that was probably where they went to the toilet.

It was then back onto the bus for our trip back into the port via the fort area.... our visit was only fleeting as we had to get back to the ship by the deadline of 5.30pm, but we really wanted to get a close up of those Chinese nets...

You know that you are cutting it close when man in the white uniform is waving you to hurry on and they pick up all the signs and other paraphernalia and follow you back on board.... but we didn’t win last prize as there was still 10 people missing after us...

All in all it was just the best day......

Tip for 2012 World Cruisers : Cochin Magic is a great company to use for a private tour, this tour only cost us around $70 each for 14 people and something similar with Princess was well over $100 each.

I had actually had booked our Mumbai Magic tour first and Deepa came back to me with her Cochin Tours.  She also has other companies in other Indian ports too.  She is highly recommended on the Cruise Critic Boards which is why we picked her to start with...

You can contact her at deepa@mumbaimagic.com

Oh while I remember DO NOT use the money changers on Langkawi pier..... they rip you off good and proper..  Having about 160 ringgits (approx $50 ) left i thought I would change them over to Rupee.... Everything is done in such a hurry cause of the crowd that it wasn’t till we got back to the cabin and counted the rupee that I realise they had given me the equivalent to about $24......  I asked around and once the other did the sums they realised they had been ripped off too....

Garry’s world cruise Bread Roll Count so far - 56

Joanne’s  Lobster count – 2