Traveling Day 3: Kochi

I arrived in Kochi yesterday, and will be staying here another two nights. It is pretty nice here, though the weather has been overcast and slightly rainy. I didn't do much today other than walk around the town and see a few of the sights. There are these enormous chinese fishing nets, which are lowered into the water. I got to walk out on one and talk some pictures (for a price, of course). Last night I had dinner at this really good restaurant, and got to talking to the waiter. Long story short, I went back earlier today and the two of us went to the fish market together (a short walk) and we picked out two small lobsters which they will cook for me tonight. I also went to "Jew Town" which is an area that used to have a thriving Jewish population, but now only has like seven Jewish families. Tomorrow, I will go on a day-long backwater trip on a traditional keralan boat and after that I am going to see some live kathakali, which is the traditional keralan theater/dance.

I am already sick of all the touristy stuff. I am avoiding all the shops because they are obviously just handicrafts geared towards tourists. I was talking to the manager of the inn I am staying at, who said that three years ago, some Kashmiris came here and opened up a ton of shops, which have just ruined the charm of the town, because the people who run the shops hound you relentlessly. You can't go anywhere without people trying to get you to go into their shop. "Hello friend! How are you? Would you like to look in my shop? Just one look." It's really annoying. Honestly, I think it's that way at all the tourist destinations here, though.

Anyway, on Friday I will head to Amritapuri for one night and stay at an ashram, then head down to the beach town of Varkala for a few days, then the beach town of Kovalam for a few days. There is a lot more that I could do, like going to the wildlife sanctuary, but I think I'd rather just chill on the beach for a bit, read some books, and then head back to Kanchipuram a few days earlier than I originally planned to spend some more time with the kids.