Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is a city on a bay. Ok - as far as I can tell - it's not actually a bay, but a lake. Lake Vembanad on the Lakshadweep Sea on the Arabian Sea. But - for fun and my better understanding - let's say it's on a bay.

The bay is nice, but - again as far as I can tell - it has no cooling effect on the city. It's hot. Like, sweat though you only breath and blink, wake up sticky, thrice a day showering hot. As far as I can tell, the bay is also the sleazy motel of a whole continent of mosquitos. In my hotel room they mass around my mosquito net and quail before me as I rampage to the shower leaving a trail of bloody carnage in my wake.

Outside, the city is beautiful in a crumpling testament of past Dutch influence. Yesterday, I took the ferry that connects the varying parts of town. Fort Kochi is the historic district. Where decaying buildings surround narrow goat-filled streets. Men operating immense Chinese fishing nets line the waterfront. Their graceful counterbalanced rising and falling is watched by ice cream licking tourist - including myself.

I leave tomorrow - February 24th - and will travel via Banglaore to Hampi. The track will take two train treks and end in a - hopefully - short bus trip. Wish me luck!