South India in 2018

I said goodbye to Calcutta in North India and embarked on a 45-hour train journey. Before this ride, I bought a novel in addition to a Chinese book which I bought from home, for feared of too much time on the
train. Yet I read only no more than 30 pages of the new novel and had no intention to read the latter any more. A Sleeping 'Ugly', I consider myself, was in a half 'coma' during night time. When the train was moving, it's swinging like a cradle which sent me to sleep like a baby.

I had taken three trains in 2AC This journey, I took 3AC . It's more lively than 2AC. Indians like to chat, eat or have a small 'party' during the journey.
Checked in a hotel in Cochin, I already set foot in south India. Portuguese came here few hundred years ago and left a legacy of their architecture. In Fort Cochin, an outlying island, most houses were built with mixed Indian-Portuguese style. One can stay here for a couple of days, doing nothing just sitting in a waterfront cafe with a cup of capuccino and a book.

The highlight of my trip in south India was a backwater crusie in an idyllic setting. In the morning, we travelled in palm-fringed lagoons. The owner of the house boat took us to the villages. We saw different spices like pepper, clove and nutmeg, and coffe as well. It's so interesting to have a chance to see rubber and coir making. In the afternoon we passed through narrow, shady canals by a small boat. One of the nights, I went to see the Kathakali which is literally means story play. The performance is a dramatised presentation. The performers, through skilful movement, gesture and expressions, dramatise the traits of the various characters in the play, while singers and
musicians narrate the story which mainly taken from Hindu mythology. In Kathakali, the make-up is very important. To get a character ready for the stage, a minimum time of one hour is required. Travelled in north India for over a month, I found it quite another world here in the south. I was able to see rice in my meals again. I also ate seafood since left home. Staying here for three nights was of course not enough. However, I was one week behind my schedule. I said goodbye to Cochin and took another night train to Goa.

After a Ayruvedic message and a siesta, I recovered from the night train.There are more than a dozen of beaches in Goa. Some, with luxury hotels and posh shops and restaurants, targeting at rich tourists; some, with relaxing ambience, targeting at long term backpackers. Ajuna, famous for its wednesday flea market and full-moon party, draws all types of tourists and travellers. Goa is a touristy place or not depending the beach you choose. But the sun set right on the horizon of the Arabian Sea is irresistable to all.

Christmas is around the corner. Prices here were increasing two to three folds. I got to move on to my next destination - Mumbai .

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