I was able to escape the madness that was Mumbai (Bombay)!
I have now arrived in Kochi (Cochin).
Much like Hip Hop dancers, Indian cities have all been using two names since 1996. It’s a bit confusing.
It is tropical and warm here, and based on first impressions, significantly more relaxed than the North.
There are tourists everywhere: I have seen more white people in the past 2 hours than I had in the past 2 weeks.
I have also received bites from no less that 15 mosquito-eater-sized mosquitoes (including four bites on my lower back, a real feat considering I’m wearing an ankle-length dress with long sleeves). I’m trying to stay positive – the itch from the bug bites will help remind me to take my daily malaria pills.
It took an hour to get to my hotel from the airport. There was pavement the whole way, not one cow blocking traffic in the street, and not one small child holding a baby knocking on my window asking me for money for food.
I went against all practical advice and accepted a free ride from a middle-aged man I met on the airplane (he had a driver with an Audi waiting for him. He told me he had watched Pulp Fiction 10 times, but when I mentioned the Super Bowl, he had NO idea what it was. I figured I was safe).
I may or may not have claimed to be Canadian, and I may or may not have said that i was engaged, but hey, little white lies.
When we arrived at the ferry terminal, he asked his driver to go inside the terminal with me. The driver waited in line for 40 minutes to buy my ferry ticket for me. When I tried to pay the driver for my ferry ticket and tip him for his help, the driver wouldn’t take the money.
Upon docking, I paid 50 rupees (about $0.80) for a tuk-tuk to my hotel. It was about 30 rupees more than the 2km drive should have cost, but even I have to draw the negotiating line somewhere.
Arrived at my hotel, had a banana shake and spicy fried prawns.
Life is good.
