Day 13 OCTOBER 05 - Explore Cochin • Home-Hosted Dinner
Cochin After breakfast I took a short walk to investigate the local scene and mingle with the local people. I do not who was more curious me or them. .
Sudhakar took us to a centuries old Cochin Laundry. This used to be how everyone had their clothes cleaned. This may be the last laundry of its kind. The people at the laundry told us washing machines were putting them out of business. This is a good example of how machines are replacing manual labor. It also shows the caste system, regarless of what people will tell you, is still very much the norm in modern India. In the Sunday newspaper there is a classified section where parents listed “Looking for Brahman boy for Brahman giel. Must have good job and potential.” Etc.
Cochin Old Town 1 After India became independent in 1947, the state of Kerala was formed in 1956 by the unification of provinces Kochi, Malabar and Travancore. The Corporation of Kochi was formed in 1967 by the merger of the towns - Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many nearby villages. Growth in trade and commercialization has led to the rise of Kochi as the most important city in Kerala and one of the major cities on the west coast of India. Cochin Old Town 2
Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced the fishing nets to Cochin. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.
Cochin Flea Market This is a typical street market selling beads, bracelets and trinkets mostly for tourists. I am sure local people do not need any of this junk. What was interesting is the Dr. Green Medical Show see IND_xxx.jpg. This “doctor” was making potions using herbs and other strange ingredients. I did not understand anything he said and there were many locals watching him. Some purchased potions others where just lookers.
Indian Heritage This shop in Old Town had India arts of high quality. Like everywhere else you can bargain for a good/better price. While the prices are higher these shops offer products of a higher quality. Like everywhere else you get what you bargain for.
- Southern India
Southern India Photo Page 13