Prahba’s house

 On the way to the airport we stopped at Prahba’s house (Sajayan’s wife). Like his village every one came to look at the Westerner.

Ela Ecoland Nature Resort

A self-service resort where there is no room service, no tv, no internet just the quiet of nature.  Here is the "dining area" simple - but look at all the food they prepared for just me for lunch!  Needless to say I didn't eat dinner that night.

Kerala breakfast food

Puttu, or pittu, is a breakfast dish originating from the Indian state of Kerala. Puttu means "portioned" in Malayalam. It is made of steamed cylinders of ground rice layered with coconut. It is served with kadala kari - which is chickpea curry. Yum!

My Treehouse

 I stayed for two night up in this treehouse in a resort in Munnar - which is the mountainous tea plantation area.  Climbing up and down was a challenge, especially after it rained.  However, it was incredibly peaceful and well worth the climb. 

Tree inside the treehouse

Happy New Year - Fort Kochi style

Pappanji, which means grandfather in Portuguese, represents time. This tradition is rooted in Portuguese and Dutch traditions.    It was made of eco-friendly material and the effigy burns at midnight.
What was interesting was they counted down by minutes starting with 11:55.

On the way to the New Year's Eve festivities

 Decoration on interior top of an auto rickshaw.

Two of my lady friends in the ladies only part of the bus.  

On the way to the New Year's celebration

 One of the two busses needed to get to Fort Kochi for the New Year's celebration.  There is a ladies only section on the bus - right up front.  This man was horn happy (as is most of southern India's cars/busses/auto rickshaws).  I am also not sure how he was able to see out the front window with all of these pictures and garland. 

New Year's Eve

 Lights galore!  Throughout the area of Fort Kochi trees were lit.  Unfortunately the power went out and we were in darkness in this park. 

Looking through the Chinese Fishing Nets to the mainland with its lights

New Year's in Fort Kochi

Pappanji will go up in flames at midnight

Masks and devil horns are prevalent with the revelers

Mr. Sajayan's home

Prahba is grating coconut while her daughter sits on her lap. Vaiga loves her dress and the camera!

Pharmacy - village style

 One morning we took an auto rickshaw into the village center.  Each little shop specialized in only one thing.  Here is the pharmacy where they got some medicine for a cold. 
Everyone knows everyone and since Westerners are not often here I had a lot of stares and smiles. 

Vegetable and Fruit Shopping in the village

 Fruits and vegetables are sold in a separate store.  Below are Jackfruit seeds that are used in cooking. 

Grocery Store Shopping in the village

 You stand outside and order what you would like.  There are only dried goods at the grocery store. Milk is purchased from a local farmer who has a cow.
Who knew that rice could be so different!  The rice here is the size of orzo and not sticky at all like in Indonesia.

Rubber sheets from the local rubber plantations are brought to this center by the locals- then huge stacks of it is transported to a manufacturer. In the background are stacks of the rubber sheets. 

Shopping in the village

 Textiles and outfits for all! 

Munnar

Perhaps my favorite place of this trip.  Up in the mountains are thousands, and thousands of acres of tea plants.  The air is cool and clear and the natural beauty is spectacular.  
I won't bore you with all the pics I took of the landscape!  

Natural Beauty - Munnar

 The green of the tea plants, along with the mountains reminds me of parts of Ireland,

Christmas Lights of Kochi

Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum

Example of the intricate face painting

 Opened in the year 2009 as a non-profit organization, the museum showcases the rich heritage that Kerala exudes through its numerous art and dance forms. Artifacts that  like masks, sculptures, in wood, stone and bronze, costumes of traditional and ritual art forms, musical instruments, traditional jewelry, manuscripts of rare medicinal and astrological secrets, and Stone-Age utensils are all preserved in this museum.  It's three stories are packed with all of these wonderful and sometimes overwhelming artifacts. 

Elephant costumes for various festivals

Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum

 Traditional Kerala house The entrance to this marvelous structure is constructed from the remnants of a 16th century temple in Tamil Nadu and wooden carvings collected from across Kerala. The entrance door is decked with an attractive manichitratazhu (a traditional ornate door lock of Kerala). 

Chinese Fishing Nets in Kochi

Legend has it that the famous Chinese explorer, Zheng He, introduced the Chinese Fishing Nets to the fishermen in Kochi over 500 years ago.Over four fishermen operate one of these nets which are constructed of bamboo and teak poles.Certain teak poles have lights on them that are supposed to attract fish.