Kerala Kathakali Centre

In the process, he laid on the stage for an hour to have this makeup applied

Final Costume from above - he is an old monkey

Kathakali emerged as an individual style of dance-drama into a "people's theatre" from the traditional dances of the past. The plays were performed by the Rajah's own company of actors, not only in temples and courts, but from village to village and house to house.

Kathakali Centre

a traditional arts center showing masked Kathakali dance shows. We were able to witness the putting on of the makeup prior to the performance.  It took each actor about an hour to create the "look". Here is one such transformation.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basillica

 Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica at Fort Kochi is one of the eight Basilicas in Kerala.It was built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and João Gomes Ferreira  commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi

 This is an outside statue in its own building dedicated to the Blessed Mother. 

I found the confessional quite interesting, and not very private- except for the fact I can not understand Malayalam. 

Ayurvedic Massage

I decided to try an ayurvedic massage at one of the hotels I was staying at. This 5,000-year-old Indian healing method  utilizes medicated herbal oil to bring harmony to the mind, body, and spirit. That may be true, but my body was completely doused in oils. The treatment I received began with ayurvedic practitioner Shaiya having me remove all clothing and wearing nothing but those lovely paper panties. Sitting on a small wooden bench, she first gave me a pizhichil. which is a "dusting" of a cloth dipped herbal oils dip all over my body.  Next she poured warm oil on my head and proceeded to chant, and gave me a wonderful head massage.  She followed that up with a marma abhyanga, a massage with warm organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic sesame oil, and various other oils that is supposed to leave the skin revitalized. I just felt like a greased pig and could not wash the oil out of my hair or off my body for two days. 

St Francis Church Kochi

St. Francis Church is believed to be one of the oldest churches in India, which was made by the Portuguese.

St. Francis Church - Kochi

 Inside St. Francis Church.... It's a landmark where the body of late legendary explorer Vasco da Gama was buried. According to the legend, Vasco da Gama who was the first European to discover a route in India last breathed at this place in the year 1524. It was his third visit to this church and his body was buried here itself. It is said that his remains were shipped to Lisbon after 14 years, but the gravestone is still seen in this church.

No nativity scene - rather this snowman made from paper cups