Cochin!

We went down to Cochin in Kerala with our friends Neil and Heather on Saturday. We spent one night in the Taj hotel, then on the Sunday morning we had organized to go around the backwaters on a houseboat for a day and one night. 

The boat was really nice, the surroundings were lovely but the staff on the boat was not great! We had to ask for  everything! Even water! We had read when we booked the boat that we would get lots of lovely, great food, snacks etc, but we first of all had to ask for lunch, when it got there it was ok but then we didn't get anything else until dinner at 8 where we had to pay for our won fish and prawns and there where only potatoes and watered down lentils for vegetarians ( me ) to eat!  very disappointing!

In the morning at 3 am, me and Stephen got woken up by a rooster who sang every 10 seconds! until 4 when the boats outside started up very noisily, we finally got some sleep at 5.30 and then the staff on the boat started to be very load and noisy in the kitchen at 6, they where shouting at each other and banging around , so we got up and waited for breakfast..... a few cold slices of toast and an omelette!

All of us gave them a very bad reviews and no tip.

And we are hoping to get some money back from the agency who recommended them and made the booking! 

We then stayed a day at the Le Meridian by the pool, that was great!

Anyhow it was nice to have friends here and we showed them Delhi! What we normally do in a month we did in one day! so much to see and do! 

We ended last night (their last evening) with lovely food and laughing at our pictures!

Taj hotel first night.

Neil and Stephen chilling out at our room.

Rainbow, looking back at the reception of the hotel.

Sunset.

Huuuuge bat.

This is a similar boat to the one we where in.

All of us on the boat.

Heather got dinner.

Me on the boat.(when standing still)

Walking around Cochin.

In the pool the last day in Le Meridian

The boys playing around.

At a mosque in Delhi, a small boy being funny running around .

When we entered we had to cover up.

Puppies!!!

Humayums tomb

Too much sun?

Spice market , Old Delhi.

More Pictures from the last week!

my new necklace that we bartered hard to get !

Stephen and his "wildlife"

well captures Stephen! 

A statue out at sea where the three seas meet. 

Indian girl.

Kerala!

We had some time off work as it was Diwali here last week, so me, Stephen, his mum and dad flew down to Kovalam in Kerala for five days.
Kovalam is a town next to the beach and very pretty. Although it is full of rubbish along all the roads but when you get to the beach it is all nice again.
It took us about 4 hours to fly there, we had to make one stop and pick up / let people get off. It was easy enough.

The first evening was the evening when they celebrate Diwali, and we did email them and asked if they had anything special planned and they said no. When we got there they said they had planed fireworks on the beach and we must come. That is India for you!
So me and Stephen dressed up in our finest Indian outfits (the only ones we have ) and surprised his parents as they haven't seen us in them. I had to ask one of the ladies who worked there to do it up properly for me as I still have no idea!
We had a lovely fresh fish meal down at the beach and lots of people came up to us telling us how good we looked.

On the Friday we went on a tour down to the most southern part of India where three seas meet. We were supposed to take a boat over to some statues in the sea but it was too rough to do it. So we went to see some temples and did some shopping!
The rest of the week we just relaxed, had a jacuzzi all to our self and enjoyed life!


It rained most afternoons so that gave us a reason for afternoon sleeps!

It was a great long weekend and I can't wait to go back next week with Neil and Heather who is visiting us from tonight. Stephens parents are now away for a week starting in Agra and wont come back until our friends have gone!

Woho Holidays!

They have got some fresh fish from the sea!

Guys pulling in big nets full of fish, they do it 3 times a day. 

Here they are with the catch.

Getting dressed for Diwali!

The most southern point where 3 seas meet, also very windy!

They have very colourful houses!

Temple.

Spot the white man!

Stephen being cheeky!

We had a class how to make Mocktails.

Don't think he did it right:)

The result! ( and some added alcohol )