December 18th

Yesterday, we readied and to breakfast we had pancakes and french toast. While we were eating the table filled up. It seats eight people – it was four couples. Everyone was quietly talking amongst themselves but looking at others. I finally broke the ice and started a “round robin” for everyone to say where they were from. First couple were from the U.K., and the other two couples were from India on holiday/vacation. this started the open conversation! Yeah. Just as we were finishing another lady came down – she had to sit off on a table by herself. We got up so she could join the group – another lady was with her, and came down the stairs as we were going up. We readied and went out to get steps in.

We retraced some steps up to the art exhibit we saw yesterday. We got the name of the shattered glass artist, and I updated that blog. Then we walked to Mahatma Gandhi Beach. We stumbled upon a “Slow Bike Race”. Fascinating, they were going as slow as they could without putting their feet down. We witnessed two heats. The motorbikes tried to go soo slow!! But what neat concept for a race!

After we were done watching, we saw a coconut stand and each had a fresh coconut water, straight out of the shell. The man selling the drinks, just cuts the top off and handed us the coconut after he put in a straw. It was so good and refreshing. We did not get very far and we saw a another stand selling fresh cut pineapple with a bit of spicy, salty, seasoning sprinkled on it. We bought one to split. The seller added more pineapple on top before we could take it. 🙂   That was so nice and soo good! Great lunch. We headed back to our place and did have a few nuts after we cooled off a bit. Time for siesta!

Around 430 pm, we left for dinner. We wanted fish and Jeff had researched a restaurant for some. It was Oceanos Restaurant. We both had filet of fish (unknown kind), but with different sauces. One was Bechamel Formaggi Fish Filet; the other – Pan-fried Fish Filet with a dill and ginger sauce. Both came with sides of rice and green beans carrots sauté. The two dishes were different, but both were so good! We each had a juice – mine was pineapple, Jeff's was mint lime.

We finished and now we were out walking to an event. It did drizzle a little on us, but not enough to get us wet. We arrived. We are back at St Francis CSI church. They had a special event (we just happened to be here – yeah!) – it's a Christmas Chorale Service. The program was Christmas songs (with at least 3 songs in their native language), from a great choir; scripture readings of birth of Jesus; a sermon from a local reverend, that is a Belfast trained minister; an English choir from the St Francis Church; and lastly a fantastic children's choir. This event was free but they did have a offertory with a collection bag passed. The service lasted 3 hours! It was longer than either of us expected. But we felt blessed to have been able to witness and participate with joyful singing!! When it finished, we were heading out and it was raining! And our luck was gone – no taxis or tuk-tuks in sight. So we walked briskly. We got about 3-4 blocks when a tuk-tuk saw us and we waved for a ride. He flipped a U, picked us up, and took us to our place. 

We dried off and connected with family and our church back home. Great day to celebrate our God!

Today, we awoke and finished connecting with family. Breakfast was french toast- me, and omelet Jeff. Today, around the table was the G.B. couple from yesterday; another couple from G.B. and the last couple from France. We all openly conversed today. Finished we packed our stuff, and checked out. The place kept our bags and we did our last walk about of Fort Kochi area. We had an arranged ride for 1230 pickup, but he called on our walk and cancelled since it was not a round trip!  And then a second one cancelled!   Hummm… so Jeff scrambled and found an Uber driver willing to take us. We loaded up and off we go to Alleppey/Alappuzha, India (I don't know why there are two names used, interchangeably, like Mumbai/Bombay! Questions???) It was a pleasant 1.5 hour drive… well, the car is air-conditioned, and the driver is cautious but good. The traffic; it is still scary to me.

Anyway, we arrived at our place, Venitia Homestay. We unloaded, Jeff paid our driver (with a good tip, but cheaper than the original scheduled taxi), and we were greeted by the family. They took our bags, showed us the room, and offered us a lime and chia seed juice! They are having major wiring done in another room, so they apologized, but said the work will be done by tonight. This has our room without a.c., so we went for a walk on the beach! Wow – it is a much better beach! We are here two weeks, so will definitely be here some! The sand is really art! It is a combination of regular sand and some black sand. The waves come in and swirl it all around into different patterns. Hardly anyone else is out here. The waves crash just right at the beach, so it's not really surfing friendly. We can see fishing boats, a couple boats on the beach, and a few off shore a ways. There are also little “rafts”, standing up end on the beach. We saw a man and a boy take off in one, and another man come in on one. These rafts are paddled. 

Anyway we saw a restaurant, Catamaran. We got a juice each – Jeff lime and me watermelon. We also got a sweet corn chicken soup and peri peri french fries. We finished and walked back to our homestay. We were greeted and directed to the upstairs balcony. The workers are still wiring, so our room is still without power/a.c. There is a ceiling fan on the balcony. I blogged, Jeff planned and read. The father offered us tea/coffee, we declined but asked for water. He gave us that and then brought us fried banana – it was actually light and very good.

 At seven pm, we were invited to our scheduled supper. It was lovely. We had two pieces of a spiced fried chicken; some curry of chicken; parotta/paratha (two spellings again??); noodles formed into a disc shape; fresh tomatoes from their garden; sliced apples; and masala tea. It was all so good. We had said little spice and she did a good job – we did tell her maybe little more next time. She smiled. The family, all four of them, are so nice and willing to help. As we finished they said, “Christmas carolers” would be coming by tonight, as in anytime. Wow and Yeah!! So we went up to the balcony… and a tuk-tuk arrived and then many people. Some teenagers and grown people dressed in costume. This was more than a caroling. Five or six teenage girls, in costume, came in the yard and saw us up on the balcony. They shouted, “Hi! Where are you from?” We could not hear/understand them, so we went down. The kids were super excited. A couple of boys had joined the girls by now. We introduced ourselves. They introduced themselves –  one was Teresa. I said that is my sister's name. She beamed and said really. It was great! Even some of the costumed adults had introduced themselves to us. By now, I think half of the town was in the front yard, I'm exaggerating, of course. But there were so many people. Obviously there was going to be a play or skit. A backdrop curtain was set up, lights and sound were being wired up! This was all right in the Homestays front yard!! The play commenced as a Santa Claus narrated/setting the scene, I think, they did not perform in English. Why would they? Jeff and I were the only foreigners. Anyway, first was the Three Wisemen seeing and following the star. Next, there was a very long scene of dialog between the Three Wisemen and Herod. Then a scene of Gabriel talking to Mary. Next, Joseph and Mary talking to each other. Then lastly the whole nativity scene with Mary holding a baby doll for Jesus.  There was dancing by the cast to music with Santa saying more. Then like that, it was done. Everyone clapped (there never was any singing).  The whole production was taken down/apart and loaded back up in tuk-tuks and a car, only to be repeated further down the road in someone else's yard. It was fantastic, whimsical, and fun!  

Now we went into our room and I finished blogging. Jeff read. What a welcome to Alleppey!!