Monday 19th January - Kochi

Kochi has everything that one has come to expect of an Indian city. Traffic jams, a part built metro system and pavements that have been turned into obstacle courses by uncaring utility providers. The Abad Plaza is unphased by our 10 a.m. check in and has a fourth floor room ready.  Three hours sleep gets first priority followed  by sorting out an Indian SIM card for D's phone. The hotel porter suggests crossing the street outside the hotel and turning right. The sun is pretty hot although more hazy than bright.  After about twenty minutes in the heat D decides that this is a bust, recrosses the street and heads back in the opposite direction. 

150 metres beyond our hotel isa mobile phone outlet and a man who knows just what to do. In exchange for photocopies of passport and visa and a single passport mugshot he produces a form requiring several signatures, and an Airtel Sim which he cuts down to size. There isa brief discussion about which call and data plan is required before he requests Rs 700 and pronounces that the card would be active tomorrow. Let's see.

By now R has managed to wake up so it is time for a light snack at the hotel's coffee shop. The advert for this promised 'Short Eats' and we makerapid work of a plate of onion pakoras and a pair of veg cutlets. We had a little shopping to do and a short walk found us in a nearby air conditioned shopping mall. R has forgotten her flip flops so we take a turn through the 'Big Bazaar' supermarket. 

After an entertaining stroll through the kitchenware department we head upstairs to clothing. A pair of plastic sandals of suitable dimensions is located and tried on. These are deemed suitable but before purchase R decides that a look at the Ladies Bottomwear is required.  This results in her wardrobe being enhanced with a snazzy bue and gold set of palazzo pants. D is most conerned about this eary onset retail fever. All of this stuff has to be carried. 

Before leaving home we had worried a little about the possibility of dying of thirst in Kerala as the State Government has recently had an anti-booze drive and supposedly closed down all liquor outlets except for 5 star hotels and State run off licences. As we strolled out in search of supper we noticed a tavern adjacent to a hotel and thought that we would give it a go. Dark, male dominated and rather battered at the edges best describes the place. All Bar One it was not. The service was OK and the Kingfishers were cold so we were perfectly happy.

As it is Monday we settle for just the one and head out in search of Frys Village, a Lonely Planet recommendation for its Keralan cusine. We find it around the next corner and, as almost the only customers, we had no difficulty getting a table. The highly recommended roast crab was unavailable along with a couple of other items so we settled for King fish fry and chicken fry with Vegetable Pilav rice. The pilav was great and the fish and chicken had been fried almost until crunchy but it was surprisingly tasty. The portions were small enough to allow D to have a buttersctch ice cream to follow.

And so to bed.