Cochin, Kerala in southern India

Becky went there for a work retreat and stayed the weekend to check things out...on her India bucket list 

These huge trees are called raintrees by the locals and they are amazing. It's super hot and humid in Cochin and these trees provide so much shade (and apparently a rain after the rain from the leaves that cup the water)

Chinese fishing nets

Cochin is famous for the picturesque 'chinese fishing nets'. Below you can see them almost in action. They raise and lower them every 5-10 minutes although best season is during the monsoon.

Fish market

Where they auction the fish off from the boats

Fresh fish for sale right by the water

Local chai walla selling tea off the back of his motorcycle next to the fish markets

What city trip is complete without a stop at the main market?

So colorful, in every way...always

Packin' em in on the ferry

Me and my work colleague Michelle on the 5-minute ferry, coming back from our ayurvedic massage treatment. 

Kathakali dance

According to Wikipedia, Kathakali is a traditional Indian dance native to the southern state of Kerala. To perform it, artists deck out in elaborate costumes and colorful makeup to tell stories from Hindu epics and study for 12 years! 

They have a cool cultural center that does 1 hour performances every night, in which they start by explaining the elaborate facial movements they do as well as the hand movements (although a sign language of symbols to communicate, as there's no speaking) 

If you get there early, you can watch the actor putting on his make up

My groovy hotel

A visit to Jew Town

Cochin used to be home to a large Jewish population, who emigrated to southern India - with whom they had been long time traders - after the destruction of the 2nd Temple. India's Independence and Partition brought a lot of uncertainty and coincided roughly with the founding of Israel, so the majority of the population left for Israel in the late 40s. The population in Cochin has dwindled to 5, but it's a significant part of the cultural history of the area. 

House where Jewish families have lived for centuries

Outside the synagogue (no photos allowed inside). Inside there were really cool tiles on the floor and lots and lots of chandeliers and fans. 

Uzbekistan: It started with the market in Tashkent

Their famous non bread cooking in the oven

Wedding photos

Google will run the world

A conversation with a local at the outdoor coffee cart, all courtesy of Google Translate. They both spoke their own language and had a full conversation. Welcome to the modern global world...

One of my favorite stops was the handmade puppet shop - incredible!

  

The games men play...

Need I say more?