Mark's Kochi, part two

September 20, 2017 Wednesday Kochi

Heading back to the hotel.






St Francis Church





These type of plaques are common in Southern India.  At least they seemed that way to us



The alter area









The Chinese Fishing Nets

Information bit:
In India, Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala) are fishing nets that are fixed land installations for fishing. While commonly known as "Chinese fishing nets" in India, the more formal name for such nets is "shore operated lift nets" Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20 m or more across. Each structure is at least 10 m high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen. While such nets are used throughout coastal southern China and Indochina, in India they are mostly found in the Indian cities of Kochi and Kollam, where they have become a tourist attraction. The Indian common name arises because they are unusual in India and different from usual fishing nets in India.
Chinese fishing net at Kollam
The system is sufficiently balanced that the weight of a man walking along the main beam is sufficient to cause the net to descend into the sea. The net is left for a short time, possibly just a few minutes, before it is raised by pulling on ropes. The catch is usually modest: a few fish and crustaceans, which may be sold to passers-by within minutes.
Rocks, each 30 cm or so in diameter, are suspended from ropes of different lengths. As the net is raised, some of the rocks one-by-one come to rest on a platform thereby keeping everything in balance.
Each installation has a limited operating depth. Consequently, an individual net cannot be continually operated in tidal waters. Different installations will be operated depending on the state of the tide.
The nets may have been introduced by the Chinese explorer Zheng He.
The Chinese fishing nets have become a very popular tourist attraction. Their size and elegant construction is photogenic and the slow rhythm of their operation is quite hypnotic. In addition, catches can be purchased individually and need be taken only a short distance to a street entrepreneur who will cook it.



street goats








some of the catch

Mom cat and a kitten!!

he is so cute!




Advertising of alcohol is illegal in India. This is a beer brand, but on the bottom is says Premium bottled water.  Technically they are not advertising beer, just water, with the same name and label.






Th actors putting on their make up

He will be the prince

The eyes!





The prince looks so regal


She started out nagging him @



She is not happy with the Prince. It is taking way too long to drag this prince way

The prince knows what is going on!

Cooking lesson and demonstration



I was served okra. I chose not to eat it. I  have not liked okra for a long time. Our hostess  told me to try it as I had never eater her okra before.  It was still okra.

Back at our Trident hotel, we left a few things to get laundered before we left on the backwaters tour. 

It came back looking like that. Mark thought it was great!

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two year

 Keeping this alive for the moment