Cochin is a really nice place, in south-west India, just on the shore of the Arabian see. Cochin is special for Jews as a large Jewish community used to live here. After most of the Jews immigrated to Israel, their number was reduced dramatically and currently only 4 Jewish families live here. However, it is a most livingly place in Cochin and very touristic since all the area around the synagouge is full off handicrafts shops. The quarter of the Jews has the funny name of 'Jewtown'. The synagouge is a very touristic place, very crowded and it is really good that at least when I travel abroad I pay a visit to a synagouge. Kerela state is famous of the Katakali dance. The dancers / actors use a lots of make-up (it takes about 1 hour to do the make-up) and very colourful customs. It takes about 6 years to become a Katakali dancer. Their specality is in moving the eye balls and face mussels instead of talking. Also, there is a singer that sings the story and drumms players. It is a very unique and special dance (also becomes boring after a while). Most of the dancers
Day's catchare men but recently, a few women entered to this area as well. Most of Kerela people are Christian so in every guest house the face of Jesus chirst looks at you. In my guest house, Shiva (an Hindu god) is looking at me as well, this is just to be on the safe side. With Jesus and Shiva I feel much more secure. Most of the guest houses here are actually 'home stay', Currently, I hang out with June, an American lady and Orna, an Israeli lady. June is around 60 years old, a very special lady, one of those enviromental people, you know, does not have a cellular phone, vegeterian, etc. She was living in India for about 10 years while working for an enviromental organization. Orna is now waiting for Amma, the 'hugging guru', who is a woman guru that huggs people, that is her specality. Maybe she is giving strength to people by her hug. Anyhow, she is currently in a hugging tour in USA and should come back soon. Orna is saying that this guru lady cured many people by her hug. The 3 of us normally eat at Mrs Ann Harris who is a
Day's catchvery strict Christian widow. She hosts people at her home's dinning room and cooks a delicous food, though sometimes it arrives cold. Her husband was working in one of the bay countries (i.e, Kuwait, The Ammirates, etc), as many Kerela people do, and died just recently by a work accident so one of the reasons that we eat at her place is pity. There are great fish here and a lot of variety so I eat a big fish per day. Just by the Chinese nets (see picture), by the shore, there are many fish stalls, selling the day catch. One of the methods of eating here a fish is buy a fish (and of course, burgain for it) and then give it to a retaurant so the cooker will cook it for you. It feels a bit strange to burgain for food as well but this is the way it goes. I love the fishing scenary over here. All day, the fish boats keep arriving from the sea, packed with all kinds of fish, prawns, octopuses, etc. As soon as the boats arrive, the fish are sold by auction. I have never imagined that fish can be sold by
Day's catchauction as well. I allways thought only jewlery, paitings, etc. And of course that this celebration cannot be perfect without the many crows joining to it. Few days ago, we have been to a great festival near by that consisted of 15 decorated elephants procession escorted with music (drums, fluets, trumpets, etc) and people, dancing and singing. There are also Katakali dancing and music performances. The celebrating people are very enthusestic (not by beer, nor by drugs...) and very very happy. 90% of them are man, of course. The festival lasts for 9 days and nights, 24 hours and is located at a temple. The 15 elephants came from 15 temples. Many people sleep there on the floor, after they are so tired by the last activities. The Indians are used to sleep everywhere and are not bothered by any noise. Yesterdy, Krishna, a guy who is working in my guest house, invited me to a romantic dinner. I.e, he bought some take away dishes (using my money) and we have eaten in the guest house. He was in duty. When he went to buy the food, I have replaced him. When I have conversations with Indian guys, I like
Preparing netsto bring up the subject of the Indian women situtaion and rights (dowry, sati, living at the in-laws house, hard work, etc) and to hear their opinion. Their opinion is normally that everything is OK, no problem the women are happy and that this is tradition in India. I did the same with Krishna. His opinion was, unsuprisngly, the same as all other men. I am sure that he did not like this conversation that once in while became too bitter. He, of course, wanted to navigate the conversation so that eventually he would screw me. As he confessed, he had already a sexual exprience with a Dutch lady. He, of course, does not have to be a virgin on his wedding day. But he wife should. No equality. He also tried to convience me to travel with him to Munnar for the weekend. As I already have planned to do this with Orna and as I did not want that he will have the impression that all foriegn women are easy to get - I refused.
Day's catchare men but recently, a few women entered to this area as well. Most of Kerela people are Christian so in every guest house the face of Jesus chirst looks at you. In my guest house, Shiva (an Hindu god) is looking at me as well, this is just to be on the safe side. With Jesus and Shiva I feel much more secure. Most of the guest houses here are actually 'home stay', Currently, I hang out with June, an American lady and Orna, an Israeli lady. June is around 60 years old, a very special lady, one of those enviromental people, you know, does not have a cellular phone, vegeterian, etc. She was living in India for about 10 years while working for an enviromental organization. Orna is now waiting for Amma, the 'hugging guru', who is a woman guru that huggs people, that is her specality. Maybe she is giving strength to people by her hug. Anyhow, she is currently in a hugging tour in USA and should come back soon. Orna is saying that this guru lady cured many people by her hug. The 3 of us normally eat at Mrs Ann Harris who is a
Day's catchvery strict Christian widow. She hosts people at her home's dinning room and cooks a delicous food, though sometimes it arrives cold. Her husband was working in one of the bay countries (i.e, Kuwait, The Ammirates, etc), as many Kerela people do, and died just recently by a work accident so one of the reasons that we eat at her place is pity. There are great fish here and a lot of variety so I eat a big fish per day. Just by the Chinese nets (see picture), by the shore, there are many fish stalls, selling the day catch. One of the methods of eating here a fish is buy a fish (and of course, burgain for it) and then give it to a retaurant so the cooker will cook it for you. It feels a bit strange to burgain for food as well but this is the way it goes. I love the fishing scenary over here. All day, the fish boats keep arriving from the sea, packed with all kinds of fish, prawns, octopuses, etc. As soon as the boats arrive, the fish are sold by auction. I have never imagined that fish can be sold by
Day's catchauction as well. I allways thought only jewlery, paitings, etc. And of course that this celebration cannot be perfect without the many crows joining to it. Few days ago, we have been to a great festival near by that consisted of 15 decorated elephants procession escorted with music (drums, fluets, trumpets, etc) and people, dancing and singing. There are also Katakali dancing and music performances. The celebrating people are very enthusestic (not by beer, nor by drugs...) and very very happy. 90% of them are man, of course. The festival lasts for 9 days and nights, 24 hours and is located at a temple. The 15 elephants came from 15 temples. Many people sleep there on the floor, after they are so tired by the last activities. The Indians are used to sleep everywhere and are not bothered by any noise. Yesterdy, Krishna, a guy who is working in my guest house, invited me to a romantic dinner. I.e, he bought some take away dishes (using my money) and we have eaten in the guest house. He was in duty. When he went to buy the food, I have replaced him. When I have conversations with Indian guys, I like
Preparing netsto bring up the subject of the Indian women situtaion and rights (dowry, sati, living at the in-laws house, hard work, etc) and to hear their opinion. Their opinion is normally that everything is OK, no problem the women are happy and that this is tradition in India. I did the same with Krishna. His opinion was, unsuprisngly, the same as all other men. I am sure that he did not like this conversation that once in while became too bitter. He, of course, wanted to navigate the conversation so that eventually he would screw me. As he confessed, he had already a sexual exprience with a Dutch lady. He, of course, does not have to be a virgin on his wedding day. But he wife should. No equality. He also tried to convience me to travel with him to Munnar for the weekend. As I already have planned to do this with Orna and as I did not want that he will have the impression that all foriegn women are easy to get - I refused.
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