---Kettuvallam

-- Motor Launch

-- Chinese Fishing

-- Society

-- Village Procession

-- Coir

-- Copra

-- Market

-- Kochi (Cochin)

-- Dance

-- Kovalam

-- Fish Dinner

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-- Copyright © Don Douglas
-- http://www.dondouglas.com

Kochi — or Cochin, as it was formerly known — is a city in Kerala, India whose age is measured in millenia. Long before the Christian era, it was an important gateway for trade with the West. It still is. The brightly lighted bootery is representative of the modern city — actually across the bay in Ernakulam. The ricksha man is reputed to have been the last one in Kochi and the elephant is a relatively uncommon sight in town.

As a typical Westerner I couldn’t resist the urge to photograph them (perhaps in an effort to make it seem as though the exotic past still pervades the city). Kochi does have some very old architecture. The oldest Christian church in India is located here. In common with other ports built around bays and islands, Kochi has a very good network of low-cost ferry routes. For a reasonable amount of money, the tourist office will arrange kettuvallam and powerboat tours.