Hello from USA

MEJ · Oct 6th, 2004, 05:19

Hi, my name is Mike, 27, from Missouri... Getting ready to leave for my first trip to India on somewhat short notice. I'm leaving oct 15 for Kochi in Kerala.

I will be there for three months working at an office there of ours. I've been researching Kerala, and it looks like a beautiful place... can't wait to get there.

I'll be working long hours at first, but eventually I plan on doing a bit of sight seeing and traveling.

Was wondering if I would run into many travelers from Kochi. I have appreciated all the info I have found on indiamike and would appreciate any tips about staying in India for 3 months, or about Kochi.

SitaParityaga · Oct 6th, 2004, 07:06

MEJ,

I spent a week in Kochi last January. It is definately on the tourist path, so you will be running into alot of other travellers.

As you've probably already seen in your research, Kochi is spread out among a few islands, a peninsula, and the mainland. I stayed in both Ernakulum and Fort Cochin areas. Fort Cochin is a smaller area, and therefore seems to have more tourists. I greatly enjoyed both places though. People are very friendly. I was only "touted" once in the whole time I was there.

Loved watching the ships come into the harbor in the early evening in Fort Cochin. For rps 400 a person, you can join a group to go out and look at the dolphins, or sit at any one of the small restaurants on the shore and watch them for free. There are many Kathakali dance places in the area, but the one in Fort Cochin is done by recent dance school graduates, and was absolutely fascinating.

Get some shirts made for yourself at "Thomas Tailors", a tiny shop in Fort Cochin on (or just off of) the main street, Princess St. These guys are great. My husband had many shirts made, loves them all, and 10 months later, they've held up better than many we've bought at home. Ask the tailor shop guys to measure you up and tell you how much cloth to buy...then they will direct you to one of their buddies cloth shops ( a short autorickshaw trip away).

You will find lots to do and see in this area, and likely will meet lots of people to sightsee with. I'm envious!

MEJ · Oct 6th, 2004, 21:04

Edsita,

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you had a great time there. I am especially glad to get the info on the tailors. I'm 6'5 so I was a concerned about being able to find clothing that fits me.

As I will be there over Christmas I am planning on sending gifts from Kochi back to the states. Any ideas on the coolest things / best bargains to get there that people here in the US would like?

SitaParityaga · Oct 7th, 2004, 07:36

Kochi has lots of wonderful shops. The ones in Fort Cochin are more touristy, and therefore a bit more expensive, but still nice items people at home will love.

Things I brought back that everyone loved:

Whole peppercorns: black, white and green. It makes a real difference to use fresh spices, so people who like to cook will appeciate them and taste the difference. You will be arriving at pepper harvest time too. I also bought cardamon and cloves. Look around the spice market in Fort Cochin. Cloves are best when they're black, not brown. (they turn brown when they've been sitting on the ground)

Ayurvedic products are a hit. The pharmacy on Princess street carries many wonderful things. People loved this ayurvedic "talcum" powder I found....its not made of talc, its made of ground up sandlewood, basil, and alot more. Smells heavenly and lasts all day. Great for people living in places with humid summers. They also have a line of other hair care products that were all very good.

In Ernakulum, there are lots of stores selling various cloth products. Being an old hippy girl, I went nuts over the block printed Indian "sheets" that I used to hang on my walls, make dresses out of, etc. I brought back about 20 of them. They cost from rps 80 to 200. The people working in the store looked at me in amazement. OK, so I'm still stuck in time!

I also bought tons of these great dish towels. You will not find a better dish cloth on this planet than the ones from India. Don't come home without them!

"Antique" things in the old market store near Jew Town. I didn't care much about the authenticity of the objects, because they were so interesting. I regret not hauling back some cow masks I saw there, oh well. You can spend many pleasurable hours wandering around in these dusty stores. Bargaining is a must.

Silk scaves were also a deal: both in Ernakulum and Fort Cochin.

You better bring a big supply of underwear, my friend, because you won't be finding any there. Same goes with pants and shoes. You can have pants made for yourself, same as shirts, but I think the shirts are a better deal.

May-be others checking in on this post can add to the shopping item list of all their favorite stuff from Kerala....

Ruprecht · Oct 7th, 2004, 22:50

Hi Mike!

Enjoy yourself in Kochi. One thing - can't you leave two weeks or so later, and get a vote in for Ralph Nader?

Oct 6th, 2004, 05:19	#1
MEJ Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St Louis, MO, USA Posts: 23	Hello from USA Hi, my name is Mike, 27, from Missouri... Getting ready to leave for my first trip to India on somewhat short notice. I'm leaving oct 15 for Kochi in Kerala. I will be there for three months working at an office there of ours. I've been researching Kerala, and it looks like a beautiful place... can't wait to get there. I'll be working long hours at first, but eventually I plan on doing a bit of sight seeing and traveling. Was wondering if I would run into many travelers from Kochi. I have appreciated all the info I have found on indiamike and would appreciate any tips about staying in India for 3 months, or about Kochi.

Oct 6th, 2004, 07:06	#2
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 903	Lucky You! MEJ, I spent a week in Kochi last January. It is definately on the tourist path, so you will be running into alot of other travellers. As you've probably already seen in your research, Kochi is spread out among a few islands, a peninsula, and the mainland. I stayed in both Ernakulum and Fort Cochin areas. Fort Cochin is a smaller area, and therefore seems to have more tourists. I greatly enjoyed both places though. People are very friendly. I was only "touted" once in the whole time I was there. Loved watching the ships come into the harbor in the early evening in Fort Cochin. For rps 400 a person, you can join a group to go out and look at the dolphins, or sit at any one of the small restaurants on the shore and watch them for free. There are many Kathakali dance places in the area, but the one in Fort Cochin is done by recent dance school graduates, and was absolutely fascinating. Get some shirts made for yourself at "Thomas Tailors", a tiny shop in Fort Cochin on (or just off of) the main street, Princess St. These guys are great. My husband had many shirts made, loves them all, and 10 months later, they've held up better than many we've bought at home. Ask the tailor shop guys to measure you up and tell you how much cloth to buy...then they will direct you to one of their buddies cloth shops ( a short autorickshaw trip away). You will find lots to do and see in this area, and likely will meet lots of people to sightsee with. I'm envious!

Oct 7th, 2004, 07:36	#4
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 903	Good Stuff... Kochi has lots of wonderful shops. The ones in Fort Cochin are more touristy, and therefore a bit more expensive, but still nice items people at home will love. Things I brought back that everyone loved: Whole peppercorns: black, white and green. It makes a real difference to use fresh spices, so people who like to cook will appeciate them and taste the difference. You will be arriving at pepper harvest time too. I also bought cardamon and cloves. Look around the spice market in Fort Cochin. Cloves are best when they're black, not brown. (they turn brown when they've been sitting on the ground) Ayurvedic products are a hit. The pharmacy on Princess street carries many wonderful things. People loved this ayurvedic "talcum" powder I found....its not made of talc, its made of ground up sandlewood, basil, and alot more. Smells heavenly and lasts all day. Great for people living in places with humid summers. They also have a line of other hair care products that were all very good. In Ernakulum, there are lots of stores selling various cloth products. Being an old hippy girl, I went nuts over the block printed Indian "sheets" that I used to hang on my walls, make dresses out of, etc. I brought back about 20 of them. They cost from rps 80 to 200. The people working in the store looked at me in amazement. OK, so I'm still stuck in time! I also bought tons of these great dish towels. You will not find a better dish cloth on this planet than the ones from India. Don't come home without them! "Antique" things in the old market store near Jew Town. I didn't care much about the authenticity of the objects, because they were so interesting. I regret not hauling back some cow masks I saw there, oh well. You can spend many pleasurable hours wandering around in these dusty stores. Bargaining is a must. Silk scaves were also a deal: both in Ernakulum and Fort Cochin. You better bring a big supply of underwear, my friend, because you won't be finding any there. Same goes with pants and shoes. You can have pants made for yourself, same as shirts, but I think the shirts are a better deal. May-be others checking in on this post can add to the shopping item list of all their favorite stuff from Kerala....

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Oct 6th, 2004, 21:04	#3
MEJ Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St Louis, MO, USA Posts: 23	Edsita, Thanks for the info. Sounds like you had a great time there. I am especially glad to get the info on the tailors. I'm 6'5 so I was a concerned about being able to find clothing that fits me. As I will be there over Christmas I am planning on sending gifts from Kochi back to the states. Any ideas on the coolest things / best bargains to get there that people here in the US would like?

Oct 7th, 2004, 22:50	#5
Ruprecht Bush-loving Suspected Terrorist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Portsmouth, England Posts: 220	Hi Mike! Enjoy yourself in Kochi. One thing - can't you leave two weeks or so later, and get a vote in for Ralph Nader?

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