Cochin, India

Welcome to India! I was really looking forward to visiting this country, and I wasn't disappointed. It is such a colorful place. I went on a "Best of Cochin" tour. We started out by taking a boat cruise around the harbour, and got to sail by the Chinese fishing nets, which we later visited on foot. These were the most incredible thing we saw during the day. They are absolutely huge wooden counterweight mechanisms that lower giant nets into the water and then raise them back out again, and are operated entirely by hand with no machinery. They are amazing to watch in action, though I'm finding the sight rather difficult to describe. After our cruise, we walked through the former Jewish Town, which is now a spice market. We visited a museum nearby, then had a snack and beverage at a nice beach hotel. On the way to another museum (focusing on the Portuguese influence in India), we happened by a field where school kids were practicing their cricket skills on an open field. It was fun to watch and get a little glimpse into their culture. It was second only to seeing the Nets in action. So many times on tours I feel we see the "sights" but miss the experience, which is why I always love it when you get to see something truly local.
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Colombo, Sri Lanka

Another new country for me! I went on a tour in the morning - "Colombo Highlights." We first drove through the poor but vibrant parts of the city, with colorful markets and ladies in Saris all around. We saw the old clocktower near the harbor, a temple, and many british colonial style building from the time Britain occupied the area. The locals get around on cars, motorcycles, public buses, and trishaws, also generally known to us as tuk-tuks, small open air motorcarts with one wheel in front and two behind, ideal for quick manouevering through heavy motor and pedestrian traffic through the narrow streets and alleys. We saw 'slave island' - where in olden times the slaves were kept at night on an island in a local lake. We visited Independance square where monuments were erected 60 or so years ago to celebrate Sri Lanka's independance. By the way, ever heard of Ceylon tea?? It is from Sri Lanka, which was known by the name Ceylon until the year 1972.

My favorite moment of the day was an unexpected treat of a look into truly local culture. As we drove along a street, we started to pass teenage boys dressed in black and gold, waving matching banners and riding on top of trucks and cars. It was a local cricket team, creating excitement for an upcoming match, parading through the streets. As we passed by each group of guys, the waved and smiled enthusiastically at us, yelling for their team. Near the front of the procession there was even an elephant, draped in the team's colors. And at the very front were two boys with whips. They swung the long, dangerous leather ropes around, cracking them loudly on the street, demonstrating their extremely effective traditional way of clearing the street before them, to make way for the parade. Well, that's one way to do it!

After the tour, I ventured out with my friend Yuri, our petite, sweet and fearless Japanese hostess. She and I braved the streets near the port to find ourselves some food and experience the atmosphere walking around. We were so obviously out of place in the area that everyone was staring at us. But the Sri Lankan people are so friendly, once you smile at them their faces instantly light up and send it back to you, and immediately you become a fellow human being, instead of a white stranger. It is am amazing feeling when that tiny transormation happens. Yuri asked to take one fruit vendor's picture, and he was so thrilled he put on one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen, and proudly posed for it. Afterwards he inspected the result on the digital camera, then insisted we take another, and smiled even bigger for it. Yuri and I had a snack and mango juices (amazing and so cheap!!) At a very local cafe, and went to a street vendor for the Sri Lankan golden coconuts they serve as beverages. The vendor was kind enough to machete them open for us and gave us straws. Yum!

One more favorite moment of the day was two little girls standing on a box by a public phone, pretending to call someone and giggling. Oh and finally, while we were touring a museum in the morning, several Sri Lankan classes of young girls and boys were having a field trip there. When they saw us, they were so excited and leaped at the opportunity to speak English to us. Most of them only know two things: Hello, and "what's your name?" I was asked this half a dozen times. When I answered they were thrilled, and repeated my name back to me with huge grins. What a neat day!
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