COCHIN

Cochin (Kochi), Kerala – Day One

We arrived in Ernakulam at 5.30am. It was still dark, so we decided to wait in the KSRTC bus station. We found seat in the cafe and got a drink. I went outside for a cigarette, when I returned Laura was very eager to leave. Apart from the unpleasant smell and dirt it was also a popular hangout joint for cockroaches, huge cockroaches.

We went outside and asked a tuk-tuk driver the cost of driving us to Fort Cochin, he quoted us Rs.250 with no room for haggling. We weren’t sure what we should be paying so we returned to the bus station and asked one of the shop keepers the price, he said Rs.150. Laura then had a brainwave. Catch a bus. Lucky for both of us it was a decent air conditioned bus just like the ones back in Europe. Best of all it only cost Rs.52 for the both of us. Bargain.

25 minutes later we were in Fort Cochin. It was still only 7am and nothing was open. We walked towards where we hoped to find a cafe to sit, rest, and plan our day. We found a coffee shop but it did not open until 9am, which is shocking. A caffeine hit should be the first thing of the day.

We did find a hotel that was open and it looked inviting, so we asked if breakfast was possible, it was. We had breakfast then had a look at a room and decided to make the Arches Hotel our base for our stay in Fort Cochin (Hotel review to follow).

A rest and a shower later we headed out to explore Fort Cochin. First stop was the ‘famous’ Chinese fishing nets. They would have been a lot more interesting and scenic if they had not been surrounded by piles and piles of rubbish.

We had a good walk round Fort Cochin taking in the sights, which worked up a thirst so we stopped for a beer in Koder House Hotel. Seriously overpriced at Rs.200 and not even that cold.

Then it was back to Arches Hotel for a rest before venturing out for a late lunch/early dinner. Laura had read about The Old Courtyard in the Rough Guide and thought it sounded nice, just a shame the reality did not live up to the hype. The courtyard was closed so we dined in the front restaurant. I had a cheese burger, Laura had a roast chicken roll. The cheese burger was full of gristle and the chicken sandwich lacked any flavour. Such is life. To drown our sorrows we walked round the corner to the XL bar on Rose Street for a couple of bottles of Kingfisher lager. Then we headed back to Arches Hotel, which is also conveniently on Rose Street.