Kochin

Several days in Kochin, a pleasant place. An old port town, with marks of Portuguese, Dutch and English. There are very old trees growing in the middle of pavements in the streets of the port, several griths in width, with young leaves growing from their trunks and branches. More cats on streets than dogs, and they're not afraid of people at all, although they walk cautiously. The Indians, the goats and the fish eat the coconuts pulp, I don't like it too much. Big chinese fishing nets along the dock, lifted and dipped by 5 men. The variety of sea food that they fish out is great, and very delicios, as the traditional South Indian food. The guest houses area is near two big churches - Santa Cruz and St. Francis. It's really amazing how strong is the faith of people all over India. Although the gods change, the worshipping of statues is same, and sincere. I'll never understand this. Farther right is the Bazar, there are shabby buildings, that are overgrown with moss and plants due to long time and moisture. Families live in them, spices and oils merchants hold their shops, and communist activists make their ideological work. Now they're fighting agains Coke and Pepsi (may the Force be with 'em).

Then begins the Jew Town, although the Jews are long gone. Now it's an area of art galleries and spices market. The synagogue is still there, though, empty and light, maintained (pretty well) by Indians. On saturdays and holidays (Jewish) it's closed :)

From Kochin down south lies a big network of water channels, called backwaters, with plenty of cocunut palms and other vegetation on their shores, little houses between them, women are working on farming or collecting some plants, going up to their neck in water, never mind the snakes and all other things in it, and the tourist floating on cruise boats and watching all this stuff.
Peace and Shana Tova :)