Kerala
Chloe Writes: Our trip to Kerala (land of the coconuts) started with a flying visit to Cochin, just 24 hours. We watched a Karthalki performance, which is a traditional Keralan form of dance through facial expressions. The costumes and makeup where increadible and by turning up an hour before the performance you can watch it being applied. The man dressed as an Indian woman was scaraily convincing. The next morning we caught a ferry over to the fort where we cycled to Jew town (now only 3 Jewish families living there) and mooched around the many craft & antique shops.
In the afternoon we took a bus over to Allapey where we spent 24 hours on a houseboat cruising along the picturesque backwaters. The crew on board our boat consisted of Mohan, our captain and Parsanan our chef who cooked us the most amazing Keralan dishes. It did make me chuckle that the Indian driving eticate of horn beeping continued on the water as Mohan seemed to love to beep his horn for no aparant reason.
Pete Writes: Kerala has been short, but very sweet. Fort Cochin felt like a sleepy fishing town. They had rows of Chinese fishing nets along the harbour wall that were operated by rocks attached to the ropes creating a pulley system. Although we did not see too many fish being caught (maybe they have cottoned on).
The backwaters were very chilled, and I even got to captain the boat (before we hit the rum). Then in the evening I went on a little adventure with the captain on the hunt for some sprite. After 3 rickshaws, 4 miles and 1 hour we finally found some!
We are now back in the city as tomorrow we fly to Sri Lanka. Very exciting 
Page Gallery
Kathakali Dancer’s
Applying the Makeup
Chinese Fishing Net
A man in the water, having removed a tree branch from one of the nets
Cute Kids in the Back of a cycle Rickshaw
Masks in one of the Antique shops in Jew Town
Drinking from Coconuts
Our Houseboat
Chef Parsanan & Captain Mohan
The Back Waters
Houseboats
Palm Trees
Sunset from the Boat
Sunset 2
Tags: India
November 20th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Hi U2,
This certainly brings back memories especialy the housebout,
No big black flying cockroaches then!!
Love the pic of you drinking from coconuts have printed that one out.
Not long now as from the 18th Nov only 8 weeks to go.
Love & kissess. M
November 21st, 2007 at 3:30 am
Hey Pete & Chloe,
Just checked in to see how you are doing on your travels - yet more stunning pictures etc.. you lucky blighters!! All good here, not much to report, college is going well as is my weekly gig at the jazz restaraunt.
Hope Sri Lanka is good fun - looking forward to the next excerpt of your travels.
Ta ta for now,
Matt x
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 am
Hiya you two,
More fantastic tales and photos, Me n the boys are following your blog (hopefully the boys may learn something!!!). Life here is the same rain rain so make the most of ya travels.
take care
Paulette
November 22nd, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Hello, I haven’t checked your blog in months and you guys have covered some serious ground. Huge trek in Nepal to Goa and Kerala- so jealous! Well thought to say a quick hello and Keep on having a fab time x
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Hi Mum,
We have seen the big black flying things but maybe in Nepal and not Kerala. We have 3 resident cockroaches in our bathroom at the moment and they are about 3 inches long.. nice..
Lots of Love x
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Hi Matt,
Good to hear the Jazz sessions are going well, Sri Lanka is a really nice country and the people are super friendly.
Love to Kas x
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Hi Paulette,
Glad to hear the weather is good in England ;o)
Nice to hear the boys are following the blog, we will try our best to set a good example…yeah right!!
Love to the Heards x
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Hi Remie,
Nice to hear from you, the trek was amazing and Nepal is such a lovely country, next time we’d love to do the whole circut.
Hope your keeping well,
Lots of Love xx
November 24th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Houseboat looks brilliant. And the coconut drink gets a bit much after a while, don’t you think?
Chloe, your looking well travelled now - good to see! :o) Do I detect less make up now? Could it be? Has your make-up/toiletry/facial cream bag downsized? Are we seeing a carefree reborn Chloe? Can I finish a sentence without a question? Does this remind you of that game they play on Who’s Line Is It Anyway? Will I ever stop? Do you think I should now? Could this go on for ever?
It was Laura’s 23rd birthday on 22nd November. 20-odd friends went out on Wednesday to La Tasca and ate lots of tapas. It was all you can eat, so me and Nick ate till they ran out of spare-ribs.
Then on Thursday I planned a surprise day for Laura, starting with a VIP tour of Longleat Safari whilst it’s closed to the public for the winter. That was incredible, and photos can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21782&l=c7d83&id=503636578
After the Safari we had a tour of the mansion, then I drove us to Bath for a meal at a posh gaf. We finished off just in time to walk into the theatre to watch an incredibly funny show, ‘Donkeys Years’. Laura didn’t have a clue where we were going for the whole day until we actually arrived at each place - it was great fun to see the look on her face! Just glad that, as an event organiser, I can plan 1 day!
Other than that, we’re in our spare room whilst we renovate our bedroom with a new French-style opening window, window seat, and complete makeover. Can’t wait to get back in - it’s been weeks!
I’ve just got back from THC. Now Castros smells real bad (and you thought couldn’t get worse). Only therefor a few hours just to say hi and show some support.
That’s it from me for now; take care of yourselves and missing you lots - looking forward hearing about Sri Lanka; I’ve heard mixed reports.
Lots of love,
Rupert (& Laura I’m sure, although she’s sound asleep)
November 25th, 2007 at 5:44 am
Hi Rupert,
Well you’ve definitley earnt the title of “Longest comment in the world ever” and i’d like to see anyone try and steal your title. Sounds like you’ve had a good night and there is no one left to talk to - sounds oh so familiar.
Sounds like you had a fantastic day, Pete and I have been to Longleat and camped next to the mansion on the grounds. It was fantastic, the cute white bunnies were my favourite, there were a long line of kids waiting their turn to hold one after me, but they didn’t get a look in.
Well travelled?? Are you trying to say I look a bit rough around the edges?? Well to be honest i haven’t worn makeup once, i have no hair straightners (Indian head-scarfs are a life saver) and ALL of my four outfits have rips, holes and marks on them. So yes i quite agree that i look well travelled. Never mind, i may have to splash out on something new for the wedding ;o)
Lovely to hear from you,
Love to Laura and wish her a happy birthday for the both of us.
Lots of Love,
Chloe xx
November 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I’m not asleep any more!
You’re pictures are inspiring. You both look really well, and having the time of your lives.
Thank you for the Birthday wish. And a wonderful Birthday it was too .. well done Rupert!
Gosh..just think, new year is coming around, and before you know it you’ll both be saying “I do” … aw!
Chloe, I’m glad to hear you’re experiencing life without all of your cosmetics!! If you’re anything like I was, it’s actually nice to not have to worry about slapping the morning mascara on! Ha. You look beautiful as always ;o)
Stay safe and keep those updates coming!! x
November 30th, 2007 at 6:13 am
Hi Laura,
Good to hear from you. I am feeling a little scraggy but it is a relief not to worry about how i look and getting ready to go out in 10 mins is kind of cool too.
I still have a massive toiletry bag as i cant bring myself to throw my cosmetics away and therefore am still carrying them round. I might ditch them after the wedding though.
Lots of Love xx