Such beautiful Saris in India.
Journal Entry:
"Today was a beautiful day. I went to church at the Basilica, the 2nd Oldest church in India, right here in Kochi. (The oldest being some 6 blocks away, but now it is a ?Anglican? church instead of Catholic, I think?) All the women were wearing the most beautiful Saris. Every color imaginable, red, blue, teal, purple, gold, yellow, green, etc. They all had their heads covered with different color shawls that matched the color and farbic in their Sari. I wanted to if not wear a Sari, at least cover my head in these beautiful silks/cottons/chiffon shawls. I have always wanted to cover my head during mass and now I know why. You should have seen it, it was one of the most beautiful things I have seen in my life. It's indescribable, and of course, since it was mass, I couldn't and wouldn't take pictures. Oh well. That one will have to last in my memory!
We have switched hostels. Wow, it's funny how you think the next place will always be better, perpetual hope and optimism I guess. Well, not so much. (This ended up being the WORST place we stayed at our whole trip, I will not call them out, but email me if you are going to India so I can tell you what hostel NOT to stay in ;) It was barren, hardest bed I've ever felt, might as well have slept on the floor, except for the bugs that would've eaten me alive even more. As it was, ants got to Travis' chocolate bar in a matter of an hour's nap. I got more mosquito bites in 2 days from this place than the rest of the trip. Needless to say, I feel tired here, and restless. We started getting fussy about being in the room, so we decided to go explore this side of Kochi. We were duly rewarded for getting out of there with: an ELEPHANT! He was just walking down the street with a couple of guys?! We followed him to a random back alley where he proceeded to eat palm fronds using his truck to rip them apart, coolest thing to watch. He was just chillin' in front of some closed shops, or warehouses. The few other people that saw this random show stayed and watched like us for at least 20 min. We weren't sure what was going on, if he was safe, ok? Eventually he seemed great, so we wandered on and found a cool tea house. Later, after meeting a woman from LA :/, we learned that he was in a parade, filled with flowers, drummers, painted dancers, etc. A little lesson learned, when feeling low and in the dumps, go outside, change your scenery!
Email responses from home:
"Wonderful to hear things are going better." -Love, Dad
"...I am so glad you are doing so much better..." -Love, Kelly
Catholic symbols (cont.) throughout India:
"Kochi boasts the first Catholic Church in India, St. Francis Church. Allegedly built in 1546 by the Portuguese, about a hundred years later it became Protestant with the Dutch invasion, and still about a hundred years later, the arrival of the British made it Anglican. In 1949, the congregation joined the Church of South India." reference
Almost all schools in this town were private, another example of the wealth in Fort Kochi and church influence in India.
A rosary in India
All you need is Jesus and a goldfish! haha This was my view every morning from our favorite breakfast restaurant next store to the bookstore.
"Santa Cruz Cathedral/Basilica was rebuilt in the early 20th century and also received the visit of the pope"reference
So beautiful.
Time to leave the worst hostel in India and go exploring:
Travis feels how he looks :)
I want this on my front door! Cool!
Love the trees growing through walls!
Rewarded for leaving the hostel, with... an ELEPHANT!
De-ta-de walkin' my elephant. No big deal..
Got my bling on, eatin' my palm fronds, life is great.
And then!...
I am adorned in Gold!
..but am also chained :(
Drummers.
Twirling flower holders.
No one in India is this tall, this MUST be fake :)
Sounds the trumpets! The king is here.. or just a local guy trying to be mayor we think.
These guys were kinda creepy.
I may dance with you, or I may eat you, depends on how I feel today...
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