A lazy morning started this, our final full day on tour. We rose at 7:30am for an 8:30am breakfast overlooking the Pumpa river. A large flock of ducks kept us entertained foraging for their own breakfast amongst the reeds at the water’s edge. A few house boats cruised down the river, while a gentleman in a long, ancient canoe made his way across the wide river to pick up a young man in a white shirt on the other side. Turns out the young man was the Captain of the vessel moored before us which was going to take us back to town and the bus into Kochi.
As much as a ride on a local bus for two hours back to Kochi was an exciting prospect, it was equally daunting to have to do it with all our luggage in tow. Some of our crew were not quite up for it, some still recovering from illness, so Pooja organised a “large” car to take them straight to the Spice Heritage hotel in Kochi. Very fortunately for the rest of us, the car was big enough (just) to take some of our large and heavy bags. Be assured, companions who took the car, we who took the boat will be eternally grateful for your generosity.
The boat pulled away from the dock at about 9:30am with Tracy, Carla, Dodie, Chris, Kerry, Pooja and yours truly onboard. The morning was warm but the breeze kept things very comfortable. For 90 minutes back down the river we sailed. The water was “smooth as”, perfect for a slalom ski, Kerry remarked. Bird-life here and there provided some entertainment as did the local folks on the banks going about their daily business. More and more houseboats began to ply their trade with lots of relaxed and happy tourists on board – just like us.
We were just about at the lake when we took a sharp, left-hand turn and entered the canal system. Suddenly, from the broad and open world of the river we were in amongst a plethora (there’s your favorite word again, Maggs!) of smaller motorboats, canoes with outboards on sticks or just paddles and poles with the city buildings rising high above either bank. We docked and took a short walk to the bus station to wait for the right bus to Kochi. Even Pooja was a little under the pump here as she didn’t speak the local lingo. But, cool as ever, she got it sorted, found the right bus and we were away. Unlike my expectations, there was plenty of room to be found on board. These buses all have no glass in the windows, just horizontal bars. No need for artificial air-con, the cooling breeze just comes straight through the window. One thing the buses do have is conductors!! One just hops on the bus, the conductor identifies you as a new passenger, you tell him your destination, he produces a paper ticket and you hand him the cash. Wow! What a great system. How I wish the rest of the world still used that system…. but I’m sure it’ll never really work! Anyway, I’ll put away my cynicism for a now.
For the next two hours we were treated to another display of the driving skills of Indian motorists. Kerry noticed a couple of signs hanging of lamp-posts here and there – “23 accidents on this road in the last few years”. If that’s really true then that is testament to the fact that India’s crazy, seemingly suicidal, driving methods actually work! There were also miles and miles of signs on lamp-posts extolling the virtues of one cement product over another vendor’s product. Not the sexiest piece of advertising I’ve ever seen! The bus arrived at the Kochi bus station and Pooja disappeared to round-up a convoy tuk-tuks for the short trip back to the Spice Heritage hotel. The rest of our crew who traveled by car with our bags had arrived just a few minutes before us.
We had all agreed to dine a slightly more upmarket restaurant in the Fort Kochi district – The Jetty Restaurant – for our last meal together. It was indeed very nice. Through tastefully appointed lobby and bar we found a long table in the courtyard by the pool. The ambiance and the setting were most appropriate for an event like this. A two piece band on a distant stage added to the feel with the gentle guitar and bongo drum tunes. Mageshni, once again, treated us all (and some other very lucky patrons) to another Indian dance routine. She is beautiful to watch in action and so talented. I’m glad that she had the opportunity to practise her art-form in its place of origin.
Some brief, impromptu speeches were made as it was unanimously agreed that we had been very fortunate to have been a part of such great group of people who all got on famously. Some of our companions had very early flights booked to home or their next destination so we made our good-byes with hugs and kisses and promises to catch up when we’re next in each other’s neighborhood.
To all our Intrepid companions, in the old Australian vernacular….. Youse were a bonza mob to travel with!
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