Our Kerala spiritual adventure began on March 23rd and our first 2 days were spent in Fort Kochi, Kerala. It was a time to get to know one another and settle into life in India. It's been quite humid here with slight rains in the evening which has been great as summer has already began and temperatures can get pretty high.
The first day we strolled the quiet streets of historic Fort Kochi and yesterday we explored the Dutch Palace, visited a local Hindu temple, a fruit market and Jew Town.
Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi
Ancient Dutch cemetry
One of the locals
This artist has been drawing wonderful murals on the walls of the fort with colored chalks.
Mandy from the UK (left) and Katherine from New York
St. Francis church. The first church in India and this was also where the famed explorer Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his body was taken back to Lisbon, Portugal.
Outside a large Hindu temple.
The temple elephant
A close up on an elephant's foot
Peter from New York
The mahout of the elephant explains to us that this male elephant is in heat and therefore needs to chained as they can be very unpredictable during this time and can often get aggressive as well.
Chris from San Diego tries a delicious mango.
It is the beginning of mango season now and we make the mandatory mango stop.
The Dutch Palace contains some amazing paintings as well as murals.
Lunch at the beautiful Tea Bangalow
