Hello India!

🚩 So, here we are finally, Cochin Airport, after an 11-hour flight with a layover in Abu Dhabi. My first impression... This calmness and emptiness: where are all those crowds of people in India that I was warned about??

No rush, no queues at the counter... The visa process went smoothly too, hmm.. doesn't matter. Let's quickly exchange some money and head to the bus towards Fort Kochi, the city where our accommodation should be. Maybe the crowds are outside?? As we stepped out in search of the bus or the bus stop, we were welcomed by the heat and chaos. Without any signs or bus stops, we were waved into a bus that would take us to Fort Kochi. So much for German orderliness!! Ticket? No problem! You will be charged by a man who tells you the price without even asking where you're going. No idea how the prices are determined, but it doesn't matter! Bus stop? I don't see one. The bus just stops in the middle of the road, the ticket guy opens the door, shouts nonsense from the bus, which turned out to be the final stop, pushes the new passengers into the bus, bangs on the bus from the outside, whistles, and the bus driver starts driving even with the door half open. It was crowded, with all the Indian women in their colorful and glittering saris, schoolchildren in uniforms, and all the men also wearing long clothes - how do they stand it?!?! And for those who are wondering right now: NO, IT DID NOT SMELL :) hahahahah

You can imagine the driving style, right? Loud, fast, tight, crazy, and even crazier. On a two-lane road, we naturally drive as if it's four lanes, and in between, there are mopeds, motorcycles, and Tuk Tuks (aka Rikshaw).

As we left the chaotic city behind and the colorful blocks and shops, surrounded by garbage, became less, I started to enjoy the landscape: palm trees, rivers... Nature! Beautiful! We crossed a huge bridge, water everywhere, wow so beautiful, surrounded by palm trees, palm trees, and more palm trees. The streets also became narrower, so the traffic became even crazier, many colorful Christian churches and many small shops lined up full of fruits and colorful stuff, Fort Kochi!! - right by the water, a small port city! :)

So, now let's go to Santa Maria Hostel, quickly drop off our stuff and eat! Well, quickly is a different story, because apparently not everything was as planned with our boss, Mr. B, as we thought. NO PROBLEM - there is a room, non AC with a bathroom, perfect! Let's take it!

But now, let's eat! It's already dark, but the street is relatively well-lit, with all the souvenir and clothing stalls and all the 'fresh fish' sellers lined up. The backdrop is the old, beautiful Chinese fishing nets, which could just about be seen in the darkness. The sellers proudly displayed the bountiful catch in bowls and on sheets. From squid to prawns of all sizes, everything is there!

'Hello Madame, how are you? Where are you from?' we hear from every side: 'Here, my fresh fish! Which one do you want? Here is my shop, you see?! You choose fish, I bring it and cook it fresh for you, madame!' Ugh, so tiring after such a long day! We finally got into a conversation with the last friendly Indian who also accompanied us to the restaurant he was promoting. There we chose two different types of Prawns Curry (Kerala Style) with Chapati (Indian bread, a type of flatbread) and rice, yummie.

First day survived, now we have to clarify why we are here! The plan was that we would be taken to the volunteer accommodation the next day, and then suddenly, we were told to go to Goa on the 26th because they are now there with the project. Hmm, doesn't fit our plans so well. We specifically booked our flights to Kochi to explore Kerala, backwaters, etc., and now it turns out that we should go to Goa -.- We also wrote to them that we would like to spend the weekend here in the south and then drive up on Monday. GOOD NIGHT! 🌟