Chillin' in Cochin

January 20, 2007: After two days, we agree with the locals: Kerala is “God’s Own County. Cochin is surrounded by blue water and blue skies; the food is wonderful; and, as the pictures demonstrate, the people could not be friendlier. Given the number of times that people approach, wanting to chat with us, you would think that we were Bollywood stars and not just two middle-aged women from the U.S. We have spent the last two nights at a private home, which can best be described as a mini-mansion: the house comes with a cook, a car and driver, and Jenny, our hostess, and her husband, are both college professors, who, despite our protests, insist on personally serving us our three and four course meals.

Highlights of the last two days include a tour of old Fort Cochin; a Kathakali dance performance; a visit to Cherai beach; a chance to play fisherman with the Chinese net; and the highlight of highlights, an ayurvedic synchronized massage, which involved laying on a teak table, having oil poured on us from head to toe, being massed by two therapists simultaneously, and then sitting in a steam box. We are feeling very supple.