Two more friends arrived at the end of February and off we went for a seven day road trip to Kerala on the southwest coast of India. First stop was Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, an elephant ride and the town of Thekkady where we enjoyed a performance of Kathakali, an ancient Indian dramatic art form traditionally performed by males who are heavily made up with paint and colorful headpieces and clothed in elaborate costumes. Using hand gestures called mudras and eye and facial expressions they portray stories to the accompaniment of drummers and singers.
Kerala is famous for its beautiful backwater boat trips. We enjoyed two such outings in Alleppey, observing village life along the river banks as we floated by.
Next we were on to Cochin, home of St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was initially buried. Dating from Kublai Khan's time are Chinese fishing nets still in use today along the shore of Cochin. Here near the nets we encountered this cat!
It was here in Cochin that I spotted my first snake charmer who entertained us with his cobras.
Last stop was Munnar and its beautiful tea plantations framed here by a blossoming jacaranda tree.
Back in Kodai my friends got decked out in salwar kameezs.
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