India - Through Chris's Eyes

Saturday 10th April

We had organised a sightseeing tour of Fort Cochin and a local rickshaw driver, Mabu, was due to pick us up at 10 o'clock. After taking breakfast on the rooftop of the Orion, where fried egg was scrambled and scrambled egg was an omelette - although in fairness it tasted quite nice - it was time to leave on the tour.

Without going into to much detail it turned out to be a shopping tour rather than sightseeing trip as we were dropped off at several shops on the way. Not long into it, and it lasted five hours, I was fed up of being chased around by Indian Shopkeepers and carpet sellers, still you learn the hard way and I'm sure it won't happen again.

By the time it was over I was knackered, so i rested for a couple of hours whilst Serena, still suffering with a chesty cough and a very bad cold caught up on the huge numbers of photo's she'd taken from the houseboat tour. Later we strolled along the shoreline for sunset.

The very hot and humid climate of Kerala State was certainly draining on the energy levels and another night of relaxing was needed.

Weirdly though I'd gone through the whole day not realising it was Grand National day back home (very unusual), before receiving a message from Serena's father, Dave, to remind me - followed a little later by the result.