An
absolute delight to eyes. After all these years of coexistence, I would
like to describe Kochi with these few words. But, that was not my first
impression about her. I found myself thrown into hell, when I came to
know her years before.
It is quiet hard to explain, just take a ride along any one of her street and
you will get learn what I am taking about. You would certainly say, Oh!, Man, "This is Hell".
Don't even dare think about walking along the roads
of Kochi. There are thousands of red demons(private buses) running
berserk.Very few are fortunate to escape them. And if you do escape,
dust will clog your lungs and noise your ears, and also be ready to take
the lashing of scorching sun.
The roads are so congested that traffic could get
stranded at any given moment. And when that happens, be at some other
place. Vehicles will lay snaking around the city blocks for hours. And
what worse is the absence of traffic signs. So you are always in the
potential danger of violating one. And if you do, a ticket with be
served immediately, by men lurking in Khaki.
Nevertheless, outside city limits, Kochi wears a
different face. Fort Kochi is one such adorable face....... and even amidst the dusty city limits, Marine Drive is a cool escape to Kochites......
Fort Kochi
This is one of my all time favorite, shot from the streets of Fort
Kochi. The man riding the cycle in the picture is a native fisherman. He has
just returned with his days catch from the sea and is eagerly riding back, may
be, to his home after grabbing a big fish from the catch while his fellowmen
were busy bargaining with dealers.
Kakkanad
Shot from my house at Kakkanad.
Marine Drive 
A view of horizon from the walk ways of Marine Drive, Kochi.
Marine Drive Rainbow Bridge and walk way
Fort Kochi St. Francis Church
This is St. Francis Church, the
first European church to be built in India. Presumably, the church owes it
origin to the Franciscan friars, who accompanied the Portuguese expedition in
1500 A.D. The church, at first, was said to be erected of wood, and was rebuilt
in stone and roofed with tiles in 1516, while getting dedicated to St. Antony. The
church remained in the order of St. Francis till 1663 A.D. when it came under
the control of the Dutch, who reconditioned and converted it to a protestant
church. This remained like wise even after the English found supremacy in
Kochi. The church was voluntarily surrendered to the Anglican Communion in 1804
A.D. Presumably, it was renamed after the patron saint during the later half of
the nineteenth century.
Vasco Da Gama, the first European
navigator to India was laid to rest here in 1524 A.D. Until his remains were removed and taken to Portugal
in 1538 A.D.
Fort Kochi St. Francis Church
Fort Kochi A Shop of Artifacts
Putuvypin beach
Puthuvypin- around 10 km away from the hectic streets of Kochi.
Fort Kochi Beach 
The above three
photographs are shot in sequence. The man was trying to find a shot of the busy activities. Though he made some, yet he was not
satisfied.
Fort Kochi Harbor
Baskets loaded with fresh Squids, awaiting buyers. Shot soon after the boats shored. Fort Kochi
