Cochin
We have been here two weeks already- it seems like much longer! We have got to know the city and the ferries that link the different areas- each ferry goes between two islands, and some carry on to another island. Each ferry costs about 3 rupees- 25 agorot, or about 10p. Sheva is having a great time, we take turns to take her in the kayak for her morning walk in the grounds of the Bolgatty hotel. It is very nice, wooded and with lots of birds and lizards, and even a big snake which we surprised sunning itself on the lawn! There is a little golf course here too.
Today we will meet Ofer, Orens brother, who is in India on business, and will be in the Taj Malabar hotel, but first we will go into Ernakulum to change books at the great second hand bookshop we found on Press Club road, and buy more boat bits- the metal working industry is well developed here, and stainless steel parts can be made to order cheaply and are well made. Oren has asked for a quote on fuel tanks, so today we will see if it is worth while. Meanwhile we have got 12v fans installed in the bedroom, no more cursing and tying bits of string to things to get the one fan to turn round on both of us! And we have got a new pressure cooker, Indian style, and a toaster which is heated on the gas stove. Also lots of stainless steel bowls, which are really nice and cost about 100 rupees, or less, depending on the size.
Yesterday we bought lots of yoghurt, which comes in plastic bags and is called curd ( took a while to find that out!) and made labane by pouring it into a cheesecloth bag and hanging it over the sink. It came out really good, and afterwards I made balls and covered it with olive oil. For some reason the Indians don’t have cheese at all. We also got some pork and some beef, which was probably buffalo, and I made a curry and a chinese stirfry. The meat is not too good though, the beef needed an hour in the pressure cooker to soften it, and the pork was mostly fat. I can see why vegetarianism is so popular here! Inbal would have a great time here, and really, the vegetarian dishes are very good.
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