This is our first day without the large group. Last night we had a great farewell dinner. Some were leaving already after supper, others staged through the night and early morning. Only 5 of the group are going on to southern India. Nazir and Rouf (tour coordinators) have organized a small bus to take us to the airport along with a travel manager to make sure we get properly checked through.

Our flight is at 11:40 a.m. and we have only a short wait and we are off. The flight was an 'all girl' event, including the pilot and co-pilot. Even though we left about 20 minutes late we arrive on time into a lovely privately owned airport at Cochin City. When we step outside, we are greeted with about 30 C temperature, 80% humidity and a very tropical atmosphere. We are met and transferred to the hotel where we are met with lays, local drinks and a dot for our foreheads. Namaste. Our rooms, very nice, are on the 3rd floor overlooking the water.

The state of Kerala, often referred to as "Gods Own Country", lays on the south west tip of India, with some 550 kilometers of coast on the Arabian Sea. The state varies from the coastal plain of rice paddies, lagoons, rivers and canals up to 2700 meters in the densely forested mountains of the 'Western Ghats" featuring natural forests and wild-life reserves and in-between rich farm lands of tea, coffee, spice and rubber plantations. What Kerala lacks in comparative history it makes up for in peace, tranquility, a lush environment, wonderful climate and last but not least cleanliness. European history began in 1498 with the arrival of Vasco da Gama's small fleet of Portuguese successfully reaching India's west coast via the Cape of Good Hope and the Arabian Sea. Following in the 1500s the Portuguese, Dutch and British who fought to control the port and it's very profitable spice trade. Kerala leads all Indian states in natural and human resources, literacy (100%) and the highest life expectancy rates.

Kochi (long known as Cochin); spread across the islands and peninsulas between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters, is Kerala's prime tourist area along with a very modern airport. Kochi, at less than 10 degrees above the equator, is a very wet humid subtropical climate with a metropolitan population of just over 2 million. Kochi came into being after a flood, in 1341, created a natural harbour highly sought after by all European traders. The city also housed the royal family from 1405, a residency that provided a huge benefit to the area growth. The Southern Indian Naval Command and headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard complete with its air squadron call Kerala home.

After a bit of a break, we are off to see the "Greenix Show"; a program of traditional art forms, predominately dance with some martial arts demonstrations. We are first a welcoming dance by individually by male and female dancers. This is followed by "Mohiniattam" - the dance of the 'enchantress' or Mohini featuring 13 head gestures, 67 hand gestures, 5 each waist and chest movements, 5 types of leg and foot movement. This does not count facial expressions. The "Kalaripayattu" or martial arts demonstrations follow, somewhat less stellar. The "Navarasas" next in line, is explained to us as the dancer takes us through the movements. These are what are referred to as the 9 basic elements - the gamut of emotions - through the process very exaggerated facial movements. Our bus driver informed us that these elements can take 10 years to master. The last but certainly not least was the "Kathakali" - Kerala's best known art form - a unique blend of dance, drama, music, literature and painting. The characters dancing Kathakali enact stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana (forms of Sanskrit -ancient Indian language) through amazing costumes, make-up and hand and facial expressions.