We left Palolem on the night train to Kochin - not in as much style as the previous trains, as there were no AC class available, so we were in the sleeper class. We still had beds but there were no sheets, so we had to use sarongs and towels, and our bags for pillows! It wasn't too hot as the windows are always open and it was night time anyway. We had a surprisingly good sleep, and the noise of the train becomes comforting after a while!

We arrived in Kochin the next day at about 2.30 (15 hours on the train). We were with Lucas and Hannah, and also met another German girl called Vera. We shared a rickshaw (and managed to get 5 people, 5 backpacks plus the driver into it!!) to Fort Kochin. It was a squeeze but worked out ok, and cheap! We found a hotel there, and stayed for 2 nights. We suddenly remembered that we aren't in Goa anymore and the beer is expensive again! Goa doesn't pay tax so that is why it's cheap there. Think we'll be off the booze till we get back to Goa in December! That night we went to a 'real' indian restaurant, where they have one or two items to choose from and they serve it up straight away. It was nice food, but very sweet, i think there was a lot of sugar in it. But it only cost 30 rupees for curry and 2 chapatti's!!

The next day we got up and took a wander around Fort Kochin. They are famous here for using their Chinese Fishernets, so we went to have a look. They were putting down the nets when we got there, and Jack and Lucas asked if they could help to pull in the catch. The fishermen said yes, and so they helped pull up the nets, then went to have a look to see what they had caught. They caught about 10 fish, and scooped them into a little net and gave it to Jack to bring back to the shore. On his way back, Jack lost his footing and fell through the wooden beams - luckily he managed to hold on with one hand, while keeping the fish in the other! I don't know how the fishermen would've felt if he'd dropped all the fish in the water! I was taking pictures, but actually thought he was going to fall into the disgusting river, so i never managed to get a picture of him with his legs dangling out the bottom! Gutted! He was ok, but a bit embarrassed as a crowd had gathered to watch!!

After that, we took a walk to Jew Town and the Synagogue. We strolled around for ages, and went through little alleyways to where all the local people live, it was really interesting. The men here all wear sheets/skirts, it's quite funny because they're always sorting their sheet out and it looks like they are going to flash you but, they're really just fixing it back up!

The next day we decided to catch the bus to Allepey where the backwaters cruise tours are. Read the Allepey blog now!