Mar 25 &26, Cochin, India................Our first taste of India. We moored in a bay across from the City of Cochin, originally founded by the Portuguese. In the morning we hired a Tuk Tuk, a motorised tricycle, and the driver gave us a tour of the narrow streets of Ernakulum, with stops at several shops and a large street market. All very interesting and prices are very low, but being a Sunday, all the town shops were closed in the morning.After lunch on board, we were on an organised bus tour which first took us back into town, shops now open. We spent about an hour there while many of our party visited a very old Jewish Synagogue. This was followed by a one hour boat cruise around the bay. Some parts very attractive, whilst others old a dirty.Then on to the home of a well known lady Chef who laid on a curry cooking demonstration followed by a wonderful meal in a beautifully colored fabric marque in her garden. Dinner was served by her nieces and other family members, accompanied by liberal quantities of Indian wine and beer. She invited us to look around her beautiful house and was extremely charming. An evening to remember.The ship stayed overnight, so in the morning we walked to the Taj Malabar, a really great hotel built on the waters edge and had coffee in the garden, chatting to the barman for an hour, then into the hotel for cocktails before hiring a Tuk Tuk back to the ship. The hotel is a great place for a holiday and we both felt it would be nice to come back one day. ...........................................Tues 27 March, Goa, India............This was an unscheduled stop due to the fact that our planned stop in Sri Lanka was cancelled because of the near civil war that is going on there.We moored near the town of Mormuga, which doesn't have a lot going for it we so, together with three friends, Brenda, Joe, and Lillian, we rented a mini cab for a grand tour of the area. Its main claim to fame is a large museum and church complex which contains the remains of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.Stopped at some shops for the ladies to purchase clothing, then to a beach restaurant for beers, skipping lunch as the food can be risky to eat, then back to Queenie. A somewhat scruffy place, but we had a fun day out. ............................................