I had a nice flight from Brisbane to Singapore, catching up on some movies watching a latest release and an Indian one, trying to get some last minute learnings about the culture!

We arrived in Singapore early and with 6 hours to spare I raced down to the meeting point for the free Singapore city tour, once I got my bearings.

I made it just in time for the last one of the day and was quickly shuffled off with the group after filling in the paperwork.

On the way to the tour bus I met Simon a business owner from Perth. He's on a junket to Tokyo and also had a bit of time to kill until his friends arrived and they took their next flight.

It was nice to see Singapore again (even if only from the windows of the tour bus!) as it had been 7 years since my last visit ... Singapore had been my first overseas destination!

When we returned to the airport Simon shouted me a drink then left for the other terminal to meet his friends.

I hit the duty free shops in hope of finding some accessories for my new camera - no luck with them though, and instead found Stevie Wonder!

I didn't recognize him ... Heard him talking, saw him and just thought he was an American tourist. It wasn't until there was a bit of a commotion over his way that I listened in to see what was happening and realised who it was! 

An English couple were getting a photo with him and singing his praises, while all the staff in the shop were also standing round watching on.

At first I didn't want to bother him ... I just kept shopping and let him do his stuff. But then started thinking how people will be like, 'Did you get a photo?', so I caved!

I went over and asked him very nicely, 'So sorry to bother you but would you mind if I get a photo with you?'

He said no!

Then grabbed me and put his arm round me and and said sure.

It was his daughter with him and she took the photo of us.

I think a few stupid suprised fan type things came out of my mouth, then thanked them both and wished them well on their holiday!

And of course jumped straight onto Facebook so I could share the experience :-)

Flight to Cochin was uneventful. Sat next to nice Indian girl returning home for holidays from where she'd been working in new Zealand.

Airport was fine except when guard tried to block me from leaving.  Arguing with a man with a rifle slung across his chest is a little concerning, but when I showed him flight ticket and he confirmed I was leaving not coming all was ok.

By now it was 3am brisbane time and almost 11pm India time. Thankfully my pre-arranged transfer was there to meet me and off we went in his little 4 door sedan.

On the ride to prems homestay I saw all that I'd heard about India ... It was still a lot like the rest of Asia but the women were dressed in saris, men were affectionate with each other as i was told - hugging each other tightly on the back of motorbikes, we passed hows we had to toot at as they were blocking the road and a just doors down from my homestay a huge festival was occurring.
Cynthia was up to greet me when I arrived and took me up to my comfortable room, answering my questions with my first Indian head wobble!

The next morning I got up and explored the town, seeing the 15th century Portugese fishing nets, the spice shops, then walking all the way down in the hot humid weather to Jew town to see the Dutch palace.

There was plenty of westerners around everywhere dressed in anything from singlets & shorts to long sleeve tops and trousers like me. It is apparently more respectful to be covered so continue to wear my long sleeve cotton top over my singlet, even though I felt ready to pass out from heat exhaustion!

Weather was actually just like home but I'd normally be hiding in air conditioning and not wearing much if I dared venture out!

Along the way I met a man in a shop whose sister has moved to Brisbane and he'd been there for her wedding.  He also wants to move to Brisbane and invited me for dinner at his house. I declined ... You never know how to take these invites but may have been a great experience?

That evening I went to a kathakali show. That is where the performers take an hour getting painted up in special make up, then through dance and act out different stories about the deities. 

It was actually quite a good show to watch and amazing how they can move their eyes and hands to symbolize certain things rather then talking.

I'd been chatting with the people on both side of me. An older couple from the states and a whingy Danish girl.

The couple from the states left straight away so seeing the Danish girl had complained about being hungry for the past 1.5 hours, I asked if she wanted to join me for dinner.

We found a nice simple restaurant and tried my first doshas. We shared the table with a nice Israeli couple so good conversation ensued. 

After dinner Danish was in a much better mood! We walked back to where we'd seen the show, then parted ways when I reached my home stay.

The next morning I did a half day tour of the Kerala back waters.

We were in a traditional style boat with a couple of men pushing us along with paddles. We stopped at a rope making place and a limestone place, then dropped me and a few other passengers off on a bank and the rest of the group did a full day tour.  

As beautiful as the scenery was I was happy to leave it at half a day.

Unfortunately as hard as I tried to avoid it, I got the front seat of the car on the way back.

We'd already seen the remains of a recent head on accident on the road on the hour drive to the boat - the front seat no longer existing with the engine pushed toward the back seat :-S

I took the opportunity to get some video of the crazy driving instead, and the traffic jams that occur when an elephant is walking down the street carrying a load ... Taking up a whole lane! They are huge!

I got back just in time to have some lunch. Not much was open so went to a nice hotel to have my last non vegetarian meal for 3 weeks! Then headed back to the homestay to meet the taxi that was taking me to Tulasidalam school of yoga pada, where I was to spend 3 weeks doing my teacher training.