Cochin India has been about thirteen times better than Chennai. It reminded me physically much more of Viet Nam which made me happy because Viet Nam has for sure still been my favorite place. I also did some serious shopping here as well [I'm sure you're all surprised] and am almost done with Christmas! I think that's way better than what you could get otherwise, even with as much faith as I have in Amazon.com.

On the first day we DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS! I was SO happy! I am so sick of customs and immigration and anything that is pointless but makes me have to wake up earlier than I should. I got breakfast [pancakes and chocolate croissants!] and then finished my iTunes project in my room [which I am practically done with, finally for real] until my trip left at 1030AM. I had a trip to the Alleppey Backwaters which my friends David and Kendra ended up being on as well. We got on the bus and took the 90 minutes drive to where we boarded the boat, which was really only a 15 minute drive because I was asleep.

We got on the boat and I took pictures of all the awesome house boats that we saw on the way to get lunch, which was about a 20 minute boat ride away from where we boarded. The house boats are awesome and made of bamboo but have AC and internet if you want them; if anyone has any interest in getting one for me I am totally ok with the idea. They can also come as conference rooms or offices for anyone who wants an office boat! Anyways, I took a bunch of pictures then we got to lunch and I did what I do best.

There was an Indian buffet and I got two types of chicken, pitas, stir fry vegetables, rice, noodles, cheesy potatoes, and soup. The rosemary grilled chicken was good - the other was not, the vegetables, soup, potatoes, and pita were also pretty awesome. Of course there was dessert, and of course the ice cream was well received by me and my friends. After eating I explored briefly, took some photos, and waited to get into another boat for our 2 hour cruise. You would think at this point that I would be sick of being on boats, but somehow you would be wrong.

The two hour boat ride was spent next to my friend David [the one I travelled with some in Viet Nam] singing and taking pictures of the people we could see along the waters. My new camera is wonderful and I am more than happy that it lives with me. After the boat ride we stopped at the Prince Hotel where I FINALLY found some freakin' postcards! I didn't get many because I then would have to find stamps so please do not be offended if you do not get an India postcard because it was so annoying just finding them - let alone the stamps. We then went back to the ship at 6PM where I happily stuffed my face, finished my book ["How To Be Good"] and passed out.

I woke up the next morning excited & ready for my last day in India. I couldn't find Michael, who I was going to go exploring with and Lydia had a trip and Carson had mysteriously disappeared. Michael had written on my board in the smallest handwriting ever that he went to the backwaters, Lydia had a trip at 745AM and Carson was probably dead crushed by an elephant. However, Lydia overslept and we got ready to head out; then Carson was magically reincarnated as herself and joined us in our adventure. Then Lydia decided to go on a different FDP so ultimately Carson and I went out exploring this morning. Confused?

We took a rickshaw to the market that we did not ask to go to because the guy took us to the totally wrong place, but there is no point in arguing with someone who doesn't speak English so we got out. We found all kinds of stuff that we needed to buy, after Carson went to an ATM, so we did. I got gifts for Beth for Christmas because some things that you see are the very "Beth-y" and these things were. I also got some things for my room at school because everyone is well aware of the fact that I have to redecorate at least once a month, so I started early. I got two canvas paintings that I am crazy pumped about and for Christmas if anyone wants to frame them for me I am all for it so I can seem like an adult - because adults frame their art work, right?

I also got a dress, skirt, 2 necklaces, a scarf, and a million other gifts. Then when we left some store that we didn't really want to go in to begin with we found stamps! I was excited and got more than I needed just in case. We also got some spices - I cannot say what they are for two reasons: 1. They might be gifts for you, 2. Because we are not allowed to bring spices onto the ship and if the government is reading my blog they could come to my room and hunt for them. Just know that they smell amazing and you should be thrilled to receive them.

From there I got ice cream, because that is what I do, then headed back to the ship in another rickshaw. I feel like the people in Cochin were much saner in their rickshaw prices and negotiations, which I really appreciated. We got back to the ship, snuck in all kinds of goodies we can't have [because spices are SO dangerous, obviously] and now I am telling you all of this! I will be off towards Mauritius tonight and I cannot wait to be in a country where I don't have to wear pants!