Road to Vaikom Villiage

After the gauntlet of taxi drivers we experienced the first day in India, we were determined to avoid them entirely if we could. We decided we would walk to the nearby ferry terminal to see if that was a better option to get off the port island. A map seemed to suggest a ferry route exists that would take us from a point about a 15 minute walk from our ship, to the mall across the river. Well, the taxi drivers didn't make it easy. We were followed by no less than 10 different drivers before we broke through the masses and found ourselves alone on vacant, quiet streets of the island. Nothing but abandoned buildings, cement factories, and an occasional stand selling soda, though an occasional errant tuk-tuk passed by to offer us a tour (never just a ride, always a tour), we were able to find the ferry terminal just as a ferry was arriving (-and leaving! They barely slowed long enough for everyone to hop on before it continued to the next island.). While the taxi drivers were pitching $40 tours, or $5 rides, the ferry cost less than $1 for the 3 of us. 

And we could see our ship from the ferry!

Interestingly there was also a naval battleship in the river which was not the norm. The locals were taking photos of this thing as much as we were. 

Okay so, don't judge, but we figured that eating at an American fast-food chain actually IS a cultural experience because we get to see how they alter the menu to fit the local preferences. So, when we tell you that we went to Indian Taco Bell you can understand that we are not being lame, we're being SCIENTIFIC. Anyway, our butter chicken chalupas were awesome. 

Taco Bell, spinning wisdom

Our primary objective at the mall was to pick up groceries for the ship, see what the prices of clothing and souvenirs might be, and spend some time in an air conditioned building.  These 3 things were successful. Ender and Jacob picked up a few new shirts, Kim found some shirts and skirts, Jacob found a Pikachu Croc charm (see below),  and we all found that we get irritable with one another when we're tired in a crowded mall. 

We did get Indian food after shopping

The next day was an exciting day for us because we joined a Semester at Sea excursion: a day at Vaikom village. 

Vaikom village was about an hour south of Kochi by bus. The tour included a few points of interest along the way. The first stop was a uniform making factory.  In India all children are enrolled in school and uniforms are provided.  This factory was a place where women could work flexible hours throughout the week, but had a quota of finishing 35 meters per week. This allowed women who were mothers to have flexible hours depending on what kind of childcare needs they might have. In this small shop we could see the process from thread to fabric. 

Childcare

This place was laced with cotton dust

After watching people work for a few minutes, we went to our next stop: the Vaikom Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple.

 Part of the process of visiting the temple would be to remove our shoes. The tour provided us with disposable socks (or in Kim's case, booties) so we could walk around the temple without shoes.

So we're walking around the temple and the guide is explaining a few things we are observing. For example, a woman was walking the path counting her steps. Our guides explained that she was offering her discomfort as an offering for Shiva. The counting of the steps was a way to track the offering. 

We noticed a small crowd forming and the guide was very excited and started to encourage us to join he crowd ("get closer, get closer!"), and was ushering us in to get as near the center of the crowd as possible. When we could finally see into the center we realized we were witnessing a wedding. 

Officiating the Wedding

Almost all of us were hesitant to crash this Hindu temple wedding, but our guides kept insisting "it's okay." So we kind of hung out and watched, and eventually moved away when the ceremony finished.  Well, shortly after our group convened at another part of the temple the bride and groom approached our group and asked for a photo with us.  

We had been informed before arriving that Indian people might want to take pictures with the white folks on the ship, but until now we hadn't encountered that.  After breaking the ice, several more Indians approached us and asked for individual selfies with various members of our group. 

The purpose of this statue of Brahma was to cover one ear and whisper a secret wish in the other. Surely Ender's wish was granted.

"I wish I was big"

After the temple, our group walked down the street (in our socks) and boarded the bus which took us to a hotel for tea and a bathroom break. 

Here we sat with Marion and her son Florian who were on the voyage from Germany and have since become our good friends within the ship community.  Here's Jacob and Florian playing a game on his phone. 

Next our group was distributed by 2's and 3's into tuk-tuks that would take us to the entrance of the canals.  There was a funny/scary moment after Jacob boarded a tuk-tuk when they realized they needed one more tuk-tuk for the remaining 4 of us so the one Jacob was in (alone) took off down the road to fetch one.  As soon as it stopped Jacob jumped out and ran back to us. Relieved he wasn't being trafficked, but not super happy having to run down the street in the hot sun, we finally boarded a tuk-tuk together and headed to the canals. 

When we arrived at the canals we and our new friends were the last boat to leave the dock. 

What you don't see in this picture is the sound.  That's because you can't see sound. And since this isn't Myspace, we're not sure how to make sound a part of this blog experience. Anyway: Throughout this river ride we could hear the not-so-distant droning of Hindu chanting as part of their Sunday worship. Some of us appreciated it less than others as a backdrop sound to our peaceful journey. 

Arrival

When we arrived at Vaikom village everyone was given a juice box and a fan. Both were welcome. 

We were then audience to several forms of industry that were happening, largely out of coconut. 

 First, rope made from coconut fiber:

Next, coconut flour:

Then, pottery: 

Then, harvesting fresh coconut:

In Vietnam we learned how coconut milk was different from coconut water, and how each was extracted and used to make candy.  Here, they went several steps further. We learned that if they tapped the coconut before it grew they could extract a probiotic liquid that would become fermented within a few hours of extraction.  When taken at this time the plant would not grow into a coconut.  We also saw at another stage how coconut was dried and used to make coconut oil.  Liquor, water, milk, and oil all came from this plant dependent on what stage in the lifecycle it was harvested.  No wonder the coconut palm tree is called the Tree of Life. 

Mat weaving:

They claimed that laying on a mat such as this had healing effects.  They sold for $5.  We have one folded in our luggage, hoping it survives the trip home. 

Roof weaving: 

Not to be outdone, the neighbor of the mat weaver showed us how she also weaves window shutters and roof shingles out of leaves. 

And when it was all over, and we had watched other people do their jobs all day, we sat down to a nicely prepared lunch of assorted curries. This meal was CRAZY DELICIOUS. 

This may not look like a lot of food, but the rice and curries of your choice were bottomless.

To fold your leaf away from you meant you were dissatisfied with the meal. To fold it toward you meant you were satisfied.  Everyone folded toward.. 

With our bellies full of unbelievable curry, we were ready to head back to the ship to rest after such a long, hot day of watching other people work.