Back to Part 1 leaving Kochi All aboard the Sabari Express - Indian Railways #17229 This was to be an overnight trip, from Kochi to Hyderabad, and we were booked in an air-conditioned sleeper car, which was more basic and less private than what Amtrak calls a sleeper, but it was also far less expensive, … Continue reading Independence Day on the Rails, Part 2
July 4th, Independence Day in 2022 was quite unlike any other we've experienced before. Because we heard absolutely no fireworks, being still in India, where it was just another day. First we checked out of our hotel in Kochi, where once again the staff brought tea tour room in the morning. Upon checking out, we … Continue reading An Unforgettable Independence Day: A Train Journey through India’s Vibrant Countryside
It was a rather nice hotel we stayed at in Kochi. But it was indeed a hotel; and we'd booked it through Airbnb, which was designed for travelers to rent out rooms in people's homes. And it's one of our pet peeves that many hotels and hostels also list their properties on the site -- … Continue reading Navigating Kochi’s Light Rail and Waterfront Adventures
On our first full day in Kochi, India, we decided to take a tour of the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary, which is, among other things, a sanctuary for migratory birds. And one of us has a passion for shooting birds -- with a camera, of course -- and combing through thousands of photos of them to … Continue reading Going Batty at Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
On Saturday July 2 we said our goodbyes to the school in Chengannur where we'd been teaching for the past month, including to the caretaker couple and their little boy living next to us. Since we were leaving before lunchtime, the young woman prepared us a lunch to go – including about a dozen fresh … Continue reading A Colorful Journey through Kerala’s Countryside: Chengannur to Kochi
Finally, it was showtime. The big day came at our school in Chengannur when our students performed the skits they'd been working on under our tutelage for the past couple of weeks. The first grade presented Three Little Pigs, the second grade did Silly Boy and the third grade enacted Red Riding Hood. Lines were … Continue reading Forgotten Lines and Surprising Gifts: A Recap of Chengannur School’s Showcase
On Sunday we decided to take our rickety bikes for a spin out into the countryside somewhat, with hopes that we didn't end up having to carry them back. The destination was a hill that offered an overview of the community, as well as some historical markers of interest. But we never made it all … Continue reading Avoiding Scammers and Seeking Chocolate: A Bike Ride in the Indian Countryside
During our third week of volunteering in Chengannur, we shifted into gear with readying the student performances of three folktales that we've been working on. These are all stories that we drew from our perennial repertoire as touring entertainers in the States. First we demonstrated them, then we began teaching them to the young thespians. … Continue reading Preparing for the Stage: Third Week of Volunteering in Chengannur
world travel with a theatrical flair 