Brunton Boatyard

A day out today. As if all days aren't days out. We took an auto (a tuk tuk) into the town to the bus stop and just caught the bus (made easier by the fact that I can read some of the words now in Malayalam). Bus rides can be a bit hairy and this one was. The driver was manic.. The private buses race each other to get to the stops first as they get paid by the number of passengers and at one point there were three buses hurtling down narrow packed roads to get to the next stop first. Women sit at the front of the bus which is scarier as I could see everything we were hurtling towards.

Anyway we made it and headed for the Oasis of Cafe Coffee Day for a rare cappuccino .. then to FabIndia a wonderful shop that sells natural cotton clothes . bought a kurta so did Mr A .. then to our favourite restaurant for Dry Chilli Paneer and Channa Masala and Paneer Butter Masala and rice .. and grape juice.. delicious... then we got an auto back to the boat ferry and took the ferry across the Kochi harbour full of old and new boats fishing and cargo and passenger boats.. I love it here... Got off at Fort Kochi and I took this photo on the approach.. this is a hotel but in a very traditional Keralan style.. Fort Kochi is a bit touristy.. in Cherai where we stay the auto drivers and shop keepers greet to give of themselves generously .. in Fort Kochi they greet to sell... one of the very down sides of the tourists that flock there.. But it is a pretty place with a big Portuguese influence.. and then on the ferry again back to Vypin Island the bus home .. a much calmer affair .. well we got the bus to the town and bought a huge bunch of gladioli and a string of jasmine to hang on the wall... and then an another auto across the backwaters home.. a wonderful day.. and now off for my Malayalam lesson...

I am playing aroud with Adobe photoshop to learn how to use it and liked this effect ..