Sometimes when you’re in a country, some things can be so common that you get used to them. You forget that the thing might be unique to that country. In Japan, for example, the prevalence of a particular type of convenience store every 100m is quite common in Japan. It’s not in other countries. In … Continue reading / view photos From rupees to QR codes: how India went cashless
Author: Praful
Books and the Legislative Assembly
I mentioned that I had some 2,000 Rs notes from my last trip to India. These, I was told, were worthless now. I had about a hundred pounds’ worth! On asking more people I got contradictory answers. A bank I tried wouldn’t change them, but I was none the wiser whether it was possible another bank … Continue reading / view photos Books and the Legislative Assembly
Temple, market, and moonlight swimming
I had a couple of days in Thiruvananthapurum (aka Trivandrum) before meeting Cath and Helene. When I think of Thiruvananthapurum, I wonder if it’s twinned with that Welsh town with a very very long name. For my first full day, I headed to Sree Padmanabhhaswamy Temple. If you tell taxi drivers you want to go … Continue reading / view photos Temple, market, and moonlight swimming
Train to Thiruvananthapurum
Indian trains are renowned for overcrowding. This occurs for the unticketed seats. For the ticketed seats, there is a sophisticated buying system. Some seats have higher demand, like those with air-conditioning. For these, you generally have to buy an advanced ticket because they can sell out quickly. You have several options. If you try early … Continue reading / view photos Train to Thiruvananthapurum
Jew Town
On my guided sightseeing trip with Jithu, he also took me to Jew Town in Kochi (aka Cochin). History Jewish settlers came to India as early as the 1st Century. Following floods and persecution by Portuguese colonists, Jews moved to Kochi in the 14th Century. They were welcomed by the Raja at the time. He gave … Continue reading / view photos Jew Town
Mattancherry Palace Museum
On my guided sightseeing trip with Jithu, he also took me to Mattancherry Palace Museum in Kochi (aka Cochin). The museum occupies a 16th-century Portuguese palace, known as the “Dutch Palace” after later renovations. Construction of the palace began around 1555. It was gifted to Vira Kerala Varma (the Raja/King of Kochi at the time) … Continue reading / view photos Mattancherry Palace Museum
Sightseeing with Jithu
Yesterday, a tuk tuk driver, Jithu, took me to the Love in Earth restaurant. Tuk tuk drivers are always trying to give you a cheap tour. They charge a low price because they take you to tourist shops. These shops sell you things like jewellery, perfume, spices, saris, scarves, and ornaments. The drivers get a … Continue reading / view photos Sightseeing with Jithu
Lulu Mall
On my second day, I returned to Lulu Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in India. This young woman I was talking to said the Trivandrum one is bigger now. I was reminded that there’s one thing that makes or breaks you in India: a packed local bus journey. You’ll love it for being … Continue reading / view photos Lulu Mall
Return to Kochi
On my first and only trip to India in 2017/8, I travelled south to north on the western side. For my second trip, I’m planning to see more of the eastern side. I’ve started in a familiar place, Kochi. I was last here at the end of 2017. I reached Kochi from London via Abu … Continue reading / view photos Return to Kochi
Abu Dhabi Airport
When booking a flight, I think about when I’m leaving and arriving. I want to leave at a reasonable hour and arrive in the daytime, all things being equal. Arriving to an unfamiliar place in the dark can be quite daunting. In the daytime, you can use public transport, but a night-time arrival usually means … Continue reading / view photos Abu Dhabi Airport