A page in history ..
Fort cochin ..
As the monsoon waves slash upon its wet beach ..the rocks on its edges brace themselves to contain the foam which sluices into its crevices.
The Chinese net gently dips its trap into the turbulent sea and after some time is raised by balancing men on its bamboo poles to bring forth its twisting sparkling gasping rewards .
It's Chinese net as obviously brought here by some Chinese traveller or an early Indian tourist to China .
This has been happening for centuries .probably even when the Dutch or Portugese or the British frolicked these sands .
When the muslim traders stood in the sides of the Calvethy canal to watch the sailing dhows into distant Arabia or a Gowda saraswat konkani did his ablutions in his temple or a lone jew put his cap in the synagogue .
History is the soul of Cochin .
Its heard rasping in its breath in every corner of its blessed existence be it in the Dutch palace in Mattancherry or the beating steps of an army in the parade ground or the lonely crosses that gaze across a windy sea in the beach cemetry telling dead tales of the past .
The ferry that sails across the backwaters to Vypeen island or the modern Ro Ro that carries a dozen cars and many motorbikes across .
The huge containers that chug out of the Cochin port into the wide seas never stopping to think of the thousands of masted sailed ships that sailed these same seas over the years .
With its own delectable cuisine inimitable sea food its scenery its history this place should have been the tourist capital of the world but sadly with the visionless planners and plotters Fort cochin is doomed to an existence of filth pot holes rubbish poor lighting mudholes and weedy gardens .
Imagine if this place was owned by Dubai or Singapore
They would be paradises on earth with every concievable entertainment food courts possible giving employment livelihood and fame for thousands .
Even if a non expert like me is given a chance I would do things better .
On our return from Kodungallur I took the Ro Ro to reach Fort cochin from Vypeen once
Was in need of a lunch
So we bought a couple of pearlspots and moved into the fast food shacks near Delta school and they made an excellent polichattu with a fish mango curry and rice and a cool mint lime to wash it down .
The cloudy weather added its flavours
A delightful afternoon in a page in history .
