Having lived a chunk of my childhood in Kochi, I had been dying to go back to the place, as a traveler this time, to revisit old memories. I must have been only 8 when I lived there, but I still have vivid memories of how the place looked like. The sea, the backwaters, the marine drive. The palm trees and coconut trees lining the roads that had recently seen some drizzling. The winds that brought along the sweet smell of jasmine flowers stationed in the braids and buns of the local women. The Appam and Mutton, the fried pomfret, and the Prawn curry that could make even Vegans salivate. The Chinese fishing nets and the docks with ferries roped together. The hidden beaches where I collected shells of all shapes and sizes, and where I ran along the waves for as long as my legs would carry me. The long walks on the quiet and serene roads, holding papa’s hand, going to the phonebooth to make calls with mom, because mobiles were unheard of back then. Learning Malayam because there was no other option, making the best mallu friends ever. These memories could last a lifetime, sure, but I wanted to go back to the place I fell so madly, deeply and irrevocably in love with! A place that gave me my first beaches, that made me realize I was made for the sea, a place that gave me friends I would go on to write letters to for years after I had moved from Kerala.
And so, I did.
I planned a backpacking trip with the most random people through a social networking site, and I would count this as one of the best decisions I made, for I made the most invaluable memories with such brilliant people, whom I’d now like to call friends 😊
So, this community, called Photographers of India, goes to trips within India every 45 days, and this was my first trip with them. You must reach out to them if you’re looking for a chilled out, no fuss, fun and only fun trip! They shall not disappoint, trust me!
So, I booked my flights and hopped on to an early morning flight to Kochi, to be met with the most awesome people at Zostel, Kochi Fort. Getting down from the aircraft, a wave of nostalgia hit me, as I realized I was finally in Cochin, after a long spell of 17 years!
I, along with a couple of other travelers who had landed around the same time got on to the local bus headed towards Fort Kochi. 1.5 hours later we got to the Zostel.
I was amazed by the way the Zostel had been set up. After having lived in college hostels, this hostel would look like a party to you!
It was very artistic and damn clean!
I met the fellow travelers and was delighted out and out. Each person so different from the other! One, a travel blogger, another one a doctor. One, a photographer, another a fashion designer. We had people from all walks of life almost, and it was indeed wonderful to meet all these kickass people!
I immediately connected with most of the people and we set out to have lunch at this local dhaba like place in Mattancherry. The food was incredible, lovingly served and so modestly priced!! We ate to our heart’s content, went back to the Zostel and chilled out some more before we set out to Marine Drive and Spice Market on the Ferry ride.
The Ferry ride, again, bought back beautiful memories. We reached the Marine drive well in time to behold the sight of a mesmerizing sunset. We binged on some icecreams and faloodas, burgers and chowmein, and then before we knew it, 2 hours had already passed by!
We set out on the ride back to the Zostel to find an amazing surprise awaiting us. We saw, on the terrace, some drums and drummers, in Hope of enchanting us with their trippy music, and enchanted we were! What lay ahead was a night full of amazing live music, lots of dancing, food and drinks, and of course bonds to be created that would go a long way 😊
This was my Kochi trip in short. The next morning we headed out to Allepey, which was again a dreamy, dreamy place. Watch out for the next post to hear about my experiences in Allepey 😊
Hope you enjoyed reading!
Till the next time,
XOXO
-TwofoldChic
Reading this made me want to plan a trip to Kochi. ❤
Well, that’s the idea! To inspire people to travel more often! 🙂
Kitna acha likha hai. ❤️ Thank you .
Thank you 🙂
Wow, beautifully written blog post, and accompanied with such amazing pictures.
I really liked the way you started this post, remembering your early days here and walking us through your then daily routine.
Can’t wait to see the rest of your trip 🙂
Cheers.
I’m so happy to see you liked it! Thank you! Can’t wait to post about the rest of the trip! ❤️
Really loved reliving all the memories through your blog. Keep going 🙂
Thankyou Chayanika! ❤️
If I continue reading these post, I will go to India, and then it will be difficult for me to return home in my country, without having traveled so many beautiful places 😭
Aww! We are not officially a mascot of #IncredibleIndia I feel. You’d love India, and it’s alright if you can’t cover all the places at once. It gives you reasons to keep coming back to this country 😉
Very precisely written, made me nostalgic about the trip.
Great work ❤️
Thanks Virat 🙂
It’s really a good place and well described in this blog. I would definitely want to go to this place as soon as possible.👍👍
Mission accomplished 😀
This one is your best blog till date with brilliant content and mesmerizing pictures. After reading this blog, I desperately wanna go to Kerala and live/feel it’s sheer awesomeness. Loved it!!
I’m so glad you like the blog, and that it makes you want to travel to Kerala! That’s the whole point of the blog! 🙂
Keep visiting, we have so much more to share!
Beautifully written and amazing images. Your words totally justified this wonderful place.
Keep writing 😊
Thank you so much ! 🙂
I’m a malayali and really loved the way u showcased Kerala!
I wana also add that I really really love ur sense of fashion!
Waiting for ur next blog..
Ur former colleague 🙂
Thanks Devi 🙂 :*
I can’t wait to post about the rest of my trip now 😀
Wow very well written, whole Kerala experience went through my mind while reading this 😍. I really liked the way you described your childhood memories. Eagerly waiting for new blog about allepey.
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Keep people around you happy as u always do!!! 😘
Thanks Dhanashri! :*
Great post.. Looking forward to reading allepey and verkala ones..
Thanks Bhakti! Very soon, very soon 🙂
“Amazing write-up!” Keep Going
Thankooooooooooooooo Varun 😀
Very nicely written and pictures are just wow.. U made me read complete blog although i never read blog before… Amazing.
I’m so glad i could do that! Thankyou! Keep visiting 🙂
How I wish I was there too. And thanks to this post, I virtually was. The pictures and the write up gave me a life like feel, and needless to say, you did pure justice to the beautiful land. Thumbs up👍
Thanks a ton! 🙂
Wow awesome blog post , inspire the next trip to Kerala asap 😄
Thank you! 🙂
Keep visiting!
Such a beautiful, beautiful post! Going back to that place where you lived your childhood days and going after so many years just to let the nostalgia hit you, engulf you, embrace you. (And that too with complete strangers!) That’s not something everybody does for themselves. Giving others sure is a good thing, but giving back to yourself, is something you ought to do for your own self. Because if you don’t, nobody else can.
Sadiya, that’s such a beautiful comment. Thankyou for never failing to go through my posts, my blog, and especially for never failing to appreciate the efforts!
Lots of love to you, darling! XX
Awww! 💕 *Virtual kisses* :*
As always FAADDDD picsss.. with impressive post to read…#phoi_kerala !!!!
Waiting for the next one…..
Thanks Jatin 😀
You describe the place so well that it just feel like we right there experiencing the same. Can’t wait to read more.. Xoxo😘
Thanks babe! 🙂
A lot more coming your way very soon 😀
Beautiful description of God’s own country!!so badly want to relive those days in ernakulum!! Wave of nostalgia hit on the very thought of places like Marine drive and mattancherry…..(my favourite shopping destination) Good going Diksha!!way to go!!
Thank you Miss Mother! You were missed in Kerala, if you must know! 🙂
Amazing post and mesmerizing pics.
It feels like I have literally revisited Kochi again through these pics and write-up.
Great job, keep it up. 🙂
Aww, thanks Anand! 🙂
I don’t know what to say ,
Will it be correct to say that I missed it ,
Yeah I missed the fun but I think I have gathered the most beautiful experience through these pictures , very well showcased.
Appreciated.
Thanks Diksha
For the beautiful story telling.
Well, so now you know that you can’t afford to miss the next trip i’m on, right? 😀
I’m glad that you liked the post. Thankyou for you earnest appreciation 🙂
Keep visiting!
haha yeah, I’ll surely try to join you guys on the next trip.
This is amazing! Setting some major travel goals! 🙂
Thank you 🙂
“A place that gave me my first beaches, that made me realize I was made for the sea…” Simple words put so beautifully! Great post! Amazing pictures!
Don’t you have any pictures from your childhood Maam? 😛 Would have loved to see a few here! 🙂
Thank you Aniket! :*
I’ll have to fish them childhood pictures out. Let me put mommy towork 😀
Thankyou for being all praise about me and my work ALWAYS! Love to you! :*
come back for biennale #art #music #culture 12/12/18
I would love to! Saw a couple of pictures and i really would like to come.
When is it happening?