Cochin at the Rice Boat
After the first day in Cochin, the next day started with a search for Fool's gold - My camera Canon IXUS 75 had run of batteries. My superior planning skills dont prepare me for this situation and i was not carrying the charger- So thot of buying a new battery - Two hours later, I was still short of a battery having gone to some 7 shops including the Canon distributor. Did i also mention that the concerned Sales manager whose contact was given by the Canon help center didnt pick up my call ? Some day I will write on the company's website about their impeccable sales system & customer service :)
Post which we went to the Jewish Synagogue in Mattancherry - It was closed as per traditions on Saturday :( - Then we found this government exhibition on Antiques - Some of the stuff was superb there - My friends found some sculpture which they found very nice. Just cost Rs 5500 and thankfully sense prevailed and it was not bought. Are you nuts, for that kind of money I could buy 5 Absolut bottles or 12 Smirnoff bottles or even an ipod !!!!!!!!! We found this restaurant called ginger which was next the waterbody in the open. They served exotic stuff like Lezzi( lassi), Alu Gopi( potato served by nubile gopies or girls), Noodils ( noodles made in Azerbaijan) etc etc - Anyways we had some small snacks there as we were planning to have the famous Kayee's mutton biriyani at the Rahamatulla hotel close by - So after waiting for food for 45 minutes and the bill for 15, we left the place - En route, our cab driver suggested that we also check out the museum there. I dont like museums and this one completely lived up to lack of expectations - Post which we were dying for have Kayee's mutton biriyani- We reached there and ...................
The owner waved at it from outside saying its over - Their biriyani's finish off by 3 pm sadly - :(
Our driver suggested that we try the ferry - we reached the jetty and were offered a half an hour ride on the speedboat for Rs 650 /-. But that idiotic Murphy had to come between us and the motor boat didnt start - So he started paddling and the sight was quite hilarious. The image of a motor boat paddling got us scared and we beat a hasty retreat. Imagine having to paddle a speedboat in middle of sea without knowing how to swim.
Post Murphy getting in our lives all day long, we decided to head back to the hotel. Evening, we had a dinner at Rice Boat at Taj Malabar. In case you want to dine there, please call & book in advance to avoid disappointment. All ready, we headed towards the hotel at around 7 pm. We were welcomed very warmly like true Taj tradition. The restaurant had a fish counter where in you can choose your fish and they serve it to you in three different styles - grilled, cooked in a banana leaf & served in Kerala curry style. The food is divine to say the least. Its accompanied with appams, idiappams & steamed rice. Each one is flavoured differently and the flavours come to life in your mouth. The one in the banana leaf was strong & you can feel the tangy taste. On the other hand, the one in the curry had a more subtle mld taste and after a couple of minutes, your palate gets accustomed to it.
Interestingly we had also ordered long island ice teas which weren't really good. When we told this to the waiter, he graciously got a fresh one prepared on his behalf and boy was that good. Once a Taj, always a Taj - its amazing how they teach hospitality to their staff !!!
Post our sumptous dinner, we were heading back when we encountered the live band playing next to the bar - What else does one need? We bought drinks at the bar and grooved to some really nice old country songs. They even played some of our requests. After they wound up, we also called it a day and headed back to our hotel. The journey was back through the quiet roads of Willingdon island reminding us that its time for God to go to bed in his own country . Tommorow shall be a new day
