| Home |
Kochi, Kathakali, and Kooking
|
|
After leaving Mamallapuram I spent several days in Trichy (Thiruchirapali) |
|
|
A night in Dindigul Then off to Kerala |
|
|
A day visiting Munnar, site of the largest tea plantation in the world Too cold for me, though; couldn't wait to get down to Kochi |
|
|
Then back to the sea, at Fort Cochin (Kochi) In my five days there I enjoyed many excellent meals... |
|
|
...one of which was a scrumptious feast at the end of a cooking class staged by Lelu
Cook 'n' Eat |
|
|
With her ace helper, who demonstrated most of the prep |
|
|
|
|
Fish curry, vegetable curry, and several other wonderful dishes |
|
|
Then we feasted Absolutely scrumptious |
|
|
|
|
Kathakali is an Indian dance-drama that originated in the 17th century here in Kerala I attended a performance in Fort Cochin, arriving early to watch makeup being applied |
|
|
Elaborate makeup, elaborate and stylized costumes |
|
|
And voila! A story is told with hugely expressive hand and facial gestures Traditionally male actors play female parts--as here, with the one on the right |
|
|
|
|
Note the catalog of hand expressions along the upper wall Supporting musicians play in synch with the action |
|
|
|
|
And the next night, a delightful dinner with Indian classical music, at The Old Courtyard restaurant |
|
|
|