March 24, 2024 Cochin, India 42 days left of 138

 Welcome to Cochin, India.

The passengers are greeted with drumming and cymbals as they walked to the Port Terminal to pass through immigration. The women standing in the shade at the door were marking everyone with an orange dot in the middle of their forehead.

This is our view from the ship, and this will be the only view we have today. Mike has a sensitive stomach, and it is a little more sensitive today. 

We enjoyed out day at the pool and sun deck. We worked on a 3,000 piece puzzle, and were able to say goodbye to our friends who are leaving on the overland India excursion. We tried trivia with a combined team of some usual players, and some new players. It was a fair day, but good conversation was the best part of the game.

Our revised itinerary starts now as we are headed away from the conflict in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Now that the travelers who left the ship in Singapore to avoid the new itinerary, and the 141 who left for 6 days on the overland India excursions, leaves us with 447 guests on the ship and 463 crew. That is quite the ratio. The ship areas are clear for the taking.  The staff in the food service areas are being required to take a full day off this week.

As we pulled out of the port we saw the fishing nets we were supposed to have seen on the excursion today. We were told when they pull the nets up the egrets are right there on the nets taking the choice fish for themselves. They are smart birds. I borrowed this picture, as it was better than the one I took.

We ended the day dancing under a full Spring moon.

Since I am not going to be able to see the Taj Mahal in person I thought I would share pictures taken by fellow travelers and one India picture taken off the screen of masterpieces that display various pictures during the day.