Chic Cafes, Cochin and Canals

If any of you have been following my blogs (all two of them) you might remember me speaking about how there were no chic café’s in India. I now need to revise this statement.  In Kerala state, in Cochin, through a back alleyway there is a place that I think deserves a prize for it's chicness. This is a rare find in India.

Let me take you back a month ago. Yes, I know, I am extremely inconsistent. But there was a drama festival at my school and I was one of the directors. There was no time to blog! More on that later.

A month ago the other IG girls (International Guests) took a much needed, long weekend down to Cochin. After 10 hours of travel,  a taxi driver that played “Barbie Girl” and a weird Indian movie that I couldn’t even pretend to understand, we arrived. Us four girls promptly made our home in this chic café that I keep mentioning. Welcome to Kashi Coffee; art gallery; garden; café ; and perfect escape from the world.

All this art! Weird and colourful. It was like a museum. It was inspiring. I could probably have spent hours sitting in there, gazing at the other wanderers, at the art, at the statues, at my yummy food. Feeling like there wasn’t any other place that I should be. We were even asked to fill out a survey on the architecture of the place. Obviously we were very complimentary. I ordered a lime soda infused with ayurvedic spices.  Yes, this drink was as good and interesting as it sounds. I think I am a new woman after those lime sodas.

We also took a backwater tour. We were gondoliered through the canals. We passed fishermen, other boats, water lilies, palm trees and bathers. At one point we stopped and walked through the jungle to where some ladies were making rope. Guess what they were making the rope from? Coconut fiber. It was very cool. They spun it together and eventually the coconut fiber turns into baskets, mats, and rope. I am going to keep this skill in mind, if I am ever stranded on a deserted island.

Our time in Cochin was brief. However it was delightful and needed. Especially because the month after was insanely busy. It’s nice to take a moment, look at some art, sit in a café, breathe.