Allepy Thursday

Well I've made it to the gateway to the backwaters, Allepy itself is pretty ugly but I've found the people really helpful and kind. Unfortunately today and tomorrow are holidays for the Christians, a sizable chunk of the shopkeepers and all the bloody tailors (more on that later.) Don't even know if I'll be able to get to the resort for my canoe trip at 6am coz all the drivers will be on holiday too. It's a good 2mile walk away and I'll have to do it the pitch black. I'm going to do a trial run after I leave here and see if it's possible with a torch.

Well I'm here to moan and whinge today. Last night was a major disappointment on many levels and I felt really down last night and lonely and sad. Ahhhhhh! hey, after a month on your own in India it's amazing that it's only happened on one evening. (Well 2, the night of the evil mozzies was terrible) It's because I'm tired and my mozzie bites are really grim now and look scabby, but I've got antiseptic and iodine so I'll be OK.

Firstly I rushed back to my homestay for the cooking course and it had been cancelled because Leelu's Mum had just had a heart attack and the whole family had to run off to the hospital. really bad timing for me, I hope she's going to be OK but her cardiac arrest put stop to my culinary skills.

Didn't know what to do about food because the guy was coming with the trousers at 8pm, so I had a rushed meal down the road and got back to see the guy. OH MY GOD, the trousers are a complete disaster and because I'd paid for them in advance on my credit card there was fuck all I could do about it. I had a go at the man but he didn't care, he'd got my money. He did take them back to the warehouse for an hour or so to adjust them but still no luck. he didn't measure me properly so my waistband is high, I look a bit like Harold Bishop from neighbours and there is no distinction between hip and waist (Boy cut trousers) and my crotch is too low so when I sit down I look like a European pre-op lady boy. Legs are too tight and just terrible. So this afternoon I've been going around in a rickshaw with a lovely driver trying to find a tailor which is open so they can adjust them. Don't even know if it's going to be possible. But NO LUCK. Hopefully I'll sort it out in Bombay. Oh well I'll learn from this mistake but I just trusted that he would do a good job. What a joke.

Again because of the evil mozzies and heat I just didn't sleep well last night and this morning I was quite glad to leave Cochin behind. the rickshaw drivers and shop assistants had just about done my head in. They are all desperate to relieve you of all your money and it really wears you down having to ignore them all the time. My rickshaw driver almost refused to take me to the boat jetty saying he would drive me to Allepy for 500 Rs, about 8 quid. I had to shout at him to take me where I wanted to go and nearly had to try and get out of the moving vehicle with all my luggage. 8 quid isn't much I know for an hour and a half drive, but in a rickshaw it would have killed my back and the ferry to Ernakulam is 3 Rs and the bus from there to Allepy, which was pretty comfortable and high up so I got a good view, was 35 Rs. So you can see the difference. But yet again on my bus journeys I was the absolutely unique white person. Where are all the independent travellers? They are nowhere near me! This was my first journey in the light and I saw lots of interesting things A Hindu elephant procession with all the umbrellas but we'd passed it before I could get my camera out, loads of singing Christians with candles and somber faces. Political rally car and some great shop banners. My favourites were "The supreme pea shop" "Chavi shop" "Teenage Gentlemen's fashion" and "The Non-Unreliable shop" What?!

Well I hope this canoe thing works OK tomorrow, feel a bit dubious about the whole affair at the moment. I'm in such a Christian area I think everything might just close down! If so, eat a hotcross bun for me and please have a drink for me too. Never ever have I EVER been so sober, it's driving me mad! Never has the thought of a cold beer been so tempting. I think I'm going to wander around and find a 5 star hotel, I'm sure they'll have a bar!