If you've never been to an Indian city before, Cochin could be a riot of sensation at first sight. It's one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India, yet mixes all the spice of tradition with its modernity.
Bustling Ernakulam is the newer and commercial part of the twin cities. Enjoy your last scoop of Chocolate Chip icecream for a while (the Keralite desserts will ensure you don't miss it much). Visit the malls and stores if you want to stock up on clothes or personal effects. Most of the world's leading brands are available here and if you're adventurous enough, so are lots of colourful options in sarees and 'mundus' (the traditional mens' dress in Kerala).
But if Ernakulam is the heart, then the soul of Cochin lies in its older quarters. Here, eight centuries of history are on display, as are a kaleidoscope of cultures. In a span of a few kilometers, you can see a Dutch Harbour house, India's oldest Jewish synagogue, The Catholic St Francis Church, Portuguese navigator Vasco Da Gama's grave, The Hindu Raja of Cochin's Mattancherry Palace, The British Raj-era Cochin Club, and the towering Chinese fishing nets on the harbour.
It's not surprising that the city teems with art experts and buyers from Christie's, Sotheby's and the like - Cochin abounds in colonial antiques and is considered something of a mecca for enthusiasts.
Excursions into the town can be as tiring as they are exhilerating. Specially if you're not so used to the climate (Kerala usually oscillates between breezy warmth, pouring rain and torrid sunshine!). The Cascade pool can be the perfect restorative. Swimsuits are available in the gift shop - which is worth a visit, even if you aren't so keen on a dip. You'll find exquisite examples of traditional Keralan crafts, exotic fabrics, garments, books, handbags and all sorts of fascinating bric-a-brac.
Another great way to relax is an ayurvedic massage. Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of medicine, and the Casino has its own resident experts and fully equipped facilities for a relaxing ayurvedic massage.
The restaurants at the Casino hotel have become institutions for Cochin's food lovers. If you feel a need to temper the exotic with the familiar, The 'Tharavadu' is the place to begin. It serves an extensive buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Your first breakfast in Kerala could be good ol' scrambled eggs, your lunch roast chicken and a shrimp salad, your dinner a fiery squid curry and appams (fluffy rounds of fermented rice and pulses, the traditional accompaniment to Keralite meals). The range of Indian and Continental cuisine is vast.
Dusk falls quickly in this part of the world. If the cocktail hour beckons you, the Vasco da Gama lounge is the hotel's ever-popular watering hole. You can linger over exotic cocktails (Cochin Thunder, Pink Ladies and some superb concoctions based on the local tipples) or in a new twist, sample some health drinks based on ayurvedic ideas.
Col & Mrs John Abraham - your local connection in Kerala will ensure you have a memorable KERALA EXPERIENCE. Kerala - "God's Own Country" - a land bestowed with beauty so enchanting that visitors and warriors alike have been attracted to its shores since ages - the warmth and hospitality of its people, the exotic produces of this Spice Garden and the inviting coconut groves that Mother Nature has gifted to its people have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia.
