All ready on Friday afternoon, working from home to avoid the rain, we left early and reached the station for our super ac express. Not kidding, that is the real name.
The non stop monsoon delayed our awesome train trip and we arrived around 4 am delayed by 2 hours. Reaching our hotel Aiswarya, a good budget hotel, we fulfilled the remaining sleep required and had breakfast at Kempu Veg. Keep in mind we have just walked from the station into our hotel. A nice long bath, check out and a cab trip to Oberon mall for the race kit through desperately full roads. A move lunch in the mail and back we were near the boat jetty, four rupees to the government and we boarded our first 'water bus' which was a novel experience in itself as we reached fort kochi.
Solar cafe, just outside the boat jetty, served for a neat meal. Arafat's rent a bike on princess street was the next location where we walked to, got a bike for ourselves for the day and off we went... Slowly crossing Wellington island and reached Riviera suites for the night.
A good night's sleep, and we were back to getting ready, this time for the marathon. Reflective stickers, caps, banana, all set. A short pleasant ride along Wellington island and we were there thanks to the rented bike.
And a good marathon it was... But that is another story altogether... This is just the pre and post...
Once the marathon was over, we went back, rested aa bit, checked out and off we went to fort kochi... Going round and round, we went to the synagogue, the dutch palace and finally settled for a late snack at Kashi art cafe. Submitting the vehicle, we were finally back on foot to the boat jetty, a little boat ride back to Ernakulam and another meal at Kempu...
One final thing, we met Shaheer, after a little less than six months after our trek. Glad he came.
Here are some pictures:
Photos from the boat trip from Ernakulam to fort kochi
Solar cafe, near boat jetty, fort kochi
Mandatory picture of Chinese fishing nets
The interesting Kashi art gallery
Motivational quote helped me finish
