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Articles: My Experience | Cheenavala- Netting...
- Ms. Blue Wave
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Cheenavala- Netting Memories!
One cannot forget evenings at Fort Kochi. Ask me what makes it memorable, and I wouldn’t have a perfect answer. Is it the crimson sun setting just out there behind the boats at sea? The remnants of history you bump into at every nook and corner of Fort Kochi? Or is it the simple, yet beautiful Chinese fishing nets which silhouette the promenade? Or is it all of the above?
My mind and eye travels back to the Chinese fishing nets. They are a mute legacy handed down over generations. The relic, left behind by one of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast, the Chinese. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, these nets are built of teakwood and bamboo poles and yes- they work perfectly. The best place to watch the nets being put to use is the Vasco da Gama Square.
Though they give a feeling of simplicity, the Chinese nets are complex in terms of its structure working on the principle of weights and counter weights. How does it work? Strike up a conversation with the friendly fisherman he will explain it all to you. And some do let you climb on to the platform and help roll in a catch of sardines and other small fish. They also cook it for you in shops on the promenade. But one stops to wonder how the fish can be so naive as to fall in the same trap for generations at a go…
When you stand on the platform of the Chinese fishing net, ships sail by just 200 meters away. It ripples up memories for some old timers about those days when Fort Kochi was a trade hub. For dreamers like me, I see the Chinese, the Persians, the Arabs, the Dutch, the French, the English, in those ships of yore sailing through the waters.
As the sun sets, one hears the drum beats…The sounds of Kelikottu marking the beginning of a kathakali show - a traditional art form of kerala pulls u towards the art centre. You can go in and watch a show…And as you walk back home… you find that some scenes are etched for ever in the mind… such is the charm of the place.
Flip side
Fort Kochi beach is not very neat. The weeds are not cleared well. And it is better to be on the move, the swarm of mosquitoes have a tendency to attack when people they are lost in memories...! yeah it happened to me!!!
How to reach
Fort Kochi is accessible from Ernakulam by road and through water. Jump into any of those red city buses, which runs roller coaster rides through the city roads. Believe me, you will be surprised at how deft the drivers are at maneuvering them thru the crowded lanes with a hand on the horn of course. For more peaceful drives, i would suggest a car or an auto rickshaw, but then, you will have to pay slightly more.
But the best way undoubtedly is to take the boat out of Ernakulam Jetty to Fort Kochi. The ride will let you have a glimpse of the old and new. The many small islands, green and wooded adds to the charm.
Staying at Fort Kochi
There are a couple of big budget places just beyond, including the Taj, Casino and Abad group hotels. There are home stays which are not very costly and also guesthouses.
Eating out
Being so close to the sea, the assortment of seafood u find is amazing. If you love sea food…this is the place to be… But then of course, you will find all non veg and vegetarian dishes you will find in the rest of the country at this place.
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