Archive for March, 2026


Home from Kerala

Filed under: Asian Holidays, India, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
March 3, 2026

We’re home now. Nature-tripping in the southern part of India was nourishing to the soul. We weren’t so lucky with the wildlife sightings but that’s alright. I’m not exactly that eager to spot a tiger. Nor an elephant. The only Ellie I found was in this spot near the theater where we watched a Kathakali Show. Sadly, the elephants here were used for “rides” through the nearby forest. Sad. 😞

Our group photo by the Lake Kundala

So, it’s a wrap. South India from Cochin to Munnar’s tea estates to Thekkady’s wildlife sanctuaries to Alleppey’s backwaters. Swell. Here are the links to my blogs on Kerala:

Touchdown, Kerala

The Hill Palace

Munnar

Thekkady

Alleppey

Back in Cochin

Shopping in Kerala

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A Shopper’s Adrenaline Rush

Filed under: Asian Holidays, India, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

Jew Town in Cochin
Shopping for Bags

This is my 2nd trip to India, my 1st to Kerala. Admittedly, the first few days did not overwhelm as there was so much time wasted on bus rides. As we drove 4-5 hours each journey from Cochin to Munnar to Thekkady to Allepey, the joy of travel was only enhanced by good company and shopping. I’m NOT a shopper but I don’t mind tagging along or waiting while others shop and dump their bags of purchases by my feet while I sip my coffee or wine in some bar. Problem was I never enjoyed the coffee here. And alcohol isn’t as available as one wanted in this corner of the world. The whole trip we only enjoyed our wine in the hotels and found the coffee in Spice Village in Thekkady, Kumily as acceptable. I honestly wished this was our hotel as it has a sprawling garden, a good buffet spread, good coffee and a stone’s throw from the bazaars!

Bags of all sizes
Ctto: Enan Capulo

Shopping was good anywhere in India. I still remember the sarees and kurta I bought from my first trip. This time, the big tote bags and clutch bags filled my suitcase along with the black tea with masala from the tea gardens of Munnar. No shopping in Allepey though as we were happily on “houseboat arrest”. These were the tranquil moments before reaching Cochin where the adrenaline rush started pumping again because of the shopping options. From bags to shawls to purses and tote bags to bangles to paper products to table linen. And for the serious shoppers, the handicrafts and jewelries.

Srishti Products
Srishti Paper Products

There were lovely pants and skirts to choose from. Very Indian. In vibrant hues and exotic patterns. Matched with lovely and colorful duppati which can be worn loosely like a shawl. Almost always, our pee stops included some shopping outbursts. Well, you’d never know what you’d find in the most unusual places. But I did find shopping in Shristi Charitable Trust in Munnar the most meaningful. The products are made by underprivileged children under the Trust’s care. Beautiful products like paper from different non-wood materials. The Trust is dedicated to the upliftment of these children through education, skills development and health care. God bless them 🙏

Ctto: Eman Capulo
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Back to Cochin and the Biennale

Filed under: art, Asian Holidays, India, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — Leave a comment
March 2, 2026

We arrived back in Cochin by noontime to catch our midnight homeward flight to Manila. Enough time to do a 2nd pass of the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2026. The first visit was in a small, restricted venue called David Hall, an art gallery cum cafe. But on our next shot of the Kochi Biennale, we visited the main exhibition in Aspinwall House, a waterfront heritage mansion that used to be the headquarters of a British trader of spices, coffee, rubber and coir. Distinctively Dutch colonial in style, Aspinwall House is now a major cultural hub typically open to the public during the biennale. A fine choice for the prestigious exhibition, with its white-painted buildings, high ceilings, and large verandahs. On one side are verandahs looking out to sea and the inner courtyard is littered with leaves crunching as people step on them. Spotted around 5 old ladies sweeping the leaves all afternoon we were there. A pretty, mesmerizing sight.

Aspinwall House. This all white seafront mansion is the primary venue for the Kochin – Muziris Biennale 2026 titled “For The Time Being”.
Sweepers around Aspinwall House

I do not know the artists but this once in 2 years biennale is certainly well-curated and couldn’t have chosen a better venue for its primary hub. The Dutch colonial heritage house is so pretty in all its whiteness and gabled facade. It was just a short line to get in and we found many local visitors to this biggest contemporary art festival in the whole of Asia. 66 artists from 25 countries. 29 venues. We could have spent more time but had to squeeze in some last minute shopping before rushing to the airport to catch our flight. A pity. I particularly liked the series of etched copper plates suspended from the high ceiling made by Delhi-born and now Sydney-based artist Kirtika Kain. Very evocative.

A series of etched copper plates suspended from the high ceiling of Aspinwall House made by Delhi-born and now Sydney-based artist Kirtika Kain.
Another evocative installation made by Panjeri Artists Union, an anti-caste collective organized in 2021 in West Bengal near the India and Bangladesh border.
Handwoven fabrics made by manual labor replaced by mechanical weaving machines. The message is deep, provocative and a tad heartbreaking.

The works on exhibit evoked many socio-political undertones. The social-cultural backgrounds of the participating artists may have a lot to do with that but in my book, there is so much to learn about Indian history. Prompts me to read and learn more about this fascinating nation of over one billion. So much to research and my curiosity crosses beyond the era of maharajahs and more into more recent Indian history. The art pieces have deep, profound messages that may be easily missed because of the beauty and colors of the artworks. Yay, I wish we had at least another whole day to spend in Cochin. The Biennale was a pleasant surprise and I’m only too glad we timed our trip well. But there’s so much more to explore in this busy port city, not to mention the exotic cafes, seafood stalls and great shopping!

Brightly illuminated installations of carnivorous flowers by Dhiraj Rabha, a visual artist from Assam, India. Title: The Quiet Weight of Shadows . Dhiraj reflects on his childhood in Goalpara Camp.
This was taken in David Hall near Fort Kochi Beach. Another Dutch colonial house we visited on our first day in Cochin. Another biennale venue — there were 29 — all across Fort Kochi. Now operates as an art gallery and cafe.
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