Culture vultures

Our arrival in Fort Kochi (aka Cochi, Cochin), coincided with the opening yesterday of the first Indian Biennale art festival literally on our doorstep. On rumours of a free lunch, we wandered 50 yds over the parade ground to attend the opening press conference. We availed ourselves with a couple of press passes (having a journalist for a daughter is useful sometimes), so now we get first row seats at all the events. The big opening concert last night was on the parade ground right outside where we are staying.




The drummers were giving it some welly...

We decided to change the pace, and on the day maestro Ravi Shankar passed away, we moved on to a mesmerising sitar concert.

No, he wouldn't let me have a go!
The night before we went to a Kathakali theatre production, where the actors only use facial expressions to tell the story.
Here's Lord Krishna's having a good old chinwag with Draupadi in a scene from The Mahabharata




Today we're off around some of the many art installations and exhibitions in the town.
All this culture- I need to go and lie down in a dark room with the A/C on!!

Location:Fort Kochi