Temples 28-30, Kochi City

On my last day before travelling to the airport, instead of having another rest day, I went walking.

At Kochi station in the morning I pressed a black button to open the waiting room door (as I thought) and an alarm went off. Within 5 minutes four train operatives were frantically trying to find the urgent problem. I owned up via Google translate and I wasn't arrested; fortunately I think they found it funny.

A few kms after Temple 28, a local man accosted me and dragged me into a shrine with a group of villagers. Food - noodle soup and spicy rice with nuts - was pressed upon me. A monk gave a short address and everyone chanted sutras. I tried to join in. I heard from other people that they invited everyone in as it was the birthday of Dainishi, Temple 28's main deity. When I got up to leave I was given a little box of spicy rice.

It's been pleasantly cool - low 20s - and a beautiful day walking 25km through fields and into Kochi.Read more