Year 3 -26 February 2026 – Kochi-Cherai Beach- India
It rained quite heavily in the early morning and I had to get up to close the hatches. We have had rain a few times but it is never for long and seems to cool the temperature down. When we woke it was dry and we had melon and mango for breakfast with yoghurt and granola.
We had arranged to go to see Cherai Beach which was some 25km North of Kochi as it was Mark’s last day. I did a few jobs like bailing out the dinghy and putting the running backstays further back and tidying up. We then prepared and met our driver at 10.00am.
The drive to Cherai beach took about an hour due to the traffic. However, this took us through urban areas so we could see busy India in operation as we have seen before. There were some major roadworks going on but everyone was busy and doing something. There were lots of shops selling everything from clothes and shoes to hardware to electronics etc. You could get everything here if you knew where to go. There were tyre shops, mechanical shops and repairs going on. There were supermarkets but also grocers (yes remember when we had those!) selling lots of lovely fruit and veg. It was all busy with lots of mopeds, bicycles, cars, tuk tuks, lorries and trucks (some painted in bright colours with their names on boards at the front) going about their daily tasks. The people were busy going here and there with the ladies in their colourful and elegant saris and the men in their shirts and mundu. Indian men commonly wear sarong-style garments, primarily the lungi, mundu or vesti, which are essential for comfort in hot, humid climates. These breathable, 100% cotton rectangular cloths are wrapped around the waist and worn as casual, daily, or, for the white mundu/veshti, formal attire. Checked patterns are popular, with many available as "ready-to-wear" stitched versions.
An Indian sari (or saree) is a traditional garment for women from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of a 4.5- to 9-meter-long drape wrapped around the waist with one end (pallu) over the shoulder, baring the midriff. It is typically worn over a petticoat and a blouse (choli). A key issue for India is waste management. There is rubbish everywhere and nobody seems to care. It is such a beautiful country but this lets them down and they need in my view a change in mindset about rubbish installed at a very early age.
However, amongst all this urban life and rubbish we were crossing the beautiful waterways being the backwaters of Kerala. There were many rivers or water ways we crossed where there were many Chinese Nets along the waterways and little boats fishing with nets and the locals being busy on the water rather like the urban areas. You got the impression that you need to be doing something or you get nothing and I think we could learn a lot in the UK. There is no safety blanket like social security or benefits here. You either work or sell or perform services or you get nothing.
We drove on through the urban areas and waterways and we eventually came to Chenia Beach which is about 3 km long and looks out to the Arabian Sea. It was a long sandy beach and every now and then there was a hotel/restaurant. There was not much rubbish here which was nice other than a bit of flotsam and jetsam washed up on to the beach.
The book says “Around 26 kms from the city, towards the north of the Vypeen islands lies Cherai Beach, a true swimmer's paradise. A pristine canvas where nature weaves its magic through golden sands, azure waters and lush greenery, Cherai Beach is widely considered to be a gem in the crown of Kerala's coastal treasures.
The road to the beach is flanked by low lying paddy fields on both sides which makes it a delightful drive. Pristine white sands, waters ideal for a relaxing swim and a vivacious ambiance are the hallmarks of this destination. Dolphin sightings are common here, so the beach is a haunt for nature lovers. The seashells found here are different and much sought after by visitors. Another highlight of the area is the Chinese fishing nets that are a common sight here. Also called China Vala, these fishing nets and their mechanism have intrigued visitors for years. The areas surrounding the beach are filled with street vendors who sell the best of local trinkets as well as the local street food. The plethora of homestays and resorts in the area ensures that you have enough and more options to choose from when it comes to accommodation needs.
While on a visit to Cherai, to experience the best of the destination be sure to sample the local cuisine. The flavours of Kerala's coastal cuisine are a tantalising blend of aromatic spices, fresh local seafood and tropical fruits. Be it the succulent tiger prawns grilled to perfection and drizzled with zesty lime and fragrant coconut or the mouthwatering fish curries that simmer in rich, creamy coconut milk that has been infused with the fiery heat of local spices, every bit of Kerala cuisine is a trip of a lifetime for food lovers. Every culinary creation is made with passion and the best ingredients that are all sourced locally.”
We had a walk and a look and saw a nice viewpoint at a restaurant so we went and sat overlooking the beach with the sound of the waves coming on to the shore. Oh the sound of the sea – for all you sailors – we all love that sound and it makes you calm.
We sat for some hours having an enjoyable sea food lunch with prawns and a whole fish which was good and we put the world to rights.
Our driver had agreed to wait and at 3.00pm we hopped back in the car and drove back through Kochi to Stormbird. We then went for a swim in the pool and met 3 students staying from Belgium so we had a good chat.
As we had had a big lunch we had cheese and biscuits on the boat which was good. I was contacted by Simon Hammond – he crewed Barbados to Grenada in 2024 that he had been taking to a friend in his village and he sent me a message LM54 – this was my sergeant number in the Met when I was a sergeant at Clapham Police station. He had been speaking to someone in his village and who was a PC with me when I was at Clapham. A very small world.
Mark leaves early in the morning to return home and then I shall be on my own for a few days.
The picture of the day is of Cherai beach – I forgot to take one so this is from the internet but I recognise it.
Need/Opportunity Year Three
In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.
I am looking for one crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town (mid June to end of July). If of any interest do email me.
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com