After I last wrote (not so shortly : ) ) Hena and I went to Kashi Art Cafe for lunch. Unfortunately we missed the lunch special because we were too late. The place is really popular and they only make so much of the special so you better get there early, ah well. We met with Anamika, a friend of Hena's who had just moved to the island, for lunch- he dad's in the military so she moves a lot.The food we had was still wonderful: mushroom soup with toast, tomato cheese sandwiches, watermelon slices, and desert of lemon and chocolate cake slices. Yum.
After lunch we went to Jew Town to see the synagogue, which I couldn't take pictures of, even the outside! : (So the three of us decided to walk back to town- only a mile or so- and on the way we passed this place that Hena had been to the opening show of back in January when she was showing another friend around India called Greenix. I was hesitant to see the show since it was Rs. 350 for each of us- however one of the performers said, "If you do not enjoy the show I will return the money for your ticket personally." So given that this performer was willing to give up his own personal cash if I didn't like the show was some pretty good confidence on his part, so we went to see the show.
The show consisted of the traditional dance/performance arts of Kerala (sounds like Cat-a-la in American): Mohiniyattan, Theyyam, Kathakali, Kalaripayattu. Also in Greenix was a cultural museum with instruments, costume examples, prop examples, an antique boat, and live demonstrations of handloom weaving, pottery wheel, coir (coconut hair rope) making, and 
coconut palm basket weaving (which we missed because we saw the last show of the day). However to make up for it the performer who'd offered our money back showed us the exhibit that is under construction now which is a scale model of Kerala including topography and landmarks!Anamika in a coconut frond hat from the weaving demo. -->
After we toured the museum and perused through the shops without buying anything : ) the three of us walked back to the Salt & Pepper Cafe for dinner. Anamika's dad showed up before we ate and she had to go home, : (, but Hena and I had dinners of Greek salads and chicken kebabs. We also too pictures with the sea hawk Krishna that is a permanent resident of Salt & Pepper . The owner raised her by hand after he found her as a chick with part of her wing missing, so she doesn't fly away.
After that we stopped by a store for essentials (soap) and then went back to the homestay for the night. We also saw this odd package label. Just look closely at the larger view.... I guarantee it will either make you laugh or scratch you head or both ...Day 17
Hena and I over slept- again. We were going to go on the 8:30am backwater canoe tour... so we said we'd go on the 2:30pm one....
We got breakfast at Kashi Art Cafe- have I mentioned Hena goes to Cochi to eat there? It was also delicious- tomato and cheese omelet, with watermelon and toast- we also split a slice of lemon cake for dessert. (The reason the picture has pineapple is because I ate my food and forgot to take a picture- but the cook let me photograph one on the kitchen counter about to be served. :) )
After breakfast we went to take pictures of the first Christian church built in India- St.Francis Church. This is where Vasco de Gama was buried for 14 years until his remains were taken to Lisbon.
After that we went to see the Dutch Palace which also prohibited photography. >:( However inside was mostly history of the area and would not have photographed well. Half of the place was closed due to renovations so Hena and I could only see 8 of the many frescoes that remain intact since before the Dutch "rebuilt" the place when they took over.
I bought a couple presents at a stall near there and then we went to lunch at- guess, go on.... gueeeess- Kashi Art Cafe, duh! LoL! We got the lunch special this time which was veggie stew (mm mm mmmm!) with potato chips and chicken salad, tomato, cucumber sandwiches. All of it was god- I was not complaining about eating there again- mm mm mmmmm. We also split chocolate and orange cake slices again...So by this time we have missed the 2:30 pm canoe tour and I am ready to head to Calicut so I made an executive decision for us to move along and Hena complied with only token resistance.
So we caught the ferry, then an auto, then a bus, then another bus.
What you have to understand about the last bus is that the driver was new. He didn't know where to go and he FLEW. I have never been so close to God as I was on that bus ride. Hena got a huge kick out of how freaked out I was and took pictures- the traitor- even video.... grrrr....
Luckily we survived and made it in time for a yummy meal made by Hena's mom, Mumtaz.
Also thankfully Muchu had already arrived with our luggage so we could wash up and put on clean clothes!!! I almost wept with joy. : )
I don't think the video is very funny but Hena thinks it needs to be in my blog so here it is....
Day 18
So now it is day 18 and Muchu, Hena, and I did Calicut today.
First we had an excellent breakfast prepared by Mumtaz of potato curry, velappam, and a veggie dish with carrots in it.
A taxi picked us up at the house and took us to see the outside of the Kuttichira Mosque since women are not allowed in, period. The building is over 600 years old after being rebuilt when the Portuguese burned it down.
Next we saw the Church of South India where I got mobbed by a bunch of school kids and Muchu was worried at first but realized I was ok. 
This was the third time this has happened now so I'm getting used to it a little. : ) We had to wait on the security guard to open the church so we could see the inside. This was the first church to have a stained glass window- I think- and it is still in place today. When we were about to leave Hena's uncle, Issac, met us at the church for some reason and it was nice to meet him. :)
Next we headed to the Mananchira Square
and I noticed the Library and since it was pretty I took a picture of it. : )The square was a large green area in the middle of town and while I might have stayed longer I was attracting a bit much male attention despite my wearing a head scarf today. Calicut is the center of the Muslim community of Kerala so it was kind of necessary.
After that we headed home for lunch prepared by the ever impressive Mumtaz.
Then Mumtaz, Hena, and I went two hours to Mahe to meet Hena's aunt and cousins at here father's ancestral home/estate. Niloufer, the aunt, and Shahabaz, oldest boy, Nabeel- didn't meet- second son, Jasim, third son, and Marwa, youngest and a girl. 
Shahabaz was very shy and kept away most of the time, Marwa was playing on her cellphone a lot- but she smiled at me whenever she looked up, and Jasim and I played spin the tops for a long time. 
Niloufer made chai and Indian sweets which I devoured with much gusto- they laughed at how many I ate and said my stomach would hurt- BAH, I'm fine! I'm in looove with fried planteens. Around 7 pm we headed home since the current shedding kicked in for Niloufer's district and all the lights went out (happens once a week to keep power costs down-I think- they go out for a couple hours- I think).
We picked up dinner of shawarmas, broasted chicken, and butter nans on the way and ate once home.
So here I am at 2am writing this promising once again to upload pictures tomorrow- I will really do my best! Hena and I depart for Bombay tomorrow on the 4pm train- I think...
Until I write again!!!
OMG- Mumtaz just gave me a silk saree- I think I'm gonna cry! Bwaaaah!!!! I'm so happy!!!
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