Today was our last day in Munnar. We planned to leave the hill station and head to Ernakulam city, in Cochin district.
We had a filling breakfast at Saravana Bhavan
We then boarded a state transport bus going to Ernakulam city.
It was time to capture the last few shots of these amazing tea plantationsIt was cold up here but by the end of this bus journey, it would be hot & humid again
Everyone is mesmerized by Munnar’s tea plantations
The journey to Ernakulam was around 3 hours long. We eventually made it to the hotel I had booked for us. Imperial Regency is a ‘business hotel’ but when booking, it was key that I chose a place close to Kochi Metro.
The hotel is right next to MG Road metro station
Proximity to Kochi Metro was paramount because that’s how we planned to get to Lulu Mall later.
Hotel Imperial Regency is well-rated across websites
The room was certainly nice and I didn’t mind spending more. Especially after the disappointment of the room we had in Munnar.
There are no shortages of restaurants on MG Road. The building we were in houses a Barbecue Nation Grill, and there were many other eateries outside — from local restaurants to fast food outlets like Burger King and McDonalds.
But we ended up a restaurant called Hotel Sona. We had rice meals (along with beef fry)
Post-lunch, we walked around Jew Street and the various markets in Ernakulam City
Don’t be confused by the “Jew Street” tag. This area is not Jew Town, that’s in Fort Kochi. The market area used to house two prominent synagogues frequented by Malabar Jews that made Kochi their home. The above is Kadavumbagam Synagogue.
But since most Malabar Jews returned to Israel or migrated to the West in the past few decades, these synagogues now remain in a dilapidated state.
Each street specializes in a particular range of items
Eventually we reached Shanmugham road, which runs parallel to Marine Drive
We walked through one of the shopping centres to make it to the Marine Drive… which contrary to its name is just a seaside promenade
This is my second time in Kochi. I had been here back in 2009.
Not much has changed since then
But I came here to show my parents all this, since it was their first time in Ernakulam
There are boat rides aplenty from Marine Drive
Using Google Maps, I located the Ernakulam jetty at the end of Marine Drive
I came here to check the timetable for boats going to Fort Kochi
We planned to visit Fort Kochi tomorrow morning
This is the timetable for Vypin and Wellington island
Marine Drive has a few eateries, like this one
We took an autorickshaw from Marine Drive and headed back to our hotel. My parents wanted to rest for a while and I had some work to do.
In the evening, we stepped out again to visit Lulu Mall
Kochi metro launched in June 2017
I may be a bit biased (being Keralite) but among all metro projects in India, I believe Kochi metro’s brand identity and overall design choices are the best
The coach trains are built by French-giant Alstom (Kochi Metro is part-financed by the French Development Agency)
We got off at Edapally station
When we were there, Lulu Mall were still completing the bridge connecting the metro station to the mall. It should be open now.
I know the metro project cost a lot of money & they need to make it back… but does everything in India have to be branded by Oppo or Vivo?
Lulu Group is now the largest retailer in the Middle East. It’s owned by Keralite business man Yusuf Ali, who is currently the richest Keralite in the world.
This one Kochi is the first Lulu mall in India. The second Lulu Mall is coming up in Kerala’s capital city, Trivandrum.
It houses all the major (expected) brands… so pretty much a “world class mall”
Besides retail stores, you have amusement centers and a PVR multiplex
Lulu has their own electronics store…
… and their own massive clothing store
… but I was mostly here for the supermarket
Which has a very nice fresh foods section. From a wide variety of sauces, salad bar and pickles…
… to freshly made breads…
… to rotisserie meats. All at prices that are usually lower than what you get outside at restaurants.
You have other dishes like biriyani, rice items, local foods, vegetarian fare and so on.
And they sell everything in bulk and at lower prices — which is usually the only way large retailers make their money back
I wanted to come here just to pick up dinner. Which we did… and by the way, the rotisserie chicken was very good!
They have 36 billing counters
Done with our shopping, we headed back by metro
After dinner, I did some work before calling it a night. Tomorrow would be our final day in Ernakulam and we had just one half day to tour Fort Kochi before catching our train back to Kannur in the afternoon.
[NOTE: All the above photos were taken on my phone, OnePlus 5]
