I don’t know about you, but part of the excitement of a good vacation for both of us is good food! While discovering the sights of the places we visit, we make sure to keep an eye out for the local food.
Yes we definitely believe what James Michener said about travel:
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”
We’re just back from Cherai, located on Vypin Island, about 30 kilometres away from Cochin, Kerala (South India). It’s our second visit there in three years and this holiday was as good or better than the last one there. With a lovely long stretch of beach on one side and the backwaters on the other, Cherai is an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate.
Since there are not many sights to see, and we had covered most on our last visit, we took it nice and easy. We went for long walks a few times, walked on the beach, sat at the beach side soaking up the atmosphere. The place has a nice mix of locals and visitors, not to mention busloads of people coming in from Cochin to frolic in the waters of the Arabian Sea.
But also, importantly for us, we ate well! 😉
Yes, our vacations are a gastronomical delight!
The last time we were in Cherai we sampled some of the local cuisine at a small joint which didn’t have much variety. This time we were lucky to find the newly opened Lilliput, a delightful family run restaurant, offering a large variety of local and other cuisine.
José plans to write a long and detailed post about the sights and food of Cherai, so I won’t steal his thunder. I’ll offer you a couple of (mouth-watering) pictures instead.
We start planning our next holiday almost soon after we get back from the last one. Yes, we’re crazy like that! Stay tuned for more details about our plans! 😉
Do you experiment with local cuisine when you travel?
Though we (my husband and I) are vegetarians, but still we like to experiment a lot.. from Multicuisine to local specialties.. anything vegetarian.. even bark of trees 😛
So I understand everything you have written here..
Roohi Bhatnagar recently posted..I pray for your well-being
Sounds like you two had a marvelous, relaxing time! Since Danny and I haven’t traveled outside of the States together, the only “exotic” foods we experience is when we choose to eat at a restaurant featuring other fare than what we are used to. But food IS an important part of any trip we go on.
Blessings, Corinne!
Martha Orlando recently posted..Think About Such Things
The food looks yummy, Corinne. And coming from Kerala I do know how yummy it is. 🙂 Glad that you had a relaxed time there. 🙂
Vinitha recently posted..#MicroblogMondays – A Conversation on Death
One of the great treasures of travel is the local cuisine. Those photos looked yum!
Carol Cassara recently posted..Hurting people
My mouth is watering – the food looks absolutely delightful! Sounds like a wonderful place for a vacation – glad you had time to get away, relax, and come back refreshed.
Laurel Regan recently posted..Throwback Thursday: The Mixing Bowl
That’s true Corinne, enjoying local cuisine is like being one with that place, and the concept of relaxation and rejuvenation is completely awesome !
Sheela recently posted..#1000Speak For Compassion—Writing and compassion
I haven’t been to this place. Must visit it this time. I desperately need a vacation. 🙂
Oh yes, I highly recommend it if you’re not the shopping and gallivanting type, Jyothi!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Addiction A Family Disease
Oh…the food looks yummy! I have to bite into some prawns for dinner tonight after seeing this 😉 Looks like you had quite a rejuvenating vacation Corinne 🙂
Vinodini Iyer recently posted..A Fistful of Salt
Me too! I love eating when I travel and actually want to follow my nose the next holiday!