We've made it to Kerala

I've survived my first train ride! We got to the station really early and it turned out the train was about 1 hour or so late. So we had a while to wait. I managed to leave my sunglasses at the train station ( I just realized this morning ) so needless to say I am mad at myself about that. Thats the 2nd time this has happened, I'm on a roll...
Anyways, we boarded the train and found our sleepers. Just a lightly padded narrow seat long enough to stretch out on. I picked the bottom sleeper and Chris had the middle. Quite and experience! The train left at about 8:45 so we chatted for a while and about 10 we decided to try and get some sleep. Surprisingly enough after wiping my "bed" with a wet wipe, and using my sarong as a sheet, and taking some gravol, I was actually able to fall asleep and managed to get a somewhat decent sleep. I woke up around six and sat and watched the scenery. It was really pretty, everything was nice and green. The trip actually started to slow down at this point, the train was stopping at everystation....Hmm and we took the express train. at about 10:30 am we pulled in to Cochin. So that was about 14 hours to go 850 kms. Man its sooo slow!
People were right when they said Kerala was hotter than Goa. I guess it didn't help that we got here in the hottest part of the day and were lugging our backpacks around for an hour looking for a room. Eventually we found one and showered and headed out fot the day.
We walked to a spice market. I picked up some vanilla beans. They smell so good, not sure what I will do with them yet....Chris bought some almonds and cashews. They grow them out here, they are so fresh and tasty!
In the evening we went to see a Kathakali dancing. Its a Keralan traditional dance. They train for something like 8-14 years to perform. They had very fancy makeup and outfits. Its kind of like a play they perform, with out talking, using hand and facial gestures, and eye movements. Almost mime-like. It was OK, almost a bit too long, I think it lasted about 1 1/2 hours, But it was interesting to see.
This morning we got up and headed out to see some historical sites here. We went to the Santa Cruz Basilica. Its a huge, amazing beautiful church built by the Portuguese in 1558. Its a Latin Catholic Church. It was full of amazing paintings and it was really peaceful to sit inside. We also went to St. Francis Church, which is Indias oldest church built in 1503. It was originally a Roman Catholic Church, but is now Anglican. It wasn't as peaceful as the Basilica, as there was a man shooting pigeons with a pellet gun inside! haha. Well, I think we area all churched out, so we are heading to Munnar this afternoon. Its another day for bus rides I guess. Only 5 hours they tell us this time! I think the bus leaves at 1:30. I'm going to buy a big huge pineapple for 75 cents so we have a little snack for the road. I'm looking forward to Munnar, its in the mountains, so hopefully we'll cool off a bit. Its very hot and humid here, and I feel very sweaty and sticky.
Well, off to cooler places....talk to you soon,
Laura