We caught the train from Trivandrum to Kochi (Cochin) on December 31st. We would have liked to stay with our friends for New Year’s Day, but the train only ran once every three days, and we didn’t want to cut…

One of the biggest festivals in India is the Ganpati festival, dedicated to Ganesha, the son of Shiva. Statues of Ganesha are installed in shrines all over the city, and in private homes. On the final day of the festival,…