Let's backtrack a bit-how we got here.

Before we arrived at the Kerala Ayurveda Health Village, after leaving Fort Cochin, we were invited to stay for a night at  Paul and Alice's residence, parents of our friend Lijoe Paul who we met quite unexpectedly in Toronto days before our departure. Paul arranged a car for our commute which took about an hour or so and we travelled along the coastline through village after village, all draped in coconut palm trees and wonderfully colourful homes and businesses. We stopped at the Cheri beach for a stretch. Lisa just jumped out to walk in the Arabian Sea.

The food was cooked on this fire in the traditional indian home

Our hosts were most gracious, providing traditional meals and introduced us to their many local friends and business acquaintances. Everyone here in Kerala are so quick to smile and give us the traditional Indian nod.

We exchanged some small gifts, where both Lisa and I were presented with Kerala traditional outfits, Lisa received a Sari and I the Dothi (full length skirt). 

Lisa and I purchased our train tickets, 2nd class, for the 17km journey at a cost of 40 rupee (0.75cents) only to find ourselves on an express air conditioned train which happened to bypass our stop at Aluva. We travelled along some 20 additional kilometers and then had to disembark and buy another ticket back. 

Rob was having a lively discussion with a man on the train while everyone listened intently as Rob talked about the future of India and the power of its youth.

This lovely man gave me his seat and shook Robs hand many many times. People helped us with all our baggage.

. We finally arrived at our destination at 5:00pm having been picked up by a representative with the Health Village Centre and were taken to this beautiful hospital facility located along side a fresh water river surrounded by lush green tropical gardens.