As we got down from the auto near the High Court Water Metro Station, we quickly joined the queue to buy our tickets and board the electric ferry. And guys, did you know that Kochi has India's first Water Metro system and Asia's first integrated water transport system of this scale.
While slowly moving forward in the queue, we were excited to experience the ride. At the same time, one question kept bothering us: How much would the tickets cost? Would they charge us a few hundred rupees per person? Those thoughts made us a little nervous.
As we waited, we clicked a few photos near the entrance. Finally, after what felt like a long wait, we got our tickets. To our surprise, they were nowhere near expensive. It cost just ₹45 per person to travel to Fort Kochi Water Metro Station. That's incredibly affordable and makes the service accessible to almost everyone. Kudos to the Government of Kerala and KMRL (Kerala Metro Rail Limited) for successfully implementing and operating such a wonderful public welfare initiative.
After waiting a little longer, we finally boarded the hybrid electric ferry. The staff allowed only a limited number of passengers at a time, ensuring everyone's safety.
As the ferry drifted away from the High Court Water Metro Station, we felt blessed to witness Kochi's beauty through the large glass windows on either side. The calm waters, the city skyline, and the gentle movement of the ferry created an unforgettable experience. Around thirty minutes later, we reached Fort Kochi Water Metro Station, where the elegantly stretched Chinese fishing nets along the shoreline welcomed us.
Now, we found ourselves in a dilemma.
According to our plan, we wanted to visit two of Fort Kochi's famous churches. (I don't remember their names at the moment, but they're quite popular.) The problem was that we had to reach them before noon because they would close afterwards, and it was already around 11:30 A.M.
What should we do?
We narrowed it down to two possibilities:
1. Visit the churches immediately.
But there was a catch:
- We weren't even sure we'd reach them before they closed.
- Even if we did, we probably wouldn't have enough time to truly experience them.
2. Skip the churches and spend our time elsewhere.
But this option came with its own problem:
- We'd probably be left with a serious case of FOMO.
Eventually, we decided to let the churches go and spend our time enjoying the beach instead.
On the way, we bought raw mango slices sprinkled with chilli powder and salt, along with a few other snacks from the local vendors.
There were plenty of souvenir and keychain shops too. We didn't buy anything; instead, we simply asked about the prices and proudly convinced ourselves that we had smartly avoided getting scammed.
Eventually, we reached one end of the beach, where huge rocks lined the shore. We sat there for a while and took some much-needed rest. The beach seemed to be inviting us to walk barefoot on its sand, but the scorching sun had other plans. As tempting as it was, we had to politely decline its invitation.
As I quietly sat on those rocks and gazed into the distance, an indescribable sense of tranquillity washed over me. For once, I wasn't thinking about the future or dwelling on the past. I was simply... there. Completely present.
I'm not claiming I attained enlightenment or anything like that. But sitting on those rocks, feeling the salty sea breeze brush against my face while the sun shone with all its might, I experienced something rare.
For a brief moment, I simply felt... myself.
0 Comments