I gave my in-laws a tour of Kochi - Mattancherry, Jew town & shopping

My North Indian in laws had come to visit us in Kerala in Oct last year. We went on a trip to Kochi and stayed at Hotel Le Meridien. During our stay there we visited Mattancherry Jew Town area one evening. Since I had been there many times earlier I thought I would give them a tour of the historical place. This was the first time for my in laws in Kochi and they were mesmerised by all the spices and perfumes being sold in the old town. We bought lots of incense sticks, perfumes and fabric from the shops. Little Annika had a wonderful time with dada & dadi running around the old streets. We ended our tour at the Paradesi Synagogue, which is the oldest functioning synagogue in India!
It was a wonderful day with family, even though we couldn't visit all the sites we had planned to visit. I'll cover the Fort Kochi area in the next vlog :)
#familyvlog #india
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› ABOUT ME
My name is Johanna North. I’m a Finnish woman traveling in India since 2016. In 2019 I married and began living with my husband in the state of Kerala in southern India. On this channel I share videos on life, culture, food and travel mostly in India, and maybe from Finland when we travel there.
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[@arjunraj823]

4:20 you are our Kerala tourism ambassador ❤️. Already became a Keralite by heart.

[@nutcracker5094]

Oh Johanna, you have taken me back to 1568, being a history teacher, this is my weak nerve, I got inspired to visit kochi, the previously known Cochin

[@JohannaNorth]

The Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas definitely offer a lot for history enthusiasts! Really fascinating :)

[@aratinair1678]

Thank you so much Johanna for this vlog. Have been to Fort Kochi many years back. It was only for a day. Am very eager to visit it again and stay there for a couple of days and just walk around and soak in the experience. Annika is very fortunate to have parents like you and Vinod who are giving her a good exposure to nature, arts n crafts, people, animals etc from an young age itself. There is no better education than this. Kudos to you and Vinod!!

[@JohannaNorth]

A Finnish friend once told me that two days is enough for Kochi (before my first visit) but I'm never getting bored of the city! There's still so much to explore and I love the vibe and FOOD there. But do definitely try to visit at least for a couple of more days :)

[@travellingyoginikas]

I agree, Johanna and Vinod are giving Annika great exposure to arts, nature etc. I love the fact that Vinod and Johanna travel alot ❤️ I lived in Kerala for 18 months but never got to Kochi unfortunately. I managed to solo travel in India for three whole years but sadly didn't see Kochi within that time period.. I did see Goa, Karnatica, Rishikesh, and Himachal Pradesh and I vlogged my times and travels there as a solo female traveller!!!! 🕉️

[@megsie1424]

I'd visited and stayed in Fort Kochi around 7-8 years ago. Very relaxed vibe.

[@high16200]

Hi Johanna, thanks for a very nice tour of this historic city and I'm sure your in-laws enjoyed the trip and Annika is fine, always very happy.. My regards to you and your family 🙏🙏💓💓

[@Alfablue227]

OMG Johanna, TY! I would spend days in the Jewish Quarter, inside the spice, antique & perfume stores😍. A shame the synagogue was not open, but Cochin is an absolutely fascinatin gem, and its history and culture should be honored and preserved. It is on track for me next year God willing. Thanks for this delightful treat and warm greetings from a sunny winter's day in 🇵🇹

[@JohannaNorth]

I'm sure we'll be visiting Kochi many more times in the future so at least there's still something left for me to discover there, like the insides of the synagogue! Really hope you get to visit again too :)

[@Alfablue227]

@@JohannaNorth I will let u know, that way we can meet and enjoy that wonderful southern Indian food...and history!

[@travellingyoginikas]

M Silva I spent 18 months in Kerala but never saw Kochi!!! Perhaps I will another time ❤️ I love Johannas channel. I too have a travel channel but it's not a family travel channel it solo travel channel. I did visit Varkala in Kerala and also went to Karnatica, Goa, Rishikesh and HP. India is ever so addictive ❤️🕉️

[@Alfablue227]

@@travellingyoginikas Indeed it is, and intense too.

[@travellingyoginikas]

@@Alfablue227 yes it is intense for sure. I feel that India has the most religious and cultural depth than any other country that I have ever been to but it also feels scary with with the traffic. As a solo female traveller you can be prone to stares and harassment and thats hard. Despite this I still feel soooooo drawn to India. It's sooooo addictive. I was challenged like hell there and still want to go back!!!! Whilst I was in Gokarna I lived with a local family and I vlogged all their cooking and family life. I would DEFINITELY go back and stay with them again ❤️ they food is delicious 😋

[@jaym5963]

Very educational video. So happy to see the places and to see how you have become a real daughter in the family. Annika's love for all things around here really inspires me to.look at life and culture closely. And she is so friendly and sweet. Sending my hugs to you guys.

[@jstep3427]

Relived my visit to these places through your lenses Johanna. Thanks for taking us viewers through such lovely places. The Jewish synagogue is a lovely place to visit. Keep up the good work. Annika is growing cuter by the day ❤

[@JohannaNorth]

Hopefully next time we actually get to also visit the interiors of the synagogue 😊 something to look forward to in our future Kochi visits!

[@jstep3427]

Looking forward to that and all your videos as well Johanna.

[@sarathsasidharan11]

I’ve been staying in Cochin since 2017. Have already visited Fort Cochin and surrounding places innumerable times, but still whenever I go there the place I find something new.. always. BtW Johanna, Kochi biennale is going on in Aspinwall House and nearby areas. Do visit… I’m sure you will love it.

[@JohannaNorth]

Oh I’d love to visit the biennale but unfortunately so far our visits have never coincided with it 😊

[@NK-cq1ch]

It’s so lovely when you talk Hindi with your mother in law. We are hoping one day we’ll hear you more talking Hindi and some day even hear you make the whole vlog in Hindi 🥰🥰

[@JohannaNorth]

I’ll for sure try to keep learning and use more Hindi (one of my goals for this year!) when I speak to native Hindi speakers like my inlaws, but vlogging in Hindi is unlikely to happen since I make videos for a whole global audience and subtitling is painfully labourious 🫠

[@adaskk2474]

@@JohannaNorth but we keralites like to hear you speak Malayalam

[@seemap9280]

Oh Johanna I loved this video so so much...A must visit I guess,..such lovely Jew area ..,Very very nice...

[@cvbinu]

It's best time for art lovers to visit Kochi. Kochi Banale is going on. Artists from around the world is here now.

[@JohannaNorth]

Kochi's art scene is one of my favourite things about the city! :) Too bad we've never been there during the biennale

[@lvvv211]

@@JohannaNorth binnale goes on for next 4 months 👍

[@alisonchristodoulou825]

Thanks for another lovely vlog. Just loved all the little tourist shops. Beautiful materials with colourful patterns. Also loved the perfume store. What a lovely day you all had. Thanks so much for taking us along.🌷

[@JohannaNorth]

It's a real pleasure walking around these types of areas, when most often I get a little anxious and overwhelmed going shopping in Indian towns with all the traffic, crowds and quite congested streets :)

[@shaileshparan]

Thanks for the tour. You do everything so well...at 10:38 let me go..freebird. ❤ She's the best! And your Hindi...excellent. a long time ago, I had wondered if Vinod ever did his Finnish lessons :-) You should do a food+history vlog on kerala..I say be an ambassador for the state tourism department ! The best to you all from a snow less winter in NJ. Oh that street reminded me of the "pedestrians only "streets of some European cities. What a relief from the madness just a few meters away..

[@JohannaNorth]

Vinod is learning quite well from me speaking to Annika, but I'm hoping to teach him more in the future too :) I have many more Kerala travel videos in the works in the coming weeks!

[@lachminsarjue6248]

That’s a beautiful place,lovely to get souvenirs,fine laces too,have seen it first hand,

[@christinagilbert7313]

Thanks Johanna for this video. As mentioned some time ago, I am in India now and will be in Kochi at the end of January. Looking forward to visiting all these places. Such a shame I cannot meet you. I am there for 4 nights and will be staying at the Club Mahindra Resort in Cherai. Looking forward to the next video hopefully before my visit 😊. BTW I am having a great time in South Goa at the moment. Sending love and blessings to your beautiful family 🤗🙏

[@JohannaNorth]

Hope you enjoy Kochi as much as we do! I have at least two more Kochi videos coming out now in Jan so hoping to offer you more inspiration 😊 meanwhile just enjoy Goa! The southern region there is my favourite too for a relaxing holiday 🥰

[@christinagilbert7313]

@@JohannaNorth thank you 🙏

[@bandariyah8652]

Wow! What a beautiful town and thanks for sharing. Beautiful vlog

[@blairswanson44]

Such an attractive historical place to spend a leisurely day. I enjoyed all the Indian cotton tunics in the street market. I wear one often when playing my acoustic guitar as it's so cool & comfy. Not sure what the proper name for it is. (3/4 sleeve & open low cut neck). Annika is becoming quite the connoisseur of Indian cultural settings 😁. Her word associations have become very impressive Johanna. Thanks again for the wonderful tour. 💋❤

[@JohannaNorth]

Without seeing your tunic, I’m fairly certain it’s called kurta as men’s indian tunics usually are! And very comfy they are indeed, especially in the summer season 😊 it might not be music for acoustic guitar lovers, but did you hear an indian movie song just won the best original song golden globe? Thought you might appreciate the music news! 😊

[@blairswanson44]

@@JohannaNorth Thanks J. I'll look into it for sure. I'll always remember Ravi Shankar & acoustic sitar music that became quite well accepted in the west after his participation at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. Relative to that subject; I have heard a piece of acoustic music at the end of a number of your videos of an acoustic instrument which sounds as if it has a "drone" sound similar to the sitar but much more akin to guitar. Can you tell me what it is?

[@deepalibelsare2859]

Annika is so cute she wants to see each and everything .she enjoys eveywhere

[@ushakrana7378]

Very nice place love you travel around kochi. Whole family really enjoyed especially Annika.

[@ajaykumargupta2232]

Very well made video !!! Loved watching it !!!👌👌👌👍❤️

[@JohannaNorth]

Thank you so much :)

[@WhereIdwell]

Oh... Welcome to our home town Fort kochi and Mattancherry.... Regards, Jude Shabu, cukoosnest (Homestay )

[@cvbinu]

Ginger house was ones the trading building of ginger.foreign traders brought dry ginger from here. Room rent here is very high. They have a big antique shop in that compound Very Big Cauldrons are used to make jaggery.

[@JohannaNorth]

The room rent in all these boutique type hotels in Mattancherry and Fort Kochi is soooo high. But I think definitely worth it, really stunning places! Thanks for sharing all the interesting details :)

[@charmaine8512]

Mattancherry, the strrets resemble the Arab Strret, in Singapore. Something about these places _ it is like being transported to a way of life we experienced yonks back. I find it fascinating that you are always including your mum in law. That too is something I only experienced with the East _ having a special respect for the elders in the family. I had my fill for today with beautiful day trip to Mattancherry.

[@JohannaNorth]

Glad to hear you enjoyed joining us on our visit to Jew Town and Mattancherry! It’s a very beautiful area and I just love the vibe there, indeed like being transported into a different era almost 😊 my respect and inclusion of my mother in law doesnt have that much to do with her being elder, but just being dear family and me being excited to show her things she’s never seen before but I’m sure she’d enjoy. we nordic people do love and respect our families too 😊

[@neeragupta6033]

Johanna u have learnt Hindi so very well,u can speak whole sentence. Nice to see all enjoying. Annika is trying to pick up new words. God bless you all ❤️

[@lakshminarayananbalakrishn7824]

Johanna has put lot of efforts to learn, hats off, she not only loves vinod, but she loves full family, respects Indians, Indian culture, especially our language. Very good. No other foreigners do this. Subscribe , share

[@travellingyoginikas]

Johanna I really did enjoy this vlog very much. You did a brilliant job of showing us your shopping trip and the delights of Kochi. SUPER SUPER SUPER vlog. Thanku soooooo MUCH ❤️🕉️❤️🕉️❤️🕉️❤️🕉️❤️🕉️❤️🕉️

[@JohannaNorth]

Hope you get to visit Kochi too in the future if you decide to travel back to India and Kerala! 🙏

[@Annabhawan]

Kochi on ihana! 😍 Annikasta tuli mieleen mun poika, joka samanikäisenä käytti myös ilmaisua ”do-do”. Eli kaksi tai enemmän asioita oli aina ”do”. Jos jossain oli esim monta koiraa, hän sanoi ”do-do”. 😊

[@k.gayathridevi2973]

Lovely .... Annika and lovely grandparents

[@josephzacharias869]

Father -in- law is looking more fit than ever. Touchwood. He is Jat. Perhaps the toughest race on earth.

[@secilrods5170]

mam you should visit and stay in bolghatty palace hotel in the middle of the city a former dutch palace near to hayatt hotel too is there

[@sree8159]

Missed u Johanna and baby Annika☺☺☺... Was eagerly waiting for ur new vlog🥰

[@swarupdas423]

I Love this blog... We also enjoying our childhood with Annika...😘☺️☺️💕💕🤗

[@sunlight8322]

Annika is so cute. Greatings from Austria/Tirol😊

[@TheLIZZIEJAMES]

Thank you Johanna for showing us Kochi through your lens. I love kochi and looking forward to the next vlog. Love and blessings to all your family.❤️😇

[@JohannaNorth]

I love Kochi too! Never getting tired of visiting :)

[@marisolsharma4809]

It’s Nice to See Enjoyed Deffrents places trips Your Vlogs👍🏼❤🤗🙏🏼🤲🏼❤️

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Hi just relaxing 😎 watching now it so lovely 😊 Annika is so good talking and understanding ♥️👋😮♥️👋😘😘😘😘

[@anantgawai440]

So nice family sweet baby Annika

[@padmajapadma9128]

Happy family Lovely couple cute baby super video Amazing view❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👌👌🙌

[@neeshanawalker3886]

After seeing this vlog would definitely like to go there some day.

[@JohannaNorth]

I sincerely recommend a visit 😊

[@bharathbalakrishna5153]

Ma'am the bound between daughter & father is so adorable 😍. It's n eye feast to see them like that

[@lakshminarayananbalakrishn7824]

Annika calls vonod papa, papa look at their bonding beautiful

[@lakshminarayananbalakrishn7824]

Johanna's blogs very decent, good, please subscribe, no other channel so decent, vinod & his parents too very well mannered, very decent Johanna, god bless you & annika

[@mariesahota1478]

Thank you for the upload 🌹

[@aghilanmayan97]

Haaaa...😇new years first video waiting for this...and Happy new year Once again SIS 🌠✨

[@JohannaNorth]

Happy new year to you too :)

[@elisabetta4478]

I'm a history enthusiast and definitely Matanchery and Fort Kochi are my places as well, although quite chaotic. Tourism department should make those streets allowed only to pedestrians. You guys walking past those traffic roads made to bump my poor heart. There should definitely sidewalks for pedestrians.

[@maryaugustine6246]

Beautiful....my hometown

[@JohannaNorth]

You’re very lucky to get to call Kochi your hometown 🙏

[@thenizahirs]

Lovely Vlog 😍 Hope you are all well ❤️🤗

[@soorajbnair5329]

Very difficult to Annika to keep quiet in public places 😜😀😀

[@JohannaNorth]

Haha, no point in even trying :)

[@artirastogi8785]

Everytime Annika wants reply from daddy

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Hello Johanna Vinod dadi and dada big Annika 👧🏻sweetie happy new year 🥳 🙏😘

[@JohannaNorth]

Happy new year to you too! :)

[@cg5611]

Much of India, is resident in the temples. Adi Shankara, an authentic divine guru established the Sakti worship sites in Kerala. Each one, a seat of power and wisdom. Take your inlaws there- to Chottanikara and Chengannur where the Goddess gets her periods to this date. Most of the Jews have gone to Israel. The synagogue remains mostly closed now. Have been inside it.

[@satiesankar7280]

My next visit will surely be in this area..amazing video Johanna.Much thanks for sharing ..you never disappoint.

[@travellingyoginikas]

Agreed. Johanna never disappoints with her awesome vlogs ❤️ I did 3 years of solo travel vlogging in India but never saw Kochi. Hopefully next time I will ❤️

[@JohannaNorth]

Thank you so much Satie 🙏

[@josephzacharias869]

Long time. Hope you are doing well. As we Indians say; ' Jeete raho'! PS: Don't get confused by my name. I am a hundred percent Indian, and have been so through my ancestors for the past 2000 years or more.

[@IamGauravSinghh]

Wow such a nice place. Can you tell me the name of that perfume shop please ?

[@JohannaNorth]

It's IRS Family Business :)

[@IamGauravSinghh]

@@JohannaNorth Thankksss👀😬

[@vijaysonwani6159]

superb ......

[@giritharjeevasuba5206]

Lovely❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😍

[@rupakhanna9282]

Thank you for your blogs. Having moved to the US many moons ago I’m actually seeing India through your lens. Are you or your husband travel writers? You make so many videos from different places which is awesome.

[@JohannaNorth]

I’d love to do travel writing in the future, but currently it’s not something I could focus on. writing takes a good amount of time and energy and i struggle even with my small column 🫠

[@sophianaqvi3697]

There Is so much beauty in kochi wow johanna thank u for this wonderful insight. Love seeing daada n daadi too.

[@travellingyoginikas]

Yes Kochi does look beautiful doesn't it. I did solo travelling in India and it was sever so addictive lol 😀

[@krishnakishore100]

little annika under formation to become polyglot...Hindi English and finnish

[@shahirabdulsalam]

Beautiful 🥰

[@josephzacharias869]

Arnika should be given more freedom to be what she wants to become as she grows up. Both of you have lived your life in your respective cultures. She is a product of both. She should be helped in full measure to develop her own personality. It is the responsibilty of both of you towards her as a human being.

[@arvinderarjani265]

Nice vlog keep it up

[@celiatanlklikun4425]

Best video ever

[@KuruJimmy]

Read between the line I want to know the what love is? That’s your heritage . My heritage is Finland I mean before u sign the documents .

[@durgeshkaurav9109]

Nice 👍

[@vijayamohan33]

😍💞💞💝

[@nirmalakumar3546]

Can u name the shops u visited

[@JohannaNorth]

The perfume shop is IRS Family Business, I think the store with the huge cauldron is Crafters Antique Shop, and I don't know the name of the shop where we bought cushion covers but it's about 50m from the Paradesi synagogue.

[@farahi8408]

Maybe baby?

[@navinkuckian1926]

🕉️🙏🇮🇳🙏🇮🇱🙏🇮🇳🙏🇮🇱🙏🇮🇳🙏🇮🇱🙏🕉️🙏

[@Call_Upon_YAH]

Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the whole world's sins. They that believeth and are baptized (with the Holy Spirit) shall be saved; but they that believeth not shall be damned. Those led by the Holy Spirit do not abide in wickedness. 👍🏾 *God is ONE manifesting himself as THREE;* the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Bless him! *For these three are one.* As I am led by the Holy Spirit, nothing I state is a lie, but the truth of God. Anyone who tells you differently is misinformed or a liar. They do not know God, nor led by him. Anyone who *claims* to be a Christian and is against what I am doing, and where I am doing it; the Holy Spirit does not dwell within them, they lack understanding. They know not God, read his word, and their religion is in vain. Do not hear them, they will mislead you, the lost cannot guide the lost.

[@Call_Upon_YAH]

Another truth many have been deceived of: When you trust in God and cast your cares (worries, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts) upon him, they will be NO MORE! Know that there is power in the name Jesus Christ! His name casts out demons and heals! The world is wicked, evil, and of the devil. I too, was a wicked sinner of the world before I opened my heart to God. I am living proof of God's work and fruitfulness! He is an active God who hears the prayers of his! God's children are set apart (holy) and righteous. The devil is a liar that comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy; that includes your relationship with God! Open your heart to God, repent of your sins (he will forgive you), and let him direct your path. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands and purify your heart, lest you walk with the devil and follow him to hell.

[@cg5611]

Jesus never called anyone a sinner. Churchianity is different from true Christ inanity.

[@sophianaqvi3697]

Wow that giant incense stick. I love the info given here johanna so much interesting info

[@GamePlay-cs1ml]

Nice vedio don't cut hair. It.. Won't suit you anika is always cute I am waiting the vedio.. You. Put. Always. Late