Sister Martin and I were invited to attend a wedding in India's southwest state of Kerala. Kerala is often called in India, "God's Own Country".
At first we said we were too busy but then we decided to somehow squeeze it in to a long weekend. Brother Issac, father of the bride, who we often see at church, personally asked us to come. They also sent us this beautiful invitation.
Several months ago, his younger daughter had served in our mission. The oldest daughter was getting married in Kerala at an Orthodox Christian Church.
We decided to see a few of the interesting sites in the area. Our first stop was Fort Kochi. We found a nice hotel. When we landed I requested an Uber to take us to the hotel. That's mainly how we travel in India.
Our friend and co-worker in the mission office, Vasanth came with us for part of the trip. We rented a car and had him drive during part of the little trip.
Would you like to buy some fresh fish?
We watched people catch fish from the ocean with these Chinese Fish Nets.
They lower these big nets down into the water.
Dropped by this old church built in 1503 by the Portuguese.
Walked by the small Fort Kochi Beach.
Next stop was Allapuzha, closer to the place where the wedding would be held. Along the way we stopped at a couple of beaches. This one was called Marari beach.
I heard this restaurant was one of the best around (highest reviews) but it was closed during the off-season.
Took a two hour boat ride at the backwaters of Alleppey.
It's called a Shikara boat.
Some call this place the "Venice of India", because of all the water canals. They have had too much rain lately and a lot of homes and rice patty fields were flooded.
A lot of interesting people and house boats along the journey.
Saw this bald eagle along the way.
Then off to the wedding at this Orthodox Christian Church.
Sister Issac used to be a missionary in our mission. Her sister was the bride.
We went to a beautiful wedding reception following the wedding.
When thinking of weddings and marriage we often think of, "The Family, A Proclamation to the World".
It says, "WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."
Link to the complete document...Family Proclamation
On the way back to the airport we decided to stop at Vaipur hanging bridge
We ran into the Wilson family at the Chinese Fish nets and they said they had also come for the wedding. We see them in church almost every week. We decided to go to the bridge together.
Last stop before reaching the airport for our flight back was at Areekkal Water Falls. Another beautiful spot in Kerala, India.
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| Areekkal Water Falls, Kerala, India |
Several months ago, his younger daughter had served in our mission. The oldest daughter was getting married in Kerala at an Orthodox Christian Church.
We decided to see a few of the interesting sites in the area. Our first stop was Fort Kochi. We found a nice hotel. When we landed I requested an Uber to take us to the hotel. That's mainly how we travel in India.
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| A mural in the lobby of the hotel at Fort Kochi |
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| Saw a few sites in the area like this church |
Would you like to buy some fresh fish?
We watched people catch fish from the ocean with these Chinese Fish Nets.
They lower these big nets down into the water.
A few minutes later they bring the nets up and gather the fish caught in the nets.
Dropped by this old church built in 1503 by the Portuguese.
Walked by the small Fort Kochi Beach.
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| Sister Martin bought a new hat that folds up small and flat |
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| The Indian Navel Maritime Museum |
I heard this restaurant was one of the best around (highest reviews) but it was closed during the off-season.
Took a two hour boat ride at the backwaters of Alleppey.
It's called a Shikara boat.
Some call this place the "Venice of India", because of all the water canals. They have had too much rain lately and a lot of homes and rice patty fields were flooded.
A lot of interesting people and house boats along the journey.
Saw this bald eagle along the way.
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| More flooding over the levee |
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| Our rental car at a B&B we stayed at by Alleppey Beach |
Then off to the wedding at this Orthodox Christian Church.
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| To the right, bride and groom after they were married. |
We went to a beautiful wedding reception following the wedding.
 |
| Picture with the bride and groom |
When thinking of weddings and marriage we often think of, "The Family, A Proclamation to the World".
It says, "WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."
Link to the complete document...Family Proclamation
On the way back to the airport we decided to stop at Vaipur hanging bridge
We ran into the Wilson family at the Chinese Fish nets and they said they had also come for the wedding. We see them in church almost every week. We decided to go to the bridge together.
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| The Manimala River in the background |
Last stop before reaching the airport for our flight back was at Areekkal Water Falls. Another beautiful spot in Kerala, India.
You are blessed by our Father and are a blessing to those you meet!
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