Kerala In the backcountry of Cochin, village life looks like this. The hauls of coconuts are soaked in water (find the backyard pond) and then the fiber is twisted into rope, called coir.

Traditional Kerala houses have teak-carved ventilation triangles under the gable roofs: the kitchens face the prevailing Northern winds and are perpendicular to the gable roof of the living spaces. In the kitchen, old and new methods of cooking co-exist. The ladies are resting in the afternoon warmth. In the backyard, a black-plastic water tank stands in a coconut grove. The house sits right along a waterway, where traditional all water and washing took place; hence, the steps down to the water. Some newer houses reflect the traditional Kerala house style.