The radar screen was a white out with fishing boats. (see picture) The fisherman are trawling... moving erratically. No two have the same lighting arrangment. It's impossable to detect their direction, speed or distance.. It's stressful. We call Port Cochin port control when we are 5 miles from the harbor entrance. They give us permission to enter the harbor with instructions on where to anchor for clearance. The channel is mostly lit with the expected red and green channel markers.. Some are missing so it's a little confusing. We finally see the masts of other boats in the quarantine area. We barely set the anchor when the customs boat comes roaring up and almost smashes into our top sides. Dave waves them off until we are able to get our fenders in place. Soon they jump aboard and start the long process of filling out the many forms. Most are in multiple piles with carbon paper. (Remember carbon paper?) Next, we have the harbor master with the same forms and the same questions. Our trusty boat stamp comes in handy. They love stamps. They stamp everything. Who ever stamps the most wins! Finally after a couple of stressful hours we are free to settle in for a well needed nights rest. They promise to return and pick us up and take us in for the real checkin tomorrow... Hmmm ....What did we do for the last 2 hours?? We're too tired to think about it. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ......



For the wikipedia link to Cochin, click here: