Mumbai takeoff

Gods Own Country- a different take

We keep going back to Kerala- not because we are tourists who cant get over the beauty of the place- but because we have a home - a place to go back to. in Gods own country.
So the Kerala that we see every year is definitely very different from what the tourist gets to see.
We get to have a feel of the real Kerala - not the much touted picture post card Kerala.

The lush green of the coconut trees, the lighter green of the plantain foliage, the fast receding stretches of paddy fields, the sinister darkness of the rubber plantations,the slim stalks of the tapioca plant, the  dark green of the cashew farms are a sight for sore eyes- specially for city slicks like us and one soaks in the pollution free tranquil environment with the greediness of a parched traveler of the desert upon finding an oasis.The first week is bliss- and after that one starts accepting that there is more to Kerala than just the green.
A visit to ones own farmlands is a tricky affair- no matter how much we turn our noses down at the humble rubber slippers and the big black umbrella, its impossible to survive with dignity without these two accessories A walk to the paddy fields looks very enticing on the celluloid, but for a person not used to negotiating through the narrow lanes separating the  fields, it can be a harrowing affair, as one miscalculated step could land an unseasoned individual into the slushy paddy fields.

The pepper climber by the window sill

Labour has always been a cause for worry for the landowner of Kerala, more so now as more locals are preferring to venture out of their state for more lucrative shores. So we now to get to see land lying untapped as its cheaper and less of a bother to import agricultural produce from neighboring states.
And the fertile land that the place is, the so called fallow lands are lush once again with so much flora and fauna with very little appreciation of what nature has so abundantly endowed.
Yet the state enjoys the distinction of having the highest literary rate in India- the poorest of  poor know how to read and write.For higher education, Kerala still follows the centuries old mindset that its either Medicine or Engineering that are worth pursuing.Everything else is for the losers.
As a result we see Engineering colleges sprouting with the regularity of mushrooms and all young adults are either Engineers or Doctors.
Its heartbreaking to see these highly qualified professionals working for pittance and applying for clerical posts in government jobs.
Given the semi rural ambiance of the place , one would expect life to be more affordable than the metropolitan cities. Reality is a far cry, shopping for anything in the state makes us feel that life in our home city of  Delhi is decidedly more affordable. Plus unlike what we are used to, where the buyer is the king, in Kerala its the seller who rules the roost.

Most families have their own places of worship

A lazy lifestyle means that people of the state have time for recreational activities, have time for each other and are decidedly less stressed. The average malayalee may have his lungi folded to boxer shorts length, but he has a smile in place always and is very happy to be your guide, should you stop for directions.
A visit to anyones house makes sure you are greeted with a tepid cup of tea and an assortment of snacks and fruit from the garden. Jackfruit, bananas and pineapples are more popular. And everyone has a garden. If you are on time, you may be even offered Tapioca boiled with a steaming red fish curry.
People follow different religions, yet Kerala is not divided on the basis of religion- although in the recent years one does hear of a stray incident or two, its comforting to see religious harmony in a multi- religious community.
Kerala has been aptly named Gods own Country as it has something to offer for everyone- be it the tourist or the resident or the NRK (Non resident Keralite).

Weavers den at Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram

Fun things to do while holidaying