What am I supposed to do if you are in some trouble or problem?!
Some lines are best left incomplete just like
the empty feeling of wasted time, energy and effort that hit my gut hard in an
instant. Not one to swallow myself in self-pity or go about being a sob story
about town, I did what I could do best, Travel; Travel to heal, travel to trust
again, travel to regroup myself, travel to just peacefully let go and forgive.
So, the background for the Kerala Trip
established. A child who was yet again lost looking for some light. Escape said
my mind at 11:00 p.m one night and I gave in. The Parents desire to get out of
their routine and the little one being placed just gave it the more needed
push. Tickets for the entire fam bam booked and voila, we were all set. Some “you
are much better than you give yourself credit for “conversations over ice cream
with dad to “we are so proud of you striving on your own “conversations with
mom (in her own style) to “You are the best “conversations with my brother (let’s
just say this one’s maturity beats me by 50 years at least)
Tickets booked and it was about time I gave my
Usain bolt of a mind some better direction to run; Travel research I said. So,
from being an impulsive traveler (constantly giving my dad mid-night jolts with
tickets booked) to becoming an “preparedly un-prepared Traveler “the story
began. The one thing I realized “ALL (mind you, ALL) the travel sites are
fucked up promotional material “. Some 10 days of grilling research across
travel websites, their bogus awards and some dozen to & fro conversations
with hoteliers and taxi guys was what followed. Finally; nights of research
were done for the best places to stay with amazing views, amazing food and the
list goes on. Finally, it was Game. Set. Match. As a few of my friends joke; I was
on a honeymoon with the Fam-Bam. So here goes the Travel dhinchak:-
Thekkady
Hotel: Ranger Wood Nature Castle (Tree House).
Verdict – Above Average.
Must do: Bamboo Rafting in Periyar, Martial
Arts & Kathakali show at the Green Village, Kerala Oil Massage (Let’s just
say the almost-nudity is absolutely worth it), Early Morning Jeep Safari
hunting viewpoints, Private safari into the forest and Spice Shopping at
Hindustan.
Must Avoid: Trekking & Periyar Boating,
unless you fancy making out on a boat or posing for cheeky couple selfies for
the monkey’s there.
Munnar
Hotel: Kaivalyam Retreat (Duplex Tree House).
Verdict – Excellent.
Yet again a tree house and the best one says my
dad, who made his post-retirement plans here. A beautiful property amidst the
spice plantations. It was a pure joy just soaking in the plantation air or for
that matter going for the trek to the river.
Must do: Echo Point, Ervikulam National Park,
Plantations and some Coffee-Tea shopping.
Must Avoid: Cheeky Basket Selfies.
Alleppey
Hotel: Xandari Houseboat. Verdict – Best in
town.
Must do: Sip Coconut water/Booze and read while
also getting lost in the views the place has to offer.
Must Avoid: Hoping the water is going to smell
lovely and its going to be an out of the world experience.
Cochin
Hotel: Waterfront Granary. Verdict – Excellent.
Must do: Spice Market and the Antique Market, Café
Kashi, Marine Drive, Sunset Cruise, Chinese Fishing Nets, Jewish Synagogue.
Must Avoid: That Art Museum stuff and expecting
the Chinese Fishing nets is going to look as glorious as it looks in photos.
The reason I
have conveniently left out the food bit is because Kerala is a vegetarian’s
worst nightmare and a paradise for Non-Vegetarians.
I sign off here
hoping this year turns out to be about meeting genuine people, having awesome
food, travelling to fantabulous places and staying in places with the best
views and letting the experience evolve us into better human beings in letter
and spirit.
God, I just
delivered a sermon!
Ok, Enough
pleasantries for the day. It’s a weekday, so bloody go work!
