From Singapore!

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It was good to be in India recently again. This time, it was Kerala, followed by Kanyakumari, Madurai, and Kanchipuram and eventually Chennai.

It was nice to be with the nearest and dearests.

Last year was a big game changer for us as we moved to the unforeseen and untested pastures of Singapore. Mid-August, we visited Cambodia admiring Ankorvat and its other beauties, opening up new horizon for us. Followed up by Anna’s (brother) visit to us with his better half last November and it was fun.

Later last year, we also visited KL, Malaysia for Raja’s concert and for few relaxing days before the dawn of the New Year. Amma joined us in Singapore before the dawn.

Well back to the Indian sojourn. Kerala is beautiful. The God’s own country is lush and green, enjoyable but for the heat wave which stalked us throughout. Guruvayoor, Trichoor, Athirampally, Kumarakom, Thiruvananthapuram, Nagarkoil, Kanyakumari and Madurai.  We spent eight lovely days and must have garnered eight million neurons into action with lovely memories of the journey.

Refreshing family dip amongst the little stream and rivulets of Athirampally was so soothing. House boat trip and stay at Kumarakom was so surreal and had to experience to believe it. What a way to unwind amongst the perennial water, birds, fishes, coconut trees and paradise. Western Ghats at the back drop in Athirampally and the perennial misty cladded in Kumarakoil was breathtaking!

Thiruananthapadmanabar was the star attraction and he proved why. So beautiful was his reclining posture and I was straight away reminded of Jeyamohan’s Vishnupuram novel.
Food was superb and few of our hosts were so kind and magnanimous, courtesy Anna. Drawbacks were the weather (possibly selected the wrong month) and the lack of tender coconuts to beat the heat. It was nuts!

Kanchi and Chennai were as relaxing as usual. Visited Amma’s ancestral village, called Kunakarambaakkam and it was a learning experience. Traditional pump set bathing followed by Duck curry and parboiled rice. It was Heaven.

Kids enjoyed. We enjoyed. Family was enthralled.

Need to travel more; across the breadth and length of the country and continents. Lots of potential for homeland return and for charity work too. India is amazing.

Now, we are waiting for folks to visit us and our friends too. Three cheers to God’s own country.

Pic: courtesy google.

Comments

Unknown said…
Varma, Very inspiring article...following the photos on FB we’ve decided to add Athirampally falls to our earlier plans to spend a few days in Cochin with family. This follows our family trip to Bangalore/Mysore/Srirangapatna during our last Indian trip in 2012. There remans so much to see, experience & learn in our own country, particularly for our kids. They need to experience their MotherIndia !
21 April 2014 at 02:47
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