So I just got back from Kerala last night. I had a lovely week staying with Vik's family in Mahe being stuffed with delicious South Indian food and fresh fruits. The first day of my trip was spent in bed, recovering from a small stomach bug that I had contracted on my way over from Delhi. In between my bathroom runs, I kept busy by reading and looking at a carton of old pictures that Vik's dad had taken in the 70s. The fashion, the mustaches and what americans would think of as closer to 50s technology kept me thoroughly entertained. By the second day, I had largely conquered the bug, so Vik and I took a tour of some of the nearby towns including the beach in these pictures.
Now this isn't just any beach, it's a driving beach. The sign said so and everything, with an arrow pointing to the entrance. What does that mean? It's like a drive through for the ocean (photo 1). Who wants to walk in the sand like a crazy person (photo 2)? Get your feed wet? Get sweaty (Kerala is very hot and muggy this time of year)? When you can just stay in your air conditioned car and soak in the scenery from there. One might even spot a crazy foreigner begging her lovely host to let her swim! Only if you have incredibly good look though, there aren't very many white people in this neck of the woods.
On the driving beach (where I insisted on walking), I found the shells of a local delicacy (last photo), I kind of shell fish that tastes similar to a cherry stone (for my cape cod followers). They are delicious, especially fried up with spicy seasoning, but the most incredible thing about them are the aqua color of the edge of the shell. I had truly never seen anything like it. In fact, this trip to Kerala had a lot in store for me in terms of weird flora and fauna. More on that later.
Love,
Violet
For some unaccountable reason I've not looked at your blog for quite some time. I'm, of course, enjoying it enormously and am especially proud of being the grandfather of someone so adventurous and savvy. I commented on an earlier entry on Bandra (?) about the train sign looking just like the London Underground ones but, because I didn't realize comments went with the day's blog, it's buried somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI also noted that today's NY Times has an item about slums in Delhi inside/beside cities that reminded me of Kathleen Boo's book about a slum (not Delhi, I think) right up against a bustling airport and close to rich people's condos.
ReplyDeleteThe signs in mumbai do look like underground signs! That's why I took a picture. In delhi, they say mind the gap, in hindi it sounds like saudani s'utri.
ReplyDeleteI saw the times article, it's very interesting, and actually about a neighborhood that I have been too. One of the offices of the place I will be interning for is there.
The Boo book has been on my list for a while too. Thanks for reminding me about it.