The Kerala getaway! 

I just got home after what was the fastest holiday trip to Kerala with Pratik and my parents.
Five days is quite decent a duration but when you have a long to-do list you don’t realise how time flies!

This being Pratik’s first visit to Kerala, I was super excited to show him around. I’m certain that my readers are well aware of my love for anything to do with Malayalam!

Our first stop was at Guruvayur, my favorite place in Kerala. It is hard to explain but I believe that the Krishna temple there holds some magical power that makes me want to visit as often as possible. That is why the obsession with the malayalam movie ‘Nandhanam’.

Pratik was so happy wearing the traditional mundu in Guruvayur that he wanted to continue the same look for the rest of the journey!

The next morning we set off on our way to Munnar, my parents’ second home! No seriously, their vacation destination invariably ends up being Munnar and I can’t blame them!

It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The best part about a holiday in Kerala is our driver, Pandiyan, who’s like family to us. He was very happy to have Pratik in Kerala and he ensured that Pratik made the most of his visit.

The drive to Munnar is as enjoyable as the stay there. There’s so much of green around that you can’t help but feel like you’ve put on a pair of green-lens goggles! June – August is not the best time to visit the place if you dislike the rains but we just got lucky! The day we landed in the state of Kerala, the rains took a mini vacation and decided to visit Bombay!

The days were pleasantly sunny and perfect for sight seeing but the evening weather was a different experience altogether! Crazy winds that could have swept me away had I been a few kilos lighter 😛                                                     Though, given all the food I gobbled up to do justice to the wide-spread buffet breakfast and dinner, there was no question of any kilos getting lost!

Our rooms at the Sterling Resort were away from the reception building but totally worth the teeth-chattering walks to and fro because of the picturesque view of the mountains! We slept listening to the trees’ wild whooshing sounds and woke up to the birds’ melodious calls! Nature at its best!

Along with the usual attraction of boating and an elephant ride, we also had an adventurous day at Dreamland, a fun park in Munnar, that offers many adrenaline pumping activities. I don’t remember doing anything so thrilling in the past! Our enthusiasm and excitement rubbed off on my dad and he went on to do some activities that he wouldn’t have dared otherwise! My mom was no less!
Pratik’s Kerala experience also included an opportunity to watch ‘Kathakali’ and ‘Kalaripaittu’ – traditional dance and martial arts of Kerala and a taste of authentic Kerala fish-fry and curry!!

My family doesn’t believe in a boring end to a fun filled holiday! The end to this trip was one such instance.

On our way to the airport we took a detour to check out the Cherai beach! That meant an extra 30 kms which we should have ideally avoided because we didn’t really have any extra time but we took the risk because Pandiyan insisted that the beach was a sight not to miss!

Flight to Mumbai was at 4 p.m. and boarding gates close at 3.15.

Having said that, the detour was worth the efforts because the view of the backwaters leading to the beach was breathtaking!

On reaching the beach at 2.31, we stood for four minutes to take in the beauty of the waves lashing out at the rocks, clicked a couple of pictures, vowed to make this our next holiday destination and rushed back to the car at 2.35.

The drive from the beach to the airport was no less than an F1 race but Pandiyan was confident and we didn’t doubt his skills! With him behind the wheel there was no reason to worry but my tension was mounting and I bit off whatever little nails I have. I wanted to call out to the Gods in desperation but my guilt didn’t allow me! Luckily Murphy seemed to be on a holiday too! No rains, no traffic, no signals, clear roads!

At 3.06 I spotted the airport at a distance.

3.07…. 3.08… 3.09…

At 3.10 the car stopped! We had reached the airport with five minutes to spare!!!

If you called us the Fantastic Four, you wouldn’t be wrong! I hadn’t ever thought we possessed such speed and agility!

Thanks Mom and Dad for this wonderful gift trip to Kerala. Family time is the best time indeed, with all the bantering and timepass!

I can confidently tell you that my aim to get Pratik to become a Mallu isn’t going to be difficult at all! 😀

Cheers Kerala! 🙂