• Last Stop: Mumbai

    Last Stop: Mumbai

    Since my flight home is leaving from Mumbai, I decided to stay in Colaba for a few days. I didn’t quite know what to expect so here are a few pictures from my adventures. The architecture is quite diverse, from colonial to art deco to modern: I really liked the food, some really nice South…

  • Traveling in India

    Traveling in India

    Most western tourists hire a car with a driver. It is quite affordable from a westerner’s perspective and most actually do it, unless they go with a tour group. The drivers will sleep in dormitories or sometimes in their car, which I found quite sad. I wanted to travel as most locals do as part…

  • Tamil Nadu Continued…

    Tamil Nadu Continued…

    My initially straightforward route through Tamil Nadu got derailed by suggestions from locals where to go. So, next is Rameswaram, an important pilgrim destination, second only to Varanasi to wash away sins. People were quite emotional and I only took a few distant pictures to respect their privacy. Rameswaram is actually on an island connected…

  • Chettinad

    Chettinad

    Chettinad is a rural, semi-arid region in Tamil Nadu, consisting of about 75 villages. They have essentially been created by the Chettiar, a number of families that became extremely wealthy through trading and money lending in other Asian countries. Their wealth declined after World War II, resulting from countries like India and Burma becoming independent…

  • Tamil Nadu – Thanjavur

    Tamil Nadu – Thanjavur

    After a day and a half on trains, I arrived at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. It feels quite different than Kerala, a different green, a different vibe. It’s also known for temples, lots of them! Old and new. The most famous temple in Thanjavur – Brihadisvara Temple (aka big temple). It’s dating back to the…

  • Wayanad Mountains

    Wayanad Mountains

    After the pretty but hot Backwaters, I headed to Wayanad. It’s a mountain region in Northern Kerala that’s slightly cooler (sweat actually dries off when you don’t move). I stayed at the beautiful Varnam homestay, which is inside a forest farm. Forest farms are a sustainable form of farming that mimics the layers of a…

  • The Kerala Backwaters

    The Kerala Backwaters

    When I visited a local bookshop in Fort Kochi and asked for recommendations for a local novel, the store owner gave me “The god of small things” by Arundhati Roy. It’s a great read and what are the odds… the story plays in Aymenem! A tiny village in the Kerala backwaters, where I was moving…

  • Fort Kochi

    Fort Kochi

    First stop in Kerala to adjust to the climate. This is a street view near my homestay. I bought prawns at the beach promenade and a chef nearby prepared them for me. Delicious Fish Pollichathu at a restaurant Dhobi Khana (Public Laundry) Streetside vegetable vendor Preparation for Kathakali – traditional Kerala dance Amazing how stories…

  • Axel’s Travel to South India

    Axel’s Travel to South India

    My trip is finally starting! What started with a growing fondness of Indian food grew into the idea to travel to where it comes from. I look forward to experiencing the culture, people, and everything else that comes with traveling by myself. I gave myself two months and plan to travel to Kerala and Tamil…