More photographs from the trip at: http://picasaweb.google.com/himanshu.saraf/Kerala
For my English readers, the title means "Boat ride in a Moonlit Night". For those who have studied Hindi as a subject in high school specially from CBSE board are probably familiar with the title as one of the sample essays at the end of the Hindi textbook or in a guidebook. I think it was in Grade VI or VII that I came across this essay and had since forgotten this phrase till yesterday when I found myself taking a boat ride in the backwaters of Kerala. I was a little late to arrive in the town of Allepey and by the time I got into a boat it was getting dark and I had missed the sunset. My disappointment however turned into delight soon after when I realized that it was an almost full moon night and I witnessed the picturesque rising of the moon at the horizon with the backwaters and the coconut trees in the foreground. The situation immediately reminded me of this long forgotten phrase (strange is the functioning of our memory I must say).
For a few minutes I smiled at the thought and then I felt I should share it with someone who was familiar with the essay. I didn't have the phone numbers for any of my high school class mates so I called some of my more recent friends, hoping they would have heard of it. So, I called one of them, asked her if she has studied this essay in school and upon confirmation told her that I am doing the same in the Kerala Backwaters and even before I could wait for a reaction from her, she goes, "You are boating in the backwaters alone?? How sad!" Apparently she thinks Kerala is the most romantic place on Earth and is only meant as a honeymoon destination and not a solo trip. I begged to disagree and called up another friend and explained the context to her just as I did to my first friend. She was a little less upfront in letting me know how sad my life was and put it as, "how can you manage to go to such a place alone?" followed by "it's great!" Well, better than the first response at least. Then I get a call from my old roommate who didn't know I was in Kerala. Needless to say he was surprised to know of it too... but he is not a very expressive person so his reaction was limited to, "What are you saying? ... all by yourself?..." turns out that this was going to be the most encouraging response I was to get, later confirmed by another expression of shock I received on gtalk from a friend who already knew I was coming to Kerala alone and had turned down my offer to accompany me. I am not even going to tell you how my Mom reacted when she learnt that I am in Kerala by myself.
So, what is it with God's Own Country and single travellers? Are they like two north poles, oil and water, Ivan Lendl and the Wimbledon Championships that are just not meant for each other? I can understand when someone says that Kerala is a romantic place but then have all singles been permanently banished from romantic destinations? I have had my friends visit Paris or Switzerland during their internships or while making flight connections in Europe but no one really went after their lives. What is so special about Kerala that I am getting such a beating from everyone for making this blunder? So, when I asked the first friend who called Kerala the most romantic place on earth that what makes it so romantic, she was like... I don't know... my friends tell me so! Of course I can't go chasing her friends for that now... on a little more interrogation she admits that she is excited about Kerala because she can go to a good spa there. Good, but why is going to spa a romantic activity and you can't go for it alone? It turns out she wanted to go to Kerala on her honeymoon so that she wouldn't have to pay for the spa! So much for romance... I intend to conduct similar interviews with the other people who questioned my decision to go solo.
I was in Kerala for 3 and a half days and that doesn't do any justice to the place even remotely. So my observations/comments about the place should be taken with a grain of salt. Kerala is indeed an extremely beautiful place with great weather, picturesque sceneries all around, friendly people and a tranquility in the air that makes you feel at peace with yourself. I am sure there are a lot of activities that you might want to indulge in with your significant other but I find it hard to comprehend what it is that should stop a single guy or girl from enjoying the aroma of a tea garden at Munnar, an elephant ride in the Periyar National Park, learn about the plantation of spices in Thekkady or witness a unique boat race in the Allepey backwaters. Whatever little time I spent there was worth it for me and had it not been for all the people reminding me that I am traveling alone, I wouldn't have missed the company of someone special to be able to enjoy any of it.
I am not upset with what people say or opinions they hold - to be honest I knew this reaction from people even before I left for the trip - but I am sure there are many like me who wish to visit Kerala or should visit Kerala but they don't just because it's been tagged as a honeymoon destination and forbidden for singles. I met two single girls from London who were on a week's trip to Kerala and they were having a great time (no they weren't on their honeymoon!). I don't think God intended that His country should be enjoyed only by those who come in pairs... and there is no reason we should try and make it that way. So, to all those lone travelers out there - Pack your bags! God's Own Country awaits you :-)
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