From Mishaps to Marvels- Sam’s Review of Kerala Trip with Thrillophilia
There is an easy access route to heaven- Kerala.
Popularly known as God’s own country, Sam and her partner were quite excited to tour this destination. They were aware of the riches and the splendour that Kerala was famed for.
Ofcourse, their heart was fixed upon exploring the temples, undertaking adventure activities, visiting the national parks, and especially, spending a night on the houseboat gliding through the serene backwaters of Alleppey.
Having researched a lot, they finally decided to go for a week-long journey in Kerala. Since they desired a paced-out experience, they thought of booking their trip with a travel operator as it was their first time exploring this part of the world. They contacted Thrillophilia, who in turn curated the best possible itinerary as per the details provided by the couple.
But they missed out on one crucial point- coordinating the timing of flights with the tour.
What a drama!
The cons of being alien to the roadways of India is that you never know how much time is required to get from one destination to the other.
That is why, when they finally sat down to sort their plans, they searched the distance the time of travel between the destinations mentioned in the itinerary- there was no way they could make it on time on the first day of the trip. With no other option left, they had to reschedule the flight as the timings were just too odd to manage.
But this posed an issue- their flight tickets to Mumbai were booked as well, which meant they had to cut short on the last leg of the journey to Kovalam as it was too far from the airport. The itinerary did not allow them the space to catch the flight on time.
Messed up and a bit sad, they made peace with the plan and chose to forget about this mishap.
Forget about it, focus on the good
Anyways, they landed in Kochi, met the driver and their batch of travellers, and headed towards Munnar- the ‘Kashmir of South India’. Sam and her partner got curious and asked the driver -
“What made Munnar gain the title of being the ‘Kashmir of south India’? We are a bit confused, there is no snow or mountains, the landscapes are different, and even the weather is nowhere close to that of Kashmir. We had visited the place three years ago…”
“Madam, it is not about having similar landscapes, it's about offering the similar feeling of being God’s favourite. You know, Kashmir is also called ‘Paradise on Earth’, and Munnar is just a small part of Kerala that gifts you a stunning view around every corner.”
They tried their best to understand what he was saying, or how he was meaning what he said. But they did not have to wait long… the moment they got on the winding roads of Munnar through the lush tea gardens, they knew what the driver meant.
It is not about what you see, it's about what you feel.
There was peace, there was calm, and there was a lurking satisfaction in the air of Munnar. They finally found the justification for the nickname of the place- it was truly the Kashmir of India. The vast rolling meadows and spice plantations, the emerald peaks dotting the landscape, and the cool air of the place brought a sense of relief to the couple.
They had started to love South India.
To beauty, culture, and nature
The reality is quite different from what we see on Google.
They got such a massive shock by witnessing the classical Kathakali performance and Kalaripayattu performance in Thekkady, that their faces froze with wonder. Watching such a spectacular show of emotions, colours, and performative skills that bring back the thousand-year-old cultural traditions to life, was a blessing, they thought.
Their boat ride in Periyar was another marvellous experience. Gliding through the calm Periyar lake while watching the elephants bathing, deer drinking water from the river banks, and numerous birds flocking the branches of the trees. They almost got a good picture of a tiger behind the bushes, but as soon as they took their camera out, it was gone. So they had to resort to clicking just pictures of birds, landscapes, and elephants.
Their spice shopping spree went really well as well. They were way too overwhelmed to see so many varieties of spices and flavours and ended up buying most of them.
Ziplining over the tea plantations of Munnar offered the duo an unforgettable experience. Excited to see such expanses of green beauty, they could not hold their horses to try this activity.
After the adventure, which went really well by the way, they spent more time in the gardens, clicking pictures and spending some time with each other, admiring and overlooking a sight that perhaps got etched in their minds forever.
There is never a ‘last’
The final stop for Sam and her partner was the houseboat ride in Alleppey.
Now, if there is any way to explain how they felt in the houseboat, it is through a real-time experience.
They felt nothing special initially, but as the boat curved its way through the mangrove forests and the backwater lined with swaying coconut trees and quaint houses, they stood mesmerised. Trying masala chai and curry made with freshly caught fish was one of the best food experiences they had in Kerala.
Overall, they had a very nice time in Kerala. The dreamy landscapes and the soothing greenery uplifted their spirits and revealed the true beauty of South India.
Content, they posted a review of this trip with Thrillophilia. They also said that after they were assigned with a POC, all their queries and issues were duly addressed, enriching their travel experience overall. Although they could not visit Kovalam and missed out on a fabulous beach experience, they were sure to visit God’s own country again.
And this time, with proper flight timings and better planning.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kerala Reviews