Kathmandu and Thiruvananthapuram

A cloud blanket above New Delhi with lovely silhouette of the aircraft wing

After more than four months of having decided to be in this city of India, I was finally heading there. I guess my travelling stars has shown up in my sky after I first left Kathmandu for Iowa. It was only four months ago that I was on my first international flight, and here came the second!

Thiruvananthapuram, the southernmost one in the southernmost state, was heating up above 70; a very distinct transition from the cold hours in my Delhi layover. The layers that were keeping me barely warm in Delhi Airport were burning me in Thiruvananthapuram. This hot and humid city has another name too – ‘Trivandrum’. Its only airport’s domestic terminal welcomed me with warm smiles, helpful people and a lounge area with no internet connection. For a foreigner with no mobile nor data plan, the Pre-Paid Taxi Counter standing right in front, seemed like the solution called for.

On the half an hour drive to the hotel, I captured the glimpses of life in Thiruvananthapuram. Men in lungis and women in kurtis and sarees walking down the streets decorated with tangled wires, colorful buildings and vibrant hoarding boards made me reminisce Kathmandu. The simplicity of lives and co-existing noisy traffic give unique and rich dimensions to developing cities like these. The streets with two storied residences and clean skyline reminded me of Pokhara while the climate and some dirty corners made me think of Janakpur. This city, abundant with coconut trees, banana trees and lots of other tropical ones has a pleasant green ambience through every angle.

And then, the taxi window framed a part of Arabian Sea with sandy beaches! Now I am looking up to the day when I will be experiencing its amazing surrealness. I’ve heard the legends of the shorelines – how it can make you fall in love with them, and of the depth of a sea – how it can well you up and empty you at once…

I can’t wait for the magical ride!