Traveling even by car in Kerala is not a pleasurable activity if you discount beautiful nature that can be seen on the way.I will talk of traveling to different areas or zones of Kerala landscape.
1.High ranges of Kerala
About six years back,when I was called as consultant for a house to be designed and built at Nedumkandam I was reluctant mainly due to difficulty in traveling up and down in a single day as I have to be back in Cochin for the next day work.Roads to Nedumkandam are basically hair pin turns moving up the hills or down the hills when you come back.We used to leave Cochin at 4.30 in the morning.Finding a restaurant on the way for breakfast is a tough proposition as there is very few decent eatable places on the way.Some where near Cheruthoni we have located a not so bad place .This small restaurant will give Idiyappam with vegetable stew of almost acceptable version.So we used to frequent this place always on our trips.When we go by Karimban there was another not so good place.But we will have no other option.
Looking out while travelling will make you feel proud of natural beauty of Kerala with hills and valleys coming in procession with water springs abundant coming out from the greenery occasionally.Near Idukki dam I have once taken picture of water falls which is the best on the way.
In monsoon period you can see trees falling on to the road some times obstructing part of road.I was told that buses and trucks plying in this road carries tools to cut trees fallen to road as at times these fallen trees will block the road.Some places you can see water gushing out from the higher level through road and falling down to lower level by flowing above road.
In the mornings mist will be embracing nature around with very little visibility left at a distance.Now look at some pictures.
That concrete wall is that of Idukky Hydro Electric power station catchment area.See this water fall and surrounding areas.While you move in the road,road is becoming like an intruder in the tranquil beauty of the nature.
2.Paddy fields of Kerala
Some may wonder whether Kerala still have paddy fields.Keralites do not want to do any manual labour these days.We depend on Tamilians and north Indians coming to Kerala for work.Without them careless Keralites cannot simply live. Keralites get gulf money and abundant money by cultivating rubber which has price going high always.
With money coming without hard work or toiling in sun, drinking alcohol is becoming a usual time pass for many especially in the middle Kerala areas.While passing through Kuravilangad,Pala area,I have seen lot of people drunk even at mid day.Look at pictures from middle Kerala areas with rare paddy fields in Kuttanad and Palghat areas..
Kerala roads will test the patience of the traveller as you get dust gushing into your face while driving down the road.Potholes are quite normal.If you find good road like the one you see from Alleppey to Changanassery made by Pathibel and that between Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha you will get surprised.
At most of the middle Kerala regions,you will find it difficult to locate a reasonably good eating place.Everywhere you have bars as if it is the essential requirement for a traveller.As I keep travelling in the same road again and again I have made a survey and located reasonably good eating places on the way.I plan trip in such a manner to be nearer to a good eating place at meal time.
Rivers and lakes of Kerala make the middle portion attractive and you have good beaches in coastal area and close to rivers you will find most of them are polluted heavily with industrial and other wastes.It appears that industries in Kerala and people in Kerala consider rivers to be dumping place for waste.Some of the waste lines from industries are placed so deep that no body will notice its presence.I think pollution control people must be making money by collecting bribe from industry people to close their eyes by allowing such dangerous waste dumping in rivers.Bribe is no more a sin.It is the right of a government official or those in power.
You can see in pictures above a crude method of ferrying people and vehicle through passages between two small towns separated by river or lake.Two country boats will be tied together and connected to a motorized boat to ferry people and vehicles.We call this Junkar service.Why don’t the authorities think of putting up bridges in these locations instead of people and vehicles to wait for hours for this risky ferry arrangement?.Recently I have waited for one and a half hours to get my turn for getting into ferry Junkar from Cherthala to Vaikom on my way to Ettumanoor site.
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