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Today I bid goodbye to God’s own country, Kerala, leaving behind the state full of greenery, beautiful backwaters and very kindhearted people. I cycled 750 km in Kerala along its coastline, noting that local life is dependent on fishery, which contributes to 3% of the state income. I was treated very well and people were very hospitable. I came across language barrier at some places, where I had to communicate in broken English and hand gestures, but people were always ready to help. At the two places where I stayed, Paravoor and Edapally, I was treated like a family member.  I reached Udupi, Karnataka, directly instead of making a stay at Mangalore, as I found it a concrete jungle being an industrial town and this place did not interest me much. I came across a strike three times near Suratkal and saw people blocking the National Highway to protest against the diversion of a river’s water to another state. I had a hard time crossing them but eventually managed it.  After Kerala’s greenery and coconut trees welcoming me all along my route, Karnataka was a bit warm at some places as the sun was in full force. I cycled 112.5 km today and reached Udupi at 1:30 p.m. Then, I roamed around the city for a cheap accommodation and found one by the name of Hotel Brindavan, which allowed me to stay for Rs. 150 per night. That reminds me of some vintage advice for travelers: never lose hope! |
