Hello, world! I’m Bharath Kumar, and this is the (finally!) successful trip to Kerala that my friends—Harish, Geethanandhan, Santhanam, Surendar—and I embarked on after months of careful planning and years of failed attempts. We’ve been planning trips since our school days, but each time something would come up (spoilers), and our dreams would fizzle out. But not this time! Oh no, this time we were serious—so serious that even the Universe gave up on trying to stop us.
What follows is a four-day rollercoaster of memories, mischief, raincoats, and (of course) a lot of tea. Buckle up, because this is going to be a hilarious and heartfelt journey through Kerala, with a bunch of grown men who still can’t quite believe their trip didn’t get canceled.
Day 0: The Journey Begins
Date: July 11th
Time: 6 PM
Place: Hometown Train Station
It’s official: we’re on the train. I repeat, we are ON. THE. TRAIN. This alone was a major victory for us! On July 11th at precisely 6 PM, we boarded the train from our hometown with a mix of disbelief, excitement, and slight paranoia (what if someone pulled the chain and stopped the train?!). The 12-hour journey to Thiruvananthapuram began with us munching on homemade dinners and cracking jokes.
The initial enthusiasm eventually gave way to drowsiness, and we tried to sleep. Note: I said “tried.” Finally, sleep won the battle, and we drifted off, still smiling at the thought that this time, there was no going back.
Day 1: Tea and Temples
Date: July 12th
Time: 7 AM
Place: Thiruvananthapuram
Good morning, Kerala! After a pleasant wake-up call from the lakes and backwaters outside our window, we rolled into Thiruvananthapuram at 7 AM. Our first stop? Tea, of course! A big cup of steaming tea greeted us at a roadside stall, and it was pure heaven after a night of fitful sleep.
Once properly caffeinated, we checked into our hotel, got ready, and started our trip with some devotional vibes. We made our way to the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Now, here’s the thing: you can’t just casually walk in wearing your usual tourist gear. We dressed in traditional attire, feeling both excited and slightly out of place (we don’t usually look this dignified). The ancient architecture of the temple was mesmerizing, and for a moment, the chaos of daily life seemed miles away.
But soon enough, it was time for something a bit less holy. We rented an auto and headed to Poovar Island. The boatman initially quoted us 4,000 rupees for an hour-long tour. We balked. I mean, 4,000 rupees? But let me tell you, once that boat started gliding through the mangroves, past floating restaurants and flocks of birds, the price tag faded from our minds. It was worth every rupee—scenic backwaters, dense mangroves, and the occasional hilarious banter between us and our boatman.
Afterward, we visited the Azhimala Shiva statue, perched elegantly by the ocean. The view was so captivating that we didn’t want to leave. But alas, we had more places to be and more tea to drink.
Speaking of which, our next stop was Kovalam Beach. The rain gods decided to join us for this part of the journey, but that didn’t stop us from dancing like madmen in the rain. We took a bunch of photos, devoured some crispy banana fritters (palampuri) with more tea, and soaked in the seaside vibes.
By 6 PM, we headed back to the hotel, exhausted but happy. After a few hours of rest, we stepped out for dinner. The night was special, though—not because of the food but because it was our first time staying together after 15 years. So naturally, we didn’t sleep. Instead, we played cards and gossiped all night, reminiscing about school days and the canceled trips that led to this moment.
Day 2: Rains, Romance, and Sleepless Nights
Date: July 13th
Time: 9 AM
Place: Alappuzha
The next morning, we left Thiruvananthapuram behind and set off for Alappuzha. The 9 AM train ride to this famous backwater town was a soothing three-hour journey, complete with rain pattering against the windows and romantic tunes playing in the background. Did we sing along? Absolutely. Were we in tune? Definitely not. But the rain didn’t seem to mind.
After checking into our Alappuzha hotel and grabbing a quick lunch, we set out to explore. Our first stop was Maarikulam Beach, which had a distinctly Goa-like vibe. We strolled along the shore, feeling the salty breeze on our faces and the wet sand between our toes.
Next, we visited the Coir Museum, which showcased the history and craft of Kerala’s coir industry. It was surprisingly fascinating, though we were mostly excited to get back to the room for another sleepless night. And yes, this night was just like the one in Thiruvananthapuram—gossip, cards, and no sleep.
Oh, and did I mention we wore raincoats everywhere? Yeah, because, it’s raining !!
Day 3: Houseboat Shenanigans
Date: July 14th
Time: 11:30 AM
Place: Alappuzha Houseboats
This was the day we were all waiting for—the Alappuzha houseboat experience! At 11:30 AM, we stepped onto our luxurious houseboat, and let me tell you, we were shook. The interior was more like a floating hotel room than anything else. We were greeted with fresh juices and made ourselves comfortable on the upper deck, gazing out at the endless waters around us.
As the boat began its slow, serene journey, we broke out the speakers and had ourselves a little dance party. We must’ve looked like a bunch of fools—arms flailing, moves that didn’t belong anywhere near music—but we didn’t care. Life was good, and the backwaters were even better.
The boat paused for lunch, and the food was incredible—Kerala’s cuisine at its finest. Afterward, we hopped onto a speedboat for a thrilling ride. It was exhilarating, the perfect way to cap off a day of relaxation and fun. Back on the houseboat, we spent the rest of the afternoon lazing around, trying to fit five grown men onto a single sofa because apparently, chairs weren’t an option. By 5 PM, it was time for tea and more palampuri. The boat docked for the night, and we ventured into the narrow canals in a smaller boat, exploring the hidden villages along the water.
That night, we once again abandoned sleep in favor of conversations, laughter, and card games.
Day 4: The Final Stretch
Date: July 15th
Time: 9 AM
Place: Ernakulam and Lulu Mall
Our final day in Kerala. We disembarked from the houseboat at 9 AM and caught a train to Ernakulam. With only a few hours left, we visited Lulu Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in India. We spent the day wandering around, making the most of the shops, and filling our bags with goodies to bring back home.
Amban – Santhanam
Bibin – Geethanandhan
Aju – Bharath
Shanthan – Harish
It was hard to believe that our trip was coming to an end. We boarded the train back to our hometown, already missing Kerala’s serene backwaters, rainy beaches, and, most of all, the endless cups of tea.
Day 5: Back to Reality
Date: July 16th
Time: 7 AM
Place: Hometown
And just like that, it was over. We arrived home at 7 AM on July 16th, back to our daily routines. But the memories of Kerala stayed with us—proof that, despite the years of failed attempts, we could actually pull off a trip. And not just any trip, but one filled with laughter, sleepless nights, beautiful sights, and the kind of bonding you can only get when you’re on the road with your best friends.
But hey, it doesn’t stop here. Next up, we’re heading to Gokarna! Stay tuned—I’ll see you there for the next adventure!
