A "Bangali" in Thiruvananthapuram

Ask my parents, “what does somu criticise the most, day and night” – they would no doubt reply – “Bengal and Bangali”. The answer is certainly as true as my love for Kolkata.
Kolkata is not just a megacity, i view it as my friend, girlfriend, inspiration, mentor and almost-almighty. So i protect it the way i protect myself. So anything i feel is an imperfection, i would want to criticise and rectify it (sounds arrogant right ? well, c’mon its my blogspace, i can have this liberty).

So what happens when this kolkata-crazy guy lands far south in a place which comprises, approximately, 3 times the number of alphabets in kolkata ?

A hardcore Bengali in Malayalam-land railway station
Station looks clean, the people don’t look like they are abusing each other (if they are then i must confess they have the most pleasant disposition of venting their audible expletives and that Malayalam slangs sound better than Hindi and Bengali ones). Score +1. I walk out of the station – and for the first time in life i am not swarmed by auto-wallahs. Score +1. I walk out to the pre-paid auto booth. There’s a female policewoman monitoring every transaction and a few other policemen ensuring smooth public movement out of the booth. They all understand fluent English and even speak well. So, Score +1.

How different are Thiruvananthapuram roads from the ones in kolkata ?
Not much of a difference. Pot-holed roads aplenty. The auto ride turns out to be bumpier than I expected. Communists states always had the tendency following the footsteps of their fellow commie (is this a slang ?) states, and i don’t think its far when kerala adopts bengal’s petrol-to-lpg conversion policy for autos if the govt. really wants to mitigate pollution levels in the city. Thus, the journey from Thiruvananthapuram (i really like the full name) Central to our hotel turns out to be quite uncomfortable and irritating. Score -2.

Thiruvananthapuram food !!!!!
This was the most talked-about issue while i was preparing for my sojourn down-south. Bengalis always believe they cook better than anybody – but luckily, while I do hold Bengali food in high esteem i don’t believe Bengalis are the best cooks in the world simply because i have not even tasted 1% of the exhaustive list of food that the world has to offer. It takes some time to get used to the smell of coconut oil but in overall food is nice, though i feel there is lack of variety. Non Vegetarians will definitely love this place but Vegetarians would be disappointed. Coffee is fantastic and so are the fruit juices. Another drink that i love is the sharja. Its a thick liquid comprising milk, chocolate powder and banana. Dosa is okay but not as good as in Chennai. Same applies to sambhar as well. There’s a bhaaji made of coconut, banana and beans that i love as well. But the Kerala rice is very thick and Bengalis would definitely disapprove of it at the first go. Then again give it some time.
Since i am a “pure” non-vegetarian, Score +1.

The Malayalees and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)
In India it is a common belief that all south Indians are the same, and by South India, we generalise Chennai. So i came to Thiruvananthapuram expecting Tamil-like people who are not quite famous for their hospitality towards the rest of India. However, Kerala is different. Malayalees are extremely helpful. I travelled across Thiruvananthapuram city extensively and i never felt like a stranger. You do not need to memorize directions in advance as the people will happily help you with the same if you are lost. The only complain would centre around the malayalees’ inability to stay outdoors after about 9:30 pm. Transport system is superb, like in Bengal, and available almost 24x7. I travelled to various parts of Kerala (Varkala, Kovalam, Munnar, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kanyakumari – TN) and not for once did i hire a private vehicle. Travelling is really simple. Just shake off your slumber and lethargy, get out on the road, go to the nearest KSRTC bus stand or railway station and travel wherever you want. Bus conductors are extremely helpful though they always appear to be in haste.
Special Mention: Indian Coffee House - the place one has to fall back to whenever there is a food crisis !
Score +5.

Overall view of Thiruvananthapuram.
Great place to travel to. Great place to stay. Araku Valley in Vishakhapattnam had always been my favourite place (among the ones i have visited) in India, only until i visited God’s own country. I was extremely excited on the 17th of December 2009, because that was the day i was scheduled to return to Kolkata, but deep inside i was quite sad that i was leaving behind a place that, i felt, made me one of its own. So it is only fitting that i end this blog vowing to return to Kerala at the earliest opportunity i have !