Kerala, Redemption! Ashrams and Backwaters!

I know I kicked off the Kerala post with a downer, but we're still here in the only freely elected communist state in India, and we're learning a lot! We had a nice second night in Fort Cochin visiting the dutch settlement and Jew Town. More on those places and Kerala history later. We've also visited an Ashram in the South Coast of Kerala and the backwaters near Alleppy. We're covering lots of ground and headed to Varkala beach, a resort town further south.

Quit Kerala Movement

The Indian National Congress including Gandhi and Nehru started the "Quit India" movement to protest the British colonial occupation of India and to protest the poor treatment of Indians and the Indian second class citizenry in their own land. I also recently heard a story that the reason the Taj group of hotels was started was because the godfather of the Tata family was denied access to a British hotel, so he decided to create his own.

Where am I going with this? Ravi and I are in Fort Cochin, Kerala right now and we were denied rum & coke at a late night restaurant last night (after arriving very late to our hotel, on a delayed flight). 20 foreigners of Caucasian descent were enjoying late dinner and drinks, but after asking 3 different waiters who were all confused and just following orders we consulted the manager and he explained to us that the Police crack down on restaurants serving liquor to anyone who looks "local" meaning Indian. We weren't surprised there were issues serving alcohol in Kerala because it's almost a de facto dry state, what with the difficulty and expense in obtaining liquor licences here, establishments are forced to serve beer to customers in tea pots... but what we were most perturbed by was the flagrant indian on indian discrimination that I've lamented sometimes in Indian run establishments in the bay area!

After a little discussing with the manager, a heated response on my part, and a calm one from ravi we left the restaurant bewildered. I had argued with the manager wondering why as Americans we couldn't be exempt from this odd double standard... he didn't grasp english enough to really supply a good response, but later I surmised that the main issue is a misplaced notion that if anyone who looks indian is allowed to drink, other indians may sow the seeds of dissent, in a state where there are tight restrictions on liquor consumption. To see white people drinking on the other hand would be expected by locals, their depravity, liberalness, etc. would be a commonplace stereotype.

I'm very interested in learning more about the Kerala double standard and writing to Lonely Planet, which generally writes to a white audience, to talk about the perils of world travel as a westerner of non European descent... I'm sure I'll revisit this topic again...

There's always a Wedding to attend!

I was in Bangalore for a couple days before flying to Poona for the first time in my life. Ravi's friend Rohit is getting married to Anupama. My trips always include temples and weddings it seems. We're at a hotel compound on the outskirts of India's other "Tech City" in an area simply known as Pimpri. I'm sleeping in the bay window of our tiny room!

Singapore: the last honest state in the world

I went shopping and exploring today, still have a couple hours before my flight to India. I took a cab to the Parkway Parade mall in the suburbs and the cab driver's credit reader wasn't working so I told him I'd get money from an ATM inside and he said he'd wait out front. no disgruntled cabbie and honest me.

you see signs here that say "low crime, doesn't mean now crime", it's hard to believe there's ANY crime in Singapore (knock on wood) considering the various income levels, diversity of races/cultures, past colonial history it's amazing people get along so well!

I did spot two train code violators for the first time today, maybe there were from "out of town" one was sipping a soda on the train, the other was eating egg rolls... hmmmm.

Day 20: Last Day in Singapore, Heading to India!

It's been great here in SE Asia. 20 days of food, sun, and plenty of fun. I'm sad to have only allotted 20 days, I could've easily stayed for 2 months! Excited about India though and seeing family, friends over there!

I'm totally behind the times with online photo management and just discovered Flikr's slideshow feature... included here.

Zouk Out

Really awesome beach turned all night club-party! I went from 9PM to about 6AM. Took mass transit there and back very easily from my cousin's place. DJ Sasha was there spinning from 3-5AM at the main stage, there were 2 other stages with mostly European dj's but also a few good live acts. Everyone is in beach clad gear, they're serving alcohol ALL THRU THE NIGHT/MORNING!! Singapore reality is suspended for 10 hours at this festival. I understand it's been going on for 8 years strong and it's never rained during the event, which is awesome luck!

I was able to reconnect with recent Bali friend's who heard about Zouk word of mouth and also a former Stanford ATI buddy, Sujey who's working in Singapore.

Zouk Out

A Few Pics from the evening

I'm not biting my nails.

Which means I'm super chilled out here in Bali! Surfer-bro chill lifestyle suits me to a large degree. Now I just need to actually get into better shape and get better at surfing. I'm typically always gnawing at my nails, often to quite a painful degree, and I was pleasantly surprised yesterday when I reflected on the fact that my nails had grown a just a little bit.

Carlos, the Colombian I met a couple days back, put it best: the only job out here is to go surfing, and you only have that job for a few hours each day, the only hassles are how tired you feel after surfing, sleeping off hangovers, and what else?

Ah the hallmarks of "chill". The great things about this place is how cheap everything is, it's no wonder young people between jobs or school will regularly spend 30 days just on this island.