This is now the final chapter of Kerala tour. I attended a marriage of my friend who was with me in Hyderabad for 2 years and then in Denver for few months. From vadakara where I was put up, his home was around 30 kms. I brought a special Kerala dress for the wedding. It took me almost 30 minutes to get ready with that. I took an auto to reach his place. Malayalam style of wedding is very simple and quick. I along with his other few friends, got the groom ready; then we started from his place to the brides place, few kms away. There, after a 'warm' welcome ( in Kerala, they serve lukewarm water, not cold) they had quick ceremony in which the bride and the groom exchange the garlands and the marriage is done, follows by a feast. Afternoon, we started back, to guys place, another warm welcome there to the girls' relatives and friends and a grand reception feast.
My further plan was to go to kozhikode to visit my dad's friend. From Panoor, the marriage place, my friend arranged a vehicle for me to go to nearby train station, Thalssery, from where I took a train to Kozhikode, an hour of distance.
Kozhikode is a port city. Famous place where Vasco-da-gama landed centuries before, discovering sea route to India. In the evening, I just took a relaxing walk on the beach. Being a Sunday, in hot summer, the beach was too crowded. But I got few nice snaps, and it was an evening well spent. After delicious dinner, and enjoying my favorite Alphonso Mangoes, spent the last night in Kerala at my dad's friends' house.
I'm in the flight now, going back to Hyderabad. It was definitely a memorable experience to visit this state with a distance cultural flavor. As I have covered only the north part of the state, I'll definitely be back for another trip to cover the other half. Till then, back to the routine life...