Kerala

I finally learnt not to get shocked by the Keralites’ strange way of greeting. In contrast with the Marathi “Kuthna aalaat?” or the more polite Kannada “Yaava ooru?”, the Mallu says it with a loud tuneful “Hellooo!” or a “Hieee!”. The way to reply to this is an equally tuneful hello or hi, which is usually received by a satisfied “Aaah!”. The greeter may then, if he wishes, ask you some question in Malayalam.

Sights typical of Kerala are:
• Coconut trees
• Cool bars
• NH17
• Huge bananas
• “Arts and sports clubs”
• “Rumblers”
• “Limited stop” buses
• Gulf houses
• Railway crossings
• Confusing milestones
• Hot brown drinking water
• Milma

Kerala being one of the more recently formed linguistic states, I found to my surprise that many people can speak Kannada. Many times the reply to the apologetic “Malayalam arilla” was “Kannada?” Through observation, this can be safely assumed of any old-timer, rarely of the younger generation brought up on Malayalam. It might be safer to talk in English rather than in Hindi, as a few of the youth are anti-Hindi.