Recent visit to Ernakulam

During last week I had been on two days stay at Ernakulam. I had been there lastly on an a flying official visit in 2008 and could not go out of the official schedule. Prior to that I was on an site seeing tour with friends group in the year 1978. from my previous I had a prception of Kerala having its thatched /tiled roofed housed in greenery, lungi clad beedi smoking youth and old assembled in tea shops discussing politics seriously, toddy shops in every kilometre of the roadside etc., etc., But The scenario is completely different now. Few of the characters i observed is amazing. the auto driver took me to the lodge on a fare of just 25 rupees. for the distance covered we are paying not less Rs.80 to 100 in Trichy, may be even more if you happen to be in odd hours. I wonder how it works out at Ernakulam alone. May be the refinaries there at Cochin giving free fuel to the auto drivers there. In the hotel next suprises were waiting. The meals served was very nice and tasty. The hotel is not a road side eatery nor a five star one . The meals in A/c hall was only Rs.55/-(in Non a/c hall its Rs.50/-)Both raw and boiled rice is provided on demand. In Trichy for such a food in the hotel of same standard we have to pay not less than Rs.100/-. Above all the servers in the hotel do not take tips which is very much amazing. Taking tips from customers is considered to be a shame. Next day morning

Kerala

for the past two days i was at Ernakulam. My last visit was in 2008 but it was in a haste. Long back probably in 1978 i had long tour with friends to Palghat, Guruvayur,Malampuzhaa,Trissur and some other places which has made me visualise it as a place of toddy shops on road side, beedi smoking people clad in lungies surrounding tea shops,gathering for raising slogans etc etc.,. What a difference. Few of the features of present scenario