South India: Couchsurfing and Travelling in South India

Reading Time: 4 minutes

India’s diversity is impressive. For sure India is different than all countries I have visited so far; for example 13 different national languages and the amazing variety of food as well as the different religions. This time I start travelling in the South which is more relaxed. However when I arrive in Chennai nothing is relaxed. I do not get any money from the ATMs at the airport and have to hitch-hike to another place. Even there, I do not get any money and eventually after failing to take a bus I take a tuk-tuk. I have a big problem if I do not find an ATM because you should never underestimate tuk-tuk drivers. I’m very relieved when I hear the sound of cash withdrawn. I get money (I think VISA cards are not so accepted).

Balaji is my host in Chennai and together with another couchsurfer (from Germany) we cook Dhosai and Idlis. My Chinese friend Lynn is visiting me for the next days. Hence we cannot stay at Balaji’s place because traditions can be quite strong in India. However his support is awesome. We (three) can sleep in the house of his sister in Kanchepuram where many Hindu temples are located. Then it is time to say goodbye to our new friends. Lynn and I are heading to Pondicherry, a former French colonial city. The French quarter is very beautiful and we enjoy the good French bakeries. Spontaneously, we deciding to do couchsurfing again and are welcomed at Santosh’s place in Auroville. At Santhosh’s place there are many foreign young people. We are getting invited for dinner.

Auroville itself is a community which is founded by Sri Aurobindo. He has the idea to create a place which belongs to nobody and where people from different nations are learning and living together. It is interesting to learn about a different perspective of life and education. It is very open but at the same time I can see even from outside that there is a difference between the theoretical model and the real life. I like the idea of an open society where everyone can evolve and learn as it is best for him. Life would be different without all the different models and I think especially in Germany we forget sometimes that there could be also a different way of life. Anyway, it is impossible to have a proper insight without working in the community. We have not much time and our next destination is Thanjavur with the massive Brihadeeswara temple (Hindu). In order to reach Madurai the same day we take the next bus to the bus station and from there to Madurai. In India even 100 km can take many hours and I can promise that it is always an experience.

In Madurai we only visit the Meenakshi temple but in total Madurai is very stressful concerning finding a cheap accommodation and the strict rules of the temple. I’m happy when we are sitting in the bus to Kaniyakumari, the southest point of India. We want to see the sunset and sunrise there. We arrive early and visit also the small island “Vivekananda Rock” on which a mediation temple is built. Furthermore you can see three different oceans coming together: Arabic sea, Indian sea, and Bay of Bengal. A man shows me where they meet and in fact I can see different colours.

South India: From Kaniyakumari to Kochi

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Today we do not have luck with the buses because we have to change the bus many times. Finally we arrive in Varkala which is famous for its beach and the cliffs. Swimming is not allowed and the cliff is nice but not too special. I would rather say it is very touristy, although it is low season due to the rain season.

So far, we have really luck with the weather. It changes when we arrive in Allebey where we want to rent a boat and go into the backwaters. It is raining a lot and a nice Indian family recommend a place to stay. We are thankful due to the fact that it is already dark and we have had no idea where we can stay.

We meet two other Indian guys Saket and Swabnil who have the same idea with the backwaters. Later I also meet a local Jay who helps me with translating in the hotel. He joins us the next day and we hire a boat because we miss the public boat. Jay is very friendly. He organizes everything and it is almost too good to be true, only the weather does not want to support us. Although it is raining, the backwaters are beautiful and we can see many house boats while Jay is acting as tourist guide. Many women are washing their clothes in the small canals which are also called Venice of India.

Kochi is our last station together. We arrive in Fort Kochi which is a former colonial city of the Portuguese and the Dutch. You can see many old huge buildings; between there are many trees and palms. From time to time there is a church. Interesting are also the Chinese fisher nets. The beach itself is not a very beautiful place due to the amount of rubbish and a refinery opposite. Lynn is flying back to China. Thus I’m travelling again alone. Thank you for the great time with you, Lynn. I do another time Couchsurfing and leave then Kochi to go to Munnar, a mountain city.