See bra see bra

I am finally on a vacation (14 months since the last 1) in conservative Kerala, so it was quite a shock to hear a couple of children point out and shout 'See bra, See bra'. It was only when I (purely to satisfy my inquisitiveness) looked in the direction they were pointing to see a homely striped creature called Zebra standing in his enclosure at Trivandrum Zoo.

Kerala has just got a whole new facelift with modern malls and shopping centres dotting the landscape. The men still wear the Mundu/lungi and the women typical sarees but the Kitex lungi is now available at a neat modern trade outlet.

In fact the lungi is not half as obscene as it is made to seem. Of course there is the ocassional draft of wind which could give it a grotesque marilyn monroe effect but mostly it can be worn most classily or so I think because I won't be caught dead in one. I am just standing up for my mallu brethren.

Key facts that I have discovered during this trip:

• I am bloody eligible not withstanding recent comments from narrow minded colleagues, etc. The fact that I am an engineer (nobody bats an eyelid at the IIM part) and a computer engineer at that makes me hot property.
• I am the only person that my nephew listens to which has given me special status in our travelling group of my mom, dad, sister and bro in law. The little kid positively adores me and vice versa.
• Rice can be eaten (in various forms) 3 times a day.
• My Syrian christian relatives never heard about vegetarians. The closest thing to a vegetarian they have heard of is the family elephants they used to have. Considering my size I am worried they might just serve me rice balls and bananas.
• Waking up at 7 am is a piece of cake especially when you know that it leads to a healthy breakfast and not a sweaty gym.
• Being surrounded by keralites (SEC A for sure) is amazing for my ego. Most of them make me feel like (a slightly healthier) Salman Khan.
• Skin colour is not skin deep. Fairness here is almost a virtue. Must be one freaking huge market for fair and lovely.
• I really truly needed this break from work. It's liberating. This is what the African women felt when they burnt the (see)bra. Hee Hee. Couldn't help that one.

My trip till now has been pretty amazing with visits to Kochi and Trivandrum and playing with my nephew. It hasn't rained a drop since we've been here, which is kinda odd for Kerala. The weather is warm. Warm enough for my nephew to want to spend his day in the stream outside the house and yet not hot enough to need an a/c.

Till the next time I get a steady net connection.

Curled up with 'The god of small things'.

Luv,

Pranay