Travel Bits: April 2016

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An unexpected trip was the highlight of the month of April for me. A dinner with friends sometime in March resulted in a last minute decision to collectively travel together to India to attend another friend's wedding.

Kathakali Dancer (female character), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

A quick booking of air tickets was followed by an application for an e-tourist visa for the visit. With the air tickets confirmed and the e-tourist visa approved, I was soon booked for my quick 2-day trip to the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala State of India.

Despite the short trip, everything about the trip was new and interesting to me. This was my first time visiting India and I was glad I made the short weekend trip despite my initial doubts about taking time off from my busy work schedule. 

Indian-style breakfast, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

This was also my first time attending an Indian traditional wedding and to do so in India itself makes the occasion even more special. Even though I was told that the bridegroom and bride had simplified the wedding ceremony to accommodate the bride's family who are Malaysian Chinese, the ceremony was still a great joy to attend. The colour, the culture, the music, the beautiful stage and clothes and of course the food were simply awesome.

During this trip, I also learned about the traditional Kathakali which is a classical dance with highly stylised characters who come complete with elaborate costumes.

Kathakali Dancer (male character), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

This trip was an eye-opener for me to the great travel opportunities that abound in India. I shall return soon and will of course start my exploration of the vast country from none other than the sate of Kerala.

Bus-stop, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

Street traffic, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

Motocycle at a traffic junction (note the relatively complex alpha-numeric characters on the license plate of the vehicle), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

Street-view, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

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