Lazy ? Listen Blog from below

“Are there any rats in Indian airports?” my colleague, Miss Kristine, asked me last year. I was surprised and asked back with half-closed eyes, “What?! Where did you hear that?” She explained that her friend worked as an air hostess. Once, after landing at an Indian airport, she saw a lot of rats and was told that they don’t kill them because they believe the rats are their gods. She was right; the belief exists because, in Hindu mythology, the rat is the vehicle of Lord Ganesha. I shared this with her but added, “Anyway, I haven’t heard of such an airport.” She wasn’t convinced and replied, “You’re from India—how could you not know?” I’ve received similar questions from others when I traveled abroad.

In such cases, I explain that India is one of the largest countries in the world. To outsiders, it may seem like one country, but in reality, each state has its own culture, local languages, and climate. That’s why In such cases, I explain that India is one of the largest countries in the world. To outsiders, it may seem like one country, but in reality, each state has its own culture, local languages, and climate. That’s why India is known as “Unity in Diversity.”

Now, why am I telling you this story from a year ago? As an Indian, I’ve always felt that I should travel within India before venturing abroad. But circumstances didn’t always permit that. I had only traveled to a few places in India, like Bangalore, Chennai, and parts of Kerala. I can say that traveling across India is equivalent to traveling the world. (I’ll explain how at the end.)

The time has finally come. I’m traveling to India, Nepal, and Bhutan on 8th October 2016, by car, with great companions: M. Dileef (Guinness World Record holder and caricaturist), Nisar Kolakkadan (wildlife photographer), Salim Groad (graphic designer), and myself. We named our trip “CROSS THE BORDER – A Trip for Tranquillity.” While we mentioned the end date as October 30th, 2016, we didn’t know exactly when we’d return home.

By the way, the current situation between India and Pakistan is tense. Both countries soldiers are engaging in a tense game of Pokémon with weapons, so the government has tightened security at the borders. We are unsure how dangerous this journey might be, but we trust in God and believe nothing will happen to us. Even staying at home can feel dangerous (just kidding!). It’s been a year since I lost my job, and if I stay at home too long, you know what parents would say… ahem. Over the past few years, I’ve kept myself busy with various activities, which doesn’t mean opportunities aren’t out there, but I’ve been waiting for the right one while experiencing different things. Coming Year 2017 I will enter in Job. If God wills

Yesterday, we went to the Calicut Collectorate office to get a letter for our journey, just as a security precaution. We sought advice from the district collector, Mr. Prasanth (whom we fondly call “Collector Bro”). His reply was quite interesting: “Nepal and Bhutan are also part of India. Just go. Relax and enjoy.” If you ask any Kerala youth about “Collector Bro,” they’ll only mention his name (after all, Kerala has 14 districts, each with its own collector). He’s very friendly, like a new-generation leader, and dresses decently. We invited him to flag us off.

Even though he rarely accepts public invitations, he graciously accepted ours, which gave me immense pleasure. I have a write-up about him that I’ll share in the coming months once it’s completed. To write something about him, you can imagine how inspiring he is and how big a fan I am..

I believe this trip will be full of adventure and, with everyone’s prayers, will be safe. Anyway, Miss Kristine, I hope I can find the answer to your question somewhere, as our journey will take us through different villages across Indian states.

I’ll end with the story I mentioned earlier. After God created the Earth, He went to the Gulf and gave them deserts. The angel said, “God, these people will suffer.” To which God replied, “No, inside the sand, I’ve hidden gold.” Then He went to Israel and made the people there very clever. The angel said, “God, these people will destroy the world.” God replied, “No, I will never give them peace.”

God flew over many countries, doing similar things (though I’ve forgotten some of the details). Finally, He reached India and was left with nothing. The angel asked, “What will you give now? You are empty.” So, God took a little from each of the other countries and distributed it across India’s states. In Rajasthan, you’ll find deserts. In Jammu & Kashmir, the weather is as beautiful as Switzerland. And then, God became tired and chose a place to rest: Kerala, where you can find mountains, waterfalls, seas, rivers, and forests. That’s why Kerala is known as God’s Own Country.

P.S. If anyone wants to visit my land, Kerala, I’m just a call away to guide you to the most adventurous and thrilling tourist spots.

by Niyaz Kannanchery