On countless occasions, I have written about my love for Pune. For those not in the know, its this city situated very close to Mumbai (formerly Bombay) on the western side of India. I've grown up in that side of the country and that remains the place I identify with the most. Having said that, the biggest regret I have is the fact that I haven't experienced India at all. Perhaps a little bit of Bangalore and Goa and a visit to Kerala, but that's about all I've experienced/known about my country (Delhi doesn't count cos I was there only for a few hours). Pretty shameful I know and I would like to correct that one day. I am thinking about what I would like to start off with if and when I do plan it out.
I would really start with North India but just for the sake of completeness, I'll traverse from South to North.
Tamil Nadu: I have heard it's really hot out there. Not just hot, but crazy humid as well. I typically don't tend to do too well in such conditions and also given the fact that the people there mostly speak in Tamil, that makes it a rather unattractive proposition for me. I mean don't get me wrong, I don't want to get into this whole "Why only Tamil, why not Hindi?" argument, it's their choice, to each their own but that fact really would restrict my ability to communicate with the folks there. Also I have seen that Tamilians tend to get Malayalam easily, the reverse is not always true. Not that I am claiming to know good Malayalam but I can get by. Tamil is a whole another language. Almost seems too crude and crass to me. So unless there is something worthwhile to see/do in that state that I might have unknowingly missed and also is worth going inspite of the hurdles mentioned above, I'll most probably give this state a miss. So, me going to Chennai on work sometime in May, doesn't really count. It'll just be work and I'll be flying out of there.
Kerala: It's God's own country, right! And also where my ancestors came from. Don't have the latter connection that much to make a trip, but would definitely like to experience this state. Almost all of my close friends (and non-Keralites) have seen it, and it's kinda embarrassing to think that it's something I haven't. I did, however, go there, once in my life, when I was 12-13, but that really doesn't qualify as experiencing that state. I could probably mention a dozen names of places that's worth visiting so yeah, this state will definitely be done.
Karnataka: Experienced Bangalore. Experienced Masinagudi (hope I got the spelling right). Experienced Ooty. Enough, no? Or am I missing something? Hubli, Belgaum and all that? If not, I am thinking of giving this state a miss too.
Goa: Covered. Unanimously. And will be covered again and again and again. Because.
Andhra Pradesh: Would like to do Hyderabad but then that's about it. Unless of course I am missing something important again.
Gujarat: I will be experiencing this state pretty soon. So can fairly confidently say, this state will be crossed off my list.
Orissa: I happen to know one really cool person from Orissa and that's about all I know about that state. So unless Jesus Himself comes and tells me otherwise, I am definitely giving this state a vehemant miss.
The rest of the states from mid to North will be covered in my next post. Too bored to write any further right now...
P.S: So Ashish, you on-board, right?
