?To experience new people, new lifestyles, new foods, new thoughts, new cultural backgrounds, new terrains. To exchange, to absorb and to reach out with open minds and open hearts.?

It was with this goal that Mr. Amit Sheth, an industrial designer, electronics engineer and photographer from Ahmedabad, started out on a unique adventure trail along the Indian coastline, ?in an open 4x4 jeep fuelled by diesel, powered by hope and running on a smile and a song?. Here he talks about his impressions of the Kerala he encountered
along his 10,000 km journey. 

Is this your first trip to Kerala?
Yes, for all practical purposes this is my first trip to Kerala because I had come once to Periyar lake sometime in 1971 - ?72 when I was too young to recall much except hordes of elephants.

Frankly I am really impressed with Kerala. Leaving aside the traffic and the chaos along the coastal highway between Nagercoil and Kochi, I found the State quite clean, relatively organized, real good roads, smart and helpful traffic police, excellent signage all along the major as well as most of the smaller roads as well (a major boon for tourists- something I haven't seen done anywhere else in India), and green. It rightly is God's own country! Green everywhere, the air smells great (not kidding ? there seems to be a flowery fragrance in most parts of Thiruvananthapuram!), the people are nice and helpful. The Tourism Department really goes out of its way to help and shower a lot of information. 

What is it about Kerala that you liked the most? Any favourite place? 
The ambience is just phenomenal and if one can manage it I would probably like to shift here! I mean I really liked the place tremendously. The places I enjoyed the most were Kovalam, Varkala and Thiruvananthapuram. 

How does it compare with the rest of the country? 
In terms of tourist infrastructure, support, information and ambience, Kerala is far and above, way ahead of all other States. As a State, it seems to be still much better as well. It may lack some of the attractions of Mumbai (concerts, theatre etc.) but I am sure that would also happen in due course. 

What do you think of Kerala as a tourist destination?
The number one tourist destination in India; I would advise people to spend 50% of their time here and the rest at other standard places. 

How can Kerala improve its potential for tourism?
You could have some more shorter backwater trips planned for smaller groups and for tourists with less time. Also can things not become a little cheaper? Some of the costs are really quite high and if lower, I am sure they will attract a lot more tourists from within India as well as from abroad. Overall I am really impressed and thrilled with my Kerala trip and have decided to spend at least 10 days here during the next winter holiday with my family. 

Read all about Amit Sheth?s trip in his website, www.downtothewaterline.com