Thiruvananthapuram: The Crazy, Beautiful Chaos I Didn't Expect
so i landed in this place called thiruvananthapuram and honestly? i had no idea what i was getting into. the numbers 1261470 and 1356391337 meant nothing to me until i realized they were probably just some random database IDs. whatever. i was here for the vibe, not the paperwork.
walking out of the airport, the heat hit me like a warm blanket that’s been sitting in a dryer too long. according to my weather app, it’s 26.83°c right now but feels like 29.62°c. the humidity is sitting at 83%, which basically means my shirt is now a second skin. i just checked and it's muggy and warm there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
the first thing i noticed? the colors. everything here is painted in these wild, bright shades-temples, shops, even the auto rickshaws look like they’re auditioning for a bollywood movie. i overheard someone say the best place to grab a quick bite is *maveli cafe on MG Road. someone told me that their appam and stew could make you cry happy tears. i haven't tried it yet, but i'm trusting the drunk advice of a stranger.
if you get bored, kanyakumari and kochi are just a short drive away. i heard from a fellow traveler that kanyakumari's sunset is worth the trip, but honestly, i’m still trying to get through day one here without passing out from heat exhaustion.
randomly stumbled into the padmanabhaswamy temple area and got yelled at for wearing the wrong clothes. oops. apparently, you need to wear traditional stuff or they won’t let you in. note to self: google temple dress codes before showing up in board shorts and flip-flops. the temple itself is insane though-gold-plated everything, intricate carvings, and a vibe so sacred it makes you whisper even if you don’t know why.
i also heard that the napierville zoological park* is worth a visit if you’re into seeing tigers without getting eaten. a local warned me that the lines can be brutal, so go early or don’t go at all. i’m still deciding if i’m brave enough to battle the crowds.
random side note: i found this tiny bookstore near the railway station. the owner, an old guy with glasses thicker than my water bottle, kept recommending obscure malayalam poetry. i bought a book i can’t read just to make him happy. maybe i’ll learn a word or two before i leave.
the traffic here is a whole other story. i watched a cow casually jaywalk in front of a bus, and neither of them cared. that’s when i knew i was not in kansas anymore. or anywhere with traffic laws, really.
if you’re planning a trip, here are a few links i’ve been using:
- TripAdvisor: Things to Do in Thiruvananthapuram
- Yelp: Best Restaurants in Trivandrum
- Local Tourism Board
anyway, that’s enough rambling for now. i’m off to find more snacks and maybe get lost again. if you’ve been here, tell me what i’m missing. if you haven’t, maybe don’t trust everything i say-i’m basically just winging it with a sunburn and a bad sense of direction.
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