Tranquility at a price
Recently we happened to visit God’s own country- Kerala. I was super excited since day of planning and booking our trip .It was gonna be a sure breezer from the routine busy life. Once we reached I could feel the freshness and lightness in air. Less population, no traffic jams and beautiful state full of lush greenery all around!!!
The hilly regions are covered with tea gardens ,cardamom and spice gardens. The beautiful mix of colours, tall Nilgiri(Eucalyptus) trees, different gardens and cool weather is refreshing and soothing treat to eyes and mind. The paddy fields and adjoining backwaters are a different experience all together. Boating through the backwaters, colourful lotus plants, tall coconut trees on the banks and the beautiful vast waterbody transforms us to a different world for certain. Life seems to be on a different plane. Simple people, simple lifestyle and peaceful environment. It is aptly called God’s own country. As tourist everyone is bound to fall in love with the place and wish to come there again and again.
But I wondered how the native people settled there must be feeling.
There is no train connectivity and travelling by roads is the only option through hilly areas. It was raining when we arrived at airport and journey of around 130 kms took around 4-5 hours. The road view was not clear due to fog. Similarly for reaching next destination we had to travel again 3-4 hours for covering around 120 kms. Roads are completely winding and pass through dense vegetation .Though picturesque the travel is quite hectic due to continuous winding. There are no tunnels to shorten the length. On the way, we happened to pass through several small villages .Small small clusters of houses amidst forests. There were hardly any hospitals, big markets and shops to be seen. On enquiring our cab driver informed that people rarely fall severely ill. Most of the ailments are cured at home or by Ayurvedic doctors available in villages. As per him people generally are healthy and don’t need to see doctor frequently. As regards shops, if they have to buy anything other than basic items they need to travel through the hilly areas to reach bigger cities. No fancy restaurants or cinema theatres for entertainment. As far as backwater areas are concerned,many of the places are connected only through the canal. We could see children travelling to schools by boats. Every school on banks of backwater had a station for boats similar to our bus stops. People need to travel for work , transport luggage and material also through such boats. I wonder how they must be managing during heavy rainfalls?? Also most of the young population has to migrate to bigger towns or foreign countries in search of better employment and earning opportunities. Despite of all these it happens to be the most literate state with 93.91% literacy.
Friends everyday travelling to office in Mumbai I crib about the traffic, crowd and pollution. The noise and air pollution takes a continuous toll on mental and physical health. The high cost of living adds to stress and struggle .We all seem to fight for sustaining in this commercial capital. But then we have so much easier access to educational and medical facilities. We have so many employment opportunities and we need not have to migrate to earn for sustenance .We have multiple shopping and entertainment choices. We can have global cuisine day in day out. We get to enjoy variety in almost everything in life.
I am amused by the way Equilibrium is managed by the supreme power, the beauty in irony.
Life is with limited choices, comparatively tough but healthy and peaceful at such serene places. Whereas , where the life is comparatively comfortable and well equipped we need to take supplements and additional efforts to be strong and remain healthy. We have to shell out thousands to visit such serene places to refresh our minds and for seeking some peaceful moments in life.
It is rightly said everything comes for a price and so is tranquility and healthy life!!
