Kerala = Heaven

Before leaving for Kerala I joked with messiah that maybe the incredible HDI indicators for the Indian state of Kerala would make it a great place to vacation in India. We both laughed but then I went to Kerala and saw for myself what a government that is actually accountable to the people can do.

People in Kerala seemed happy, healthy, well-educated. There was a pride and sense of dignity in work that I haven't seen yet in Chennai. Even though Kochin, Kerala's largest city is much smaller than Chennai it felt about 10 times more cosmopolitan with real lane markers in the road, trash bings and even signs telling people to make their cars more environmentally friendly. There were jute bags to buy in the market so as not to use as many plastic bags.

There were mountains, and jungle and peaceful back water communities and I even saw wild baby elephants. The people were friendly, hardly anyone begged and the older women looked healthy and happy, so unlike the women here in Chennai who walk around hunched over and so thin their skin hangs off their bones. The air smelled of wood smoke and cardamom, I am not kidding you.

If I could live in Kerala for the rest of my time in India I think I would, as a sign said on the road that wound up the mountains and crossed fresh water streams and falls it was "almost heaven"