From Managalaapuram to Mangalapuram in a day ...

From Managalaapuram (Mangalore) to Mangalapuram (Trivandrum) in a day ... 16 hours to be exact between Kannur and Trivandrum.... Had the pleasure of driving from one end of Kerala to another in a day and found a few interesting things.

Changing lanes - Kerala changes its look and feel in every 40 kilometers - Be it language, food, people and the shops ... the look and feel changes every 40 kilometers. From Mangalapuram in Trivandrum 40 kilometers would be Attingal... another 40 would be Kollam another 40 to Kayamkulam and then Allappuzha then Ernakulam ... Angamali ... Thrissur ... Guruvayoor ... Malappuram ... Kozhikode... through Mahe... Thalasseri to Kannur and beyond till we reach Mangaalapuram through Kasaragod. You would need new dictionary for every 45 kilometers too as the language also changes drastically.

Roads are relics - Though you will see names of roads sometimes they don't exist - Like the historical records of certain rivers... some roads are just left in names and you would find relics of a road that existed with potholes and shops having taken them away

Funny bone - Some names remind of movies or will make you laugh - Some of them are Thechotte, Mulki, Kumbidi, Turkey, Ussainmotta, Chovva, Kodali, in the north to Kanjippura, Pathaalam, Devalokam in between and down south places like Idichakkaplaamoodu, Manthuka, Rajivinte Jetty, Kocheedae Jetty and many many more... the boards will make you think and laugh for sure

Disability thy name is driving - Most of the people who drive on the road are blind or ignorant of driving - Some of them buy road to travel when they buy a vehicle... or that is what I felt when I see them drive however they want and on any side or lane. They get the license either printed at home or learnt driving by post.

Not necessary - Vehicles delivered to Kerala have no dim and bright switch - Night driving becomes a new challenge as the opponents on the road who come bang on straight against you on a road changing lanes would only use bright beam and the vehicle they drive unlike mine has no switch to dip or dim the beam.

Two wheels can change the world - Buy a bike and the road belongs to you - People dont feel the need to move from the center of the road and ride their bikes small or big without even giving way to a vehicle on the highway... and the fine amounts have proved better than the rules for helmet. I even saw a man with a dhothi and shirt walk on the road... without his two wheeler, still wearing his helmet. God bless him...

Don't trust a map - There are places google can take you with a shock - Kerala is best guided by the people on the road and not maps, as you may end up in someone's backyard or a dead end, trying to reach your destination. So dont forget to ask the route to the old chettan who runs a shop on your way.

Attractive Kerala - Drive at least once to see some major attractions - from Fort, temples and historical monuments to blue flag beaches, drive in beaches and more all in one state... Though there are many pitfalls and potholes ... smile... you are in Kerala.