Well I do agree with all the reviews about the beauty of Kerala. It has one of the most outstanding back waters and beaches. Ideally for a Tourist it is a wonderful place and I definitely enjoyed the place.
During on of my visits I decided that this was where I wanted to be and I decided on returning to my state and starting a business. I was advised by a lot of well wishers not to commit this folly. Well, I had made up my mind and decided to go along with my decision, cause I was under the impression that things in kerala had changed and I would be welcomed like how I was welcomed as a Tourist.
THAT’s when I met the true GOD’s of Kerala.
ON a daily basis I now have to bow to the Politicians, the Labour and the people who run the government. THEY ARE NOW MY GODS.
Sometimes I wonder whether it was worth the trouble of converting my image from that of a TOURIST to a BUSINESSMAN. Truly in my opinion its DEFINITELY GOD’s OWN COUNTRY.
My parting advise to all ye tourists. REMAIN AS TOURISTS.
ADDENDUM to my earlier note on Trivandrum:
I have had two comments asking for my experiences on trivandrum. I must admit that my earlier review was very short. (thanks guys).
Well I have had too many experiences in trivandrum and even though each one is worth mentioning, I would’nt want to bore you with all of it.
My experience with the ATTIMARI Gang (Head Load Workers).
Well My factory is located in an industrial Estate and I needed to bring in some Flooring material. This was ofcourse costing higher in Kerala compared to Tamil Nadu. But I felt that bringing in stuff from Tamil Nadu would be more troublesome so I opted for the kerala dealer. I had a very tight budget and was very wary of escalations. My supplier told me that the tiles would be brought in two trucks.
I was aware that there was an amount to be paid to the ATTIMARI Gang According to the government any unloading or unloading has to be done by these people only. We are free to do it but these guys also would have to be paid.
I had budgeted around Rs.5000 per truck load. This itself was high cause I would have paid around 1500 to 2000 max in Tamil Nadu. I called the leader of the gang and asked him how much it would cost. He said that he would have to see the stuff to decide. I explained to him the details of the material. HE still insisted that he would be able to give me a cost after the truck reached.
Well The fool that I am I decided to wait till the truck reached. And Thats when the Storm struck. Both trucks reached mu factory around 5.30 PM and I sent my guys to trace these unloaders, Unfortunately I was informed that it was beyond their duty hours ( 9AM to 5.30 PM). I then traced the house of the leader and sent my guys to convince him to unload even though it was only 5.30PM. He then told my guys that he would not be able to unload it that evening and that they would do it the next day. Well, what could I do I WAS JUST THE STUPID TOURIST WHO GOT CONVERTED.
The Next day these guys trooped in around 10.30AM and then insisted on being paid 40, 000 per truck load (thats what the nearby government run industry pays them for unloading a truck load of Batteries). I was SHOCKED and told them that what they were asking for was absurd and that it was almost half the cost of the slabs. This bargaining went on till 3 PM with no breakthrough. and I decided to return the material to the supplier. Thats when the local Politician Trooped in and he joined the discussion. Ultimately they told me to pay only 20, 000 per truck which it self was high, but by then I was full till my GILLS and decided to pay these guys and get them off my Factory.
Thats how tough is to start some thing in kerala. THOUGH THEY CALL IT GODS OWN COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE ARE ALL DEVILS. I shall keep adding more to this column of mine.