After having experienced the hustle and bustle of Bangalore, the next plan was to explore Kerala, a state which is located on the tropical south-western tip of the subcontinent. On its coast it is home to vast stretches of palm tree adorned beaches, which are flanked by rice fields criss-crossed by small canals, just as in Venice. Going further inland, one meets the mighty Western Ghats mountain range, a high-altitude rainforest, home to elephants and tigers, which is ideal for escaping the oppressive humidity on the coast. Politically, it is also well-known within India for its high degree of development–it has the highest literacy rates, life expectancy and lowest impoverishment rates in the country. All great things. And they also love a bit of communism too it turns out.