From Malaysia to Kerala
I'm Kogilan Rajagopal, male,58, from Malaysia and I may be coming to Kerala as a tourist, but perhaps I'm also coming to look for a little piece of my family's past.
Here's the interesting part…
My great-great-grandfather was from Kerala, while my great-great-grandmother was from Pondicherry. During the British period, my ancestors came to Malaya to work, and four generations later, here I am still in Malaysia!
The funny thing is… I don't know exactly where in Kerala my great-great-grandfather came from.
So maybe my Kerala trip will become more than sightseeing. Maybe somewhere between a train journey, a plate of Kerala food and a conversation with a local, I'll discover a clue about my family's roots.
I speak Tamil and English, but sadly Malayalam didn't make it through four generations!
So one of my missions is to learn a few Malayalam words while I'm there.
My travel style: Motorbike,Train & Bus
I prefer the local way of travelling, enjoying the scenery, stopping somewhere interesting and talking to people rather than rushing from one tourist attraction to another.
My destination:
KERALA!
Wayanad • Munnar • Kochi • Alleppey • Varkala
But I'm very open to suggestions. If you know a place that doesn't appear on every tourist's Instagram, I'm listening!
Budget: Mid-range
Comfortable, but definitely not travelling like a Maharaja!
Current feeling:
Excited + curious + slightly nostalgic + ready for adventure!
I'm hoping to meet genuine, friendly people, discover Kerala's food, culture, nature and stories and perhaps find someone who knows something about the old Kerala families and migration stories to Malaysia.
And here's my challenge to the Kerala tribe:
Can anyone help me discover where my Kerala ancestors might have come from?
If you have a suggestion, a story, a hidden gem, a great food place, or simply enjoy good conversation and travel, come say hello.
58 years young perhaps travelling to Kerala to discover a new place… or an old connection.
My WhatsApp +60194747358.
Looking forward to meeting you all.
Thank you in advance.