I recently went on an amazing photography trip to Kerala in South India - a holiday that’s been on my bucket list for a very long time. It most certainly didn’t disappoint:
We were met with the most inviting smiling people, who were just as fascinated by us as we were of them, a colourful and vibrant culture, saw local men and women work extremely hard to make a living via either fishing, laundry work, spice grinding or tea picking.
We were also treated to a private Kathakali performance, a traditional cultural dance show local to the Kerala state. This really was amazing, as part of the performance is the three hour colourful elaborate make up procedure before the performance, which we as a photography group had exclusive access to.
We also travelled to the Cardamon Hills, where we visited the STUNNING tea plantations, misty lakes, bazaars and villages. Meeting the tea pickers were a highlight and to see first hand the hard work they do:
They are required to pick a minimum of 25 kilos of leaves on a daily basis, anything more than that, they will start to earn extra. They get accommodation, electricity + gas and education for their children plus their wage, so they are looked after. I have a huge amount of respect for them, as their jobs aren’t easy, and going forward I will look at my tea and remember the amazing days I spent in the tea plantations in Munnar, India.
This trip was the highlight of 2022, where so many memories were created, and I’ll cherish them for the rest of my life.