Thiruvananthapuram Travel Forum

Hi Folks
We are new to this forum, have tried to join other forums but have lost the plot somewhere. Anyway for my question, My husband and I are thinking of selling up and moving to Kerala, we know we wont be the first so are there any ex-pats with advice on buying a house. We will not be looking for jobs as our income will be transferd from the U.K.. Also which areas would you recommed as we dont want to be to far from the beach. We will be looking to make friends so the more replies the merrier.

Cathie & John Holden
(scouse & tart)

Thanks we have been doing our homework and are never off the net, but it is hard to pinpoint exact locations.

If you need beaches and fellow expats, I would strongly recommend Goa. It's safer, you're not harassed and you can actually swim in the tranquil bays and lagoons.Kerala has very strong currents. Also the lovely beaches of Karwar(Karnataka) and Maharashtra are not far from Goa. If you enjoy Kerala it's only a short flight away. Believe me I know what I'm talking about. I am a native Keralite who grew up partly in Singapore, and then Kerala. Now I live in Bombay. I agree Kerala a stunningly beautiful tourist destination but nothing on earth would induce me to live there again. Even I would prefer to buy a place in Goa. Why don't you rent a place in Goa for a while and check it out. Ditto with Kerala. Cochin is easiest on an outsider.

Hi
this is a shock! the first negative report i've had about Kerala.
something worth thinking about.

thanks
Cathie

I might have sounded blunt but visiting Kerala as a tourist and living there as a resident are two entirely different situations. As tourists you see the best of it, cocooned and protected by hotels and tour guides. Anything unpleasant is carefully screened off. The place isn't safe at all. You can't even venture out after dark if you're a woman on your own. In Goa, Bombay and some small towns in the hills like Gangtok, Simla and Darjeeling, I've felt confident going out at any time on my own. Outsiders are treated differently. People don't warm to foreigners as neighbours and it'll get lonely. You'll also be an easy target for confidence tricksters. Goa is entirely different. The landscape and climate are similar, but it's welcoming and quite delightful. I find daily needs cheaper there too. Fabulous seafood. In Kerala the best stuff is exported

sounds just like England, I have lived on this estate for 6yrs and people only nod "good morning"

I think Sheila had bad experince in Kerala, but there are many foreigners living here. The traditions are still not left from Keralite so that it makes favourites to many from abroad. Goa is also a good place so many tourist are coming 'cause much more liberal than Kerala. n the night lifes are very less in Kerala if u compare with Goa n Bombay, not less its somewhat nil. But my suggestion is that you can live much peacefully here. Its a wrong statement that Kerala is not secure. If u go for a survey reported by India Today last year its the most secure place to live. Its better to rent a house in both the place if u have any confusion. Wish u a nice stay in India.

Hi Cathie & John,

I hope i could assist you.

Please drop me a mail ttvarghese@hotmail.com

As long as we can go to for a meal, thats as much entertainment as we need. Thanks for the advice, we will be there in 4 days YIPEE! and although it rained the cricket off, it was not freezing hail like we've had here over the weekend.

There are a lot of expats who immensly enjoy and recommend moving to Kerala. Goa is for sure more western and Kerala more traditional, but for sure a easier place to be.

Suggest you check the archives of the forum www.indiamike.com or check with one of the guys in www.theindiatree.com who (expats)live in Kerala.

Hi to anyone reading this

In 4-5 weeks we move, have found an apartment to rent for the first year just behind Lighthouse Beach, all for £1000 for the whole year. We will then decide on which area to settle and would not have any capital tied up in Property. We loved the area, although I think we where in shock for the first week and did not do as much house hunting as first planned.

Have a nice stay.
And what happend to create the shock?
Hope u will get a better place to settle.

Cheers, Baiju.

Hi to anybody reading this thread

We did it! we have been here 7weeks now and loving it, there are a lot more expats here than we first thought and they are all helpful, as renting is such a cheap option we are not sure about buying anymore but there are some fantastic house's here and it's costing us between £20-£25 a week to live and that includes eating out a lot.

Wishing you a peaceful living.

Well the holiday is over and I want to leave, after being here 4 mnths I cant wait for end of January to get out of here. Dont get me wrong, nothing has changed and I dont want to give out any negative thoughts, Just that doing nothing day in-day out is driving me up the wall.

Logged on after a very long time and saw your update. Am interested to know what you felt after actually staying in Kerala. It might also enlighten other people who are considering a similar move. There have been successful relocations..like Dieter and Geetha who have a beautiful resort in The Himalayas (Kalmatia Sangam in Almora), dancers,writers, artists, architects who live and work here (though mostly in places like Delhi and Bangalore). Kerala is perhaps not the easiest place in India to start up something