South India. A land as old as time itself. The Western Ghats a narrow spine on India’s southern landscape, a sub-tropical climate. Think hibiscus. Tiny bananas. Kingfishers. Humming birds. Kerala forms a long, thin strip on the Dravidian plate, a watery landscape of lagoons and lakes. If you live in the backwaters you get about by boat. Kochi, a bustling port with old colonial architecture cheek-by-jowl with new India. The soft morning light in the Cardamon Hills. Elephant country. Tea estates, tea planters clubs & toddy. Water hyacinth floating past houseboats we stay in. Locals scrambling up palm trees for coconuts, and whopping great prawns. 2024 for a culinary adventure through Kerala and Tamil Nadu, working up our spice skills, learning delicious recipes and enjoying fabulous local food.
It’s a land of contrasts united by high levels of education, political debate and genuinely interested people. There is plenty to photograph. Kerala has Christian Churches, its own martial art and truly stunning landscapes. The houseboats are super relaxing, as you drift past fishing hamlets and coconut palms, with delicious food and fantastic views. Stop off and allow Ali to take you into the watery highways and byways.
“Ali specialises in hunting out places off-the-beaten track to enrich your experience of India and its people. Think 'fresh perspectives' and 'travel' rather than tourism and you have it in a nutshell!“ Angela H, Feb 6th 2020
The culinary tours in South India are a great mix of learning how to cook regional dishes of Kerala and Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, just hanging out and absorbing life on the waterways, following the ingredients from farmer to plate. The food is amazing and Ali has excellent teachers cooking local dishes. The photography is supported with specific workshops to help you frame the shots you want and make good use of the light. It’s hard to pick highlights. Ali has created a bespoke tour in a region she knows extremely well, as she did her PhD research in God’s Own Country. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are close to her heart. Come with and make it lie close to yours.
““I like the evening in India, the one magic moment when the sun balances on the rim of the world, and the hush descends, and ten thousand civil servants drift homeward on a river of bicycles, brooding on the Lord Krishna and the cost of living”