Thiruvananthapuram has proven to be an even more fascinating place than I expected. We landed at 3:15 AM. It was 26 C outside, humid and the airport is not air conditioned. Every inch of the city offers new fascinating smells.
The biodiversity here is astounding even in the heart of the city. There are giant old hardwood trees, many of which are in flower. Some examples:
Above: Plumeria alba ("Frangipani" or, as it's called here, "Champa;" actually native to Central America but is a staple in Indian incense). Below: two gigantic Banyan trees (likely Ficus benghalensis) along Mahatma Ghandi Road. These are all over, often the prop roots have simply been cut to widen roads or sidewalks, like the tree on the left.
The City is a perpetually active and busy place. The density of people is immense. There are many times more pedestrians than cars and many residents ride scooters. Supposedly Indians drive on the "wrong" (left) side of the road, but my experience so far has demonstrated that Indians drive on every side of the road. Being a pedestrian means being aggressive and constantly on your toes. Sidewalks are rare and where they exist, they have often caved into the sewers below. The dichotomy of income driven by the caste system is strikingly obvious, our ritzy hotel is built directly alongside squatters:
Some views of the city:
