Kerala, Asia's best tourist destination: Smart Travellers
Kerala Tourism has got a boost with readers of SmartTravelAsia.com placing the state as the best Asian holiday destination ahead of Bali, Phuket and the Maldives.
'This is a phenomenal recognition for Kerala and the people who are working in the tourism sector,' said V. Venu, secretary, Kerala Tourism.
The only other Indian destinations to be listed in the top 10 were Rajasthan and Goa- at eighth and 10th spot respectively.
Smart Travel Asia has over one million readers worldwide.
It held the 2010 Best in Travel Poll this week. At the previous poll, Kerala was voted as the third best destination. |
Kerala food delights to feature on US TV show
Kerala's gastronomic delights like appam, puttu and karimeen curry are set to test the American palate soon. The popular American TV programme "No Reservations", in its sixth season, has reserved an entire episode for Kerala cuisine.
Anthony Bourdain, the intrepid celebrity chef and host of the Discovery Travel channel's culinary programme, shot the episode in the state. Culinary tourism is becoming popular with holidaymakers; especially the British, French and Americans, and an increasing number of tourists are trying out local food when travelling abroad.
"When it comes to spices and variety, Kerala is right up there in my alley," says Bourdain, 53, author of 'A Cook's Tour - In Search of the Perfect Meal'.
Bourdain, who ate ant eggs in Mexico, sheep testicles in Morocco, and an entire cobra in Vietnam for his earlier episodes, did not have to undertake such a gastronomical risk in Kerala during his weeklong stay.
For the Kerala episode, the master chef landed in Kochi at the fag end of March and travelled to Alappuzha to savour the backwaters cuisine. He stayed in a houseboat where he tried mussels and kappa (tapioca), a Kerala sadya (feast) and the spicy karimeen or pearl spot fish.
Bourdain also enjoyed home cooked puttu (a steamed rice powder preparation), meen curry (fish cooked in coconut milk) and some other vegetarian dishes (made with coconut).
The episode will be telecast on the Discovery Travel & Living channel in India and the rest of the world later this year.
"By showcasing authentic Kerala food in the homes of ordinary people, Anthony Bourdain is also reaffirming that delicious food and hospitality is not just special to upscale restaurants and hotels, but is something that is customary throughout the state," said Kerala Tourism Secretary V. Venu.
"Indian food has been under-appreciated in certain parts of the world. I would love to come back again to explore other towns and cities," Bourdain said.
In Alappuzha, he stayed in a houseboat, where he was served some homemade delicacies. He also found time to visit a toddy shop where he ate spicy 'karimeen' and prawns.
"I am not too crazy about toddy but the food at the toddy shop was very flavoursome," he said.
|
