After four weeks travelling around Tamil Nadu and Kerala, two of India’s most southern states, there was no doubt I visited some exotic places. I tasted some weird and wonderful foods and saw some unbelievable things. Trying to adapt to a totally different culture was far harder than I anticipated but it has not deterred me from wanting to go back and, despite the ‘culture shock’, it should not deter you from travelling to such an amazing country either. Hopefully this introductory rough guide may help you on your way.

Travel: Transport is not as developed as in England, so bus/train journeys can be long and tedious. Buses are packed full of passengers; people often hang on to the sides of the bus in order to hitch a ride. Travel is cheap with an average hour bus journey costing 10-12 rupees (equivalent of 14-16 pence). Trains are similar to buses but cost a little more.

Food: The states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (like most of Southern India) are primarily vegetarian. As I lived with a family, I got the chance to taste real Indian food. For breakfast, I had idli’s - savoury steamed rice and lentil cakes, or dosai - a pancake made from rice and lentils.

Culture: India is a country full of culture. It is a deeply spiritual place with just over 80% of the population practicing Hinduism. The cow in Hinduism is highly regarded and in India feeding a cow is seen as an act of worship, while slaughtering a cow is banned. India has a rich culture in the arts and Kerala in particular is famous for Kathakali – highly stylised Indian drama-dances, well known for their attractive character make-up, elaborate costumes and interesting body movements. It’s an amazing type of drama that should not be missed.

Places to visit in Tamil Nadu and Kerala:
Kanyakumari
• India’s southern-most tip. It is famous as the place where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Mannar meet. As a result, the sea is 3 different colours! The beach all the way along is beautiful and it is well worth waking up early to view the sunrise, or wait till dusk to see the sunset.

Alleppey
• Known as "the Venice of the East", situated along the Western coast in the state of Kerala. A backwater boat trip around the winding mangroves was by far one of the highlights of my trip to India. Trips with a guide can last from an hour to a day. All around the canals are tiny villages. Along the journey you can see people doing their laundry, cooking and washing using the backwaters as their main source of living. Really amazing!

Madurai
• India’s famous textile city; full of cloth stalls and tailor shops. The best place to do your shopping is Puthu Mandapam, situated to the east of the Meenakshi Temple. Tailors will happily design whatever garment you wish within 1-2 hours. Stalls sell little trinkets, bags, purses, rugs and other bits-and-bobs that make great presents for you, friends and family. Definitely worth a visit.