I am terrified of planes. I am not going to hide the fact.

However, I belong to the beautiful state of Kerala – now, Keralam and just landing onto the airport isn’t the way you start a trip.

My belief is if I am taking a trip from Gujarat to Kerala, I would rather take a train.

Of course my phobia has a bigger hand. But bigger than that is the scenic beauty I don’t like to miss.

Start of the Konkan Western Ghats, you can feel the change in the essence in the air.

Weather becomes slightly sultry, and then it may start drizzling at some points.

And the beauty? You can see the train snaking through the mountains, cutting through the hearts of these gigantic nature’s structures.

If you have experienced the Konkan range, you will know that the train passes more through tunnels and places where it gets pitch black and you need tunnel light to see what’s happening.

Suddenly you are – back in the sunlight and then you plunge into another tunnel.

That with good, old, pantry tea and snacks and some fantastic company – your trip through Konkan till the southern belt of India is going to be a mesmerizing journey.

Soon as Konkan ends, the greenery of South India takes over.

Never seen so many shades of green!

But yes, you can feel your eyesight improve because your tired, city eyes would be blessed with the beauty of the flora.

These pictures – are the testimony of what I described.

I took a long trip after a very long time. But that was what I needed.

Travelling via train only adds to the perception that sometimes it is okay not to take a flight somewhere.

The train may be a long journey but it is a promising journey and you take lots of pictures, eat lots of food and meet so many different people that I would rather take a train than feed my phobia.

Slow and easy also does the trick!