This Kochi trip… let’s just say it didn’t turn out the way I imagined.

Originally, it was meant to be a vacation in Varkala. Bags were packed, moods were set, but just the day before, my friend called and dropped the bomb—“It’s raining heavily, the beach is closed. Better head to Kochi instead.” He even arranged things for us there.

So, on Independence Day morning, we started driving at 9 AM. The route? Poopara, Rajakumari, Adimali, and finally Kochi. It was a 9-hour rain-soaked drive. I personally loved it—rain, mountains, long drive. But my family? Not so much.

The first letdown: the hotel. It was good, but I realized something new—my kids aren’t fans of hotels, they’re fans of resorts. They wanted pools and games, not a business-class room with white sheets.

So, I thought I’d lift the mood with a metro ride to Lulu Mall. Bad idea. My kids turned to me in unison: “Appa, why bring us to a mall? We have malls in Chennai!” Strike two.

Next day, we explored Fort Kochi, Jew Town, Dutch houses, Chinese fishing nets—all the things tourists are “supposed” to do. My son looked at me like I dragged him into a history lesson. When I finally tried to save the day with Fort Kochi Beach, the rain gods came back in full force. We took shelter at the Water Metro station and I thought—“aha, water metro!” But nope, kids didn’t enjoy that either.

By now, my wife had her own verdict: “You stole my long weekend rest for this?” Ouch.

Sunday morning, we packed up, ate the package breakfast, and drove another 9 hours back to Madurai. End of trip.

But here’s the silver lining:
I may have failed at giving them the “perfect holiday,” but I learned something important. My kids and wife don’t need surprises or tourist checklists. All they want is a resort stay—where my wife can rest, and my kids can splash in the pool and play. Simple.

So, while Kochi didn’t become their favorite memory, it gave me clarity. And that’s still a win in my book.