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This post has been inspired by Nigel Britto’s Ten Commandments for Tourists in Goa and has been edited by CLN and I.M.Bopanna. What holds good for Goa, holds good for Coorg, which is lately experiencing some crazy tourists Checking-In.
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Since many tourists go totally crazy the moment they set foot in Kodagu(Coorg), it would be prudent to provide some important information and alert them.
Here’s what the tourist should to know:
- The locals are raised and taught to respect women; it’s a deeply-ingrained part of our Coorg culture. We expect you to do the same, too. If you behave badly, then you will be dragged to the nearest police station, where you can enjoy free accommodation and food for a night or two. If you want to get violent, then 1 extra night of stay at the hospital can be added to the itinerary.
Passing Lewd Advances and Staring too much can get you a blackeye. - No Drugs. You shouldn’t do them, but more importantly, NEVER should you put drugs in others’ drinks to control their behaviour and later take advantage of them. If you feel the overwhelming urge to do so, please consume your drugs yourself, buy even more drugs, consume them too, and die.
Its your wish. You ain’t getting a state funeral for this. Image © Carlos.a.Martinez - Many tourists associate Kodagu with Alcohol, and will be drunk before you know it. Make a conscious decision not to drive or ride when drunk. If you MUST do that, please be sure to crash against a tree or wall and kill yourselves, not others. If you’re riding/driving while drunk, an awesome thing to do is loose control, roll down the hills and enjoy the panoramic view as your bones crackle.
Alcohol related accident at Mandalpatti. Such accidents are on a rise in Coorg. - Kodagu has many rivers, cascades and waterfalls. Don’t enter them when told not to do so. When drunk, don’t enter the water at all. Again, if you deliberately choose to act smart and ignore the warnings by the locals, we hope that you slip and break some bones or the river invites you to be part of its bed. It’s comfortable there, and you won’t be able to make a nuisance of yourself any more. Irupu, Mandalpatti or Chelavara are sacred places , not for drunk blokes to roll around.
Mandalpatti – Image by: Bhuvan N - You may not believe this but it is possible to have a wonderful holiday without raising the decibel level. Nobody likes a noisy tourist. Also, try not to sing loudly while riding, especially in residential areas.
- Dress appropriately, as you would back home. Bhagamandala & Talakaveri are not picnic spots . The sacred pool at Talakaveri is not a swimming pool. Respect our feelings and we will respect yours.
Tala Kaveri - And if you’re some VIP’s kid, try not to shoot anyone you might have a minor disagreement with. We don’t care how much “networked” or “connected” you are. The recoil of the gun may injure you, please do not blame us, if it does.
- Know where you’re going. Don’t get confused when you see a turn or roundabout and suddenly stop in the middle of the road. Also, learn to pronounce names of places in Kodagu. It’s all part and parcel of being a good tourist and you will be able to locate the place without much trouble. Oye Sun, HAllOo, Oye Idhar Aah – will get you the direction as – take left, then take right, then take left again and then take right and then right and left. And you will end up at the same place from where you started or simply super lost. Speak to locals with due respect, and you will be provided proper directions.
- 2 questions banned: “Ladki kidhar milegi (where do I find women?)’ and ‘Boss, where can I score’. For the first, you’ll be directed to the police station, and for the second, to the nearest Hockey ground.
And when they find out what you wanted to score, the smiles will vanish and you are in for unpleasant surprise. - Keep Kodagu clean. Do not litter. Do not spit paan on the roads. And don’t do ‘khwaak-thoo’. (Aaaarrgghhh…despicable, but true!).
Please add two more points as commandments – one NO plastic and two please do not throw your empty water bottles and liquor bottles on the streets/ roads anywhere in coorg. We like our homes, home towns as well as our environment we live in to be clean and natural.
Excellent!! This awareness should be across in common places and in hotels/resorts so that some people change at least after reading such good information.
Well said, and the right way to say it.
This needs to be posted in newspaper too.
Good one … will have to publicize this article
The topic is excellently written highlighting the major issues of the tourists. Every inhabitants must read it before every tourists, since he can know his rights and duties. For the current state of Coorg, its the inhabitants who are responsible and should take the blame. Next time we see any such tourists, spend some time with them instead of spending it in BAR.
I am from Bangalore and studied in Coorg. The article holds good for any tourist spot, please follow the rules and you will really enjoy your stay in Coorg!
Give respect and take respect system in Coorg.. Kindly follow it up.
Well said, i too belong to a very nice hill station (Mcleodganj at Dharamshala, H.P) and face such indecent and inappropriate issues at many time. People don’t visit places to learn, relax, rejoice or enjoy but to ENJOY in a different way..
This article is well written, i have ever seen for any destination (but implies to all), i will some day visit Coorg and will take care of all these said above.
Many thanks and do write these “Dummies” tutorial for other places too..
Kudos to CoffeelandNews for a well thought out article.Hope the camatose Dist &State Administration wakes up from their self induced coma before its too late.
Thou shalt not ‘khwaak-thoo’!
Well written and absolutely spot on!
Good One !!!!! Appreciate it.
Great article Coorg needs tourists,but insensitive tourists are a big NO NO.Please enjoy what Coorg has to offer you, take back pleasant memories and please leave behind only your footprints not your garbage.