More Frequent Flights to Phuket from Kochi - What does it Say?

Flight to Phuket

 There's one thing for sure - Malayalees are travelling and exploring other location beyond Indian shores! Btw, what are the objectives of such trips? Is it just site seeing with family or is it something more than that, when individuals ( men and women) travel to places like Phuket.

Let me ask ChatGPT about this and find out what all could be reasons why single men and women who travel alone as well as in groups look forward to the kind of new experiences in Phuket.

Here's what the AI tool has to tell more about the trend of single men and women travelling to Phuket and few things our state can do to bring such travellers back to its shores.

🔥 Why are more single men and women from Kerala (and nearby regions) flying to Phuket?

Here are some possible reasons for the rising demand, broken into two parts: adventurous + sensual tourism and nature-based/experiential tourism.

🌴 Reasons for Travel to Phuket:

A. Kinky/Sexual Adventure Appeal:

Sexual Freedom & Open Culture:

Phuket has a non-judgmental, open culture, especially around nightlife and adult entertainment, unlike conservative spaces back home.

Erotic Massage Parlours & Spa Experiences:

Many visitors seek out erotic or sensual spa treatments, which are normalized there. These aren't always full-service sex work, but include experiences like happy-ending massages, sensual touch therapy, or body-to-body massages.

Go-Go Bars & Nightlife:

Patong Beach in Phuket is famous for its neon-lit go-go bars, exotic dancers, themed nights, and adult shows.

Sex Tourism for the Curious:

Both men and women, especially singles, explore sex tourism not necessarily for intercourse, but for the thrill of exploration, adventure, and taboo-breaking.

Queer-friendly Travel:

Phuket is LGBTQ+ friendly, with open acceptance of alternative sexualities, which is often repressed in Kerala due to societal norms.

Temporary Escape from Morality Policing:

Tourists feel anonymous and liberated in a place where nobody knows them, allowing them to explore desires without judgment.

B. Nature, Experience & Wellness Appeal:

Island-Hopping & Blue Waters:

Crystal clear beaches, adventure water sports, and boat tours attract people seeking beauty and escapism.

Affordable Luxury:

High-end resorts, beachfront villas, and poolside indulgence for a fraction of the cost compared to similar experiences in Kerala.

Night Markets, Cuisine & Party Culture:

Thai food, cocktails, beach parties, and rooftop bars offer sensory delight and immersive experiences.

Wellness with a Twist:

Yoga retreats, herbal saunas, Thai massage schools — often paired with the sensual elements — offer a holistic-yet-adventurous experience.

Solo Travel-Friendly Destination:

Safe and easy for solo travelers — especially women — to explore independently, which isn't always the case in parts of India.

 What Can Kerala Learn from This?

Kerala is beautiful, but it's often emotionally conservative in its tourism offerings. If it wants to tap into new-age travelers:

📋 Conducting a Survey or Study:

Kerala Tourism could confidentially survey returning travelers from destinations like Phuket, Bali, Bangkok, etc., and ask:

• What experiences drew them to those places?
• What was missing in Kerala?
• Were they looking for nature, anonymity, nightlife, or personal liberation?

✨ Things Kerala Can Do:

Develop Adult-Friendly Tourism Zones:

Designated zones where nightlife, wellness spas, and freedom of experience are encouraged (e.g., beach resorts with more liberal rules).

Rebrand Wellness with Sensuality:

Kerala already has Ayurveda and spa culture — evolve it with authentic yet liberating experiences like tantric massage, couples' retreats, sensual wellness, etc.

Encourage Safe Solo Travel:

Make solo female travelers feel safer and freer. Promote boutique homestays, solo-friendly beaches, community cafes.

Nightlife Development:

Controlled but vibrant nightlife in places like Varkala, Fort Kochi, or Kovalam — not just food, but music, dance, expression.

Promote LGBTQ+ Friendly Zones:

Open Kerala to the pink economy. Promote safe spaces for queer travelers.

Host Thematic Retreats:

Tantra workshops, touch therapy, conscious intimacy retreats — already popular with Western tourists, could find niche markets among Indians too.

Better Marketing of Anonymity & Freedom:

People want to feel free but not watched. Create zones and experiences that offer that feeling within the safety of a home state.

Conclusion:

What is the lesson here? Do people travel to escape the limited experiences which is offered by the state. Btw, is there any travel agent which can offer an exhaustive itenary which includes moderated and recommended spots where travellers, especially single men and women can explore their sexuality, or go exploring the nature, provide them with safe and clean stays, and even guide tours to night-life stops or even explore their queer interests without worrying about the safety or the genuine of the places. 

I'm sure the demand for overseas trip will only go high as long as we are not developing our place. So, there's more scope for flights, even direct flights from Trivandrum to Phuket or from Calicut to Phuket!

Face Exercises for Morning Routine

Face Exercise

 

Rainbow Sighting by a Pal

☝

 

Rainbow over the football field

Plant Stand Design

Plant Stand Design

 

Knee Strengthening Exercises

Knee Strengthening Exercise

 Recently I felt that my knee was giving away! Probably, it's the old ligament tear, which is showing up now. So, what are the options I have. 

I gotta visit an orthopedic doctor. Second, I have to do my part of strengthening my knee. I hope this exercise helps.

Light House Magic

Lighthouse - Somewhere

 I live in a place where there's a beach with a beautiful lighthouse. And, when I visit this beach, I usually take couple of pictures of the beach with the lighthouse. So, for most of us who lives in this city, the lighthouse is taken for granted. It's there and it's been there for a long time. 

Today, when I saw the picture of a lighthouse taken at night, I had another idea in my mind. 

What if Kerala hosts a competition for people to take various pictures of lighthouse in our state and create a photo album in one of our tourism site?

- Now imagine, if Kerala Tourism has a competition where anyone can take a picture and upload it on of the site. This site will be open to public to see and daily evaluators will screen the pictures and approve the good ones and move them to the main gallery. And, so on the main gallery, public will be allowed to vote.

This would be a great movement for Kerala, where each month, public level engagement will happen around a topic. It could be lighthouse for a month, then it could be backwaters and catamaran, then it would be hills and streams, or old house and verandhas, or it could be fisherwomen and men who work at sea, or the daily labourer as a theme, or police people at work, etc. 

What do you think? 
How about a lighthouse tour or a tour where people are taken to all the lighthouses and they get to stay very close to lighthouse and listen to the story of each light house and they get to visit lighthouse at night! 

Seems interesting! But, who will be interested in such things! 

( Smallest viable audience)


Curious Konnection

Foot Reflexology Massage

 

Correct foot massage. pic.twitter.com/h9cVTO8AfX

— Learn Something (@EvoIution9) April 4, 2025 

Foot Spa - Tutorial

 

Spa Vacancies for Females - Opportunity and Risks in this Profession

 

Demand for Women in Spa Job in Trivandrum

In a span of just few years, many spas has opened in Trivandrum city. Most of these spa seems to work on a slightly murky ground. 

On of the problem in this space is the lack of professional players. Most spa owners are just after money - not just offering service as the top priority. Another aspect of this profession is the high demand for women to work as spa therapists. 

Risk Factors of Working in an Unregulated & Non-Standardized Environment in Kerala

Lack of Legal Protection – Many small spas operate without proper licensing or labor regulations, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation, unfair wages, and job insecurity.

Safety Concerns – In some unregulated spas, safety measures for female therapists may be inadequate, increasing the risk of harassment or uncomfortable situations.

No Standardized Training – Without proper certification and training enforcement, therapists may receive inconsistent training, leading to skill gaps and lower-quality services.

Unclear Work Conditions – Many spas operate informally, leading to issues like unpredictable working hours, lack of proper leave policies, etc

Reputation Risks – Some unregulated spas engage in unethical activities, creating a stigma around the profession and potentially damaging the credibility of legitimate therapists.

Health Hazards – Poor hygiene standards, improper handling of massage oils, and lack of ergonomic training can lead to health issues for therapists over time.

No Social Security or Benefits – Many therapists in unregulated spas don’t receive health insurance, pension benefits, or maternity leave, making long-term career stability difficult.

So, what does it take to be a professional therapist? 

• How to learn the art of massage? Is there any certification program, for eg certification in foot reflexology, or body massage or govt approved ayur spa massage certification! 
• How Kerala can tap the growing demand for spa massage? 
• Can traditional ayurveda massage centres tap the possibility of including Swedish massage in their menu? 

Just Curious! 


Curious Konnections

Btw, it's time Kerala Govt come up with some kind of standardization with respect to the work, qualification or training which has to be attended by all the staff, the facilities, hygiene, etc. Probably, they can look at the standards in other countries and modify according to Kerala standards. 

The Kiss of Life

The Kiss of Life ( Source: Instagram)

 Came across the iconic photo of a electric linesman resuscitating his fellow worker who accidentally contacted a live wire. In the end, he managed to bring him down the pole, and then did a proper CPR which revived him. 

So, after reading the above story, I was thinking of this - - - 

Does our BESCOM or KSEB linesman know to do CPR when the need arises? 
Is it part of their training on how resuscitate an employee when an unfortunate event happens?
Do they conduct such drills so that they get to practice CPR and learn to do it perfectly


Just thinking! 

Suspecting Varicose Vein

Yoga Pose for people with Varicose Vein Problem

Just sharing a Facebook reel by Vipita Karni on simple exercise that you can add to your morning routine. 

Watch the exercises

There is No Tiger!