'sayip':
Malayalam derivative of 'sahib', meaning 'white man'

sayip shock
State of surprise and accompanying erratic behaviour induced by the sight of a white man in Kerala

Most travellers head to India for a spiritual experience at an ashram, or an out-of-body experience on a beach in Goa. Barnaby followed a girl to the backwaters of Kerala and got a job, got stared at, rented a house, made friends, battled ferocious ants, got stared at, counted the elephants at a festival, marvelled at mango trees in his backyard, got stared at, and had an extraordinary everyday life in one of the most beautiful parts of India.

Sayip Shock: Three Years in Kerala collects the best of Barnaby's articles for The NRI, polished and updated, alongside brand new essays reflecting on his time there. There's room for a serious look at the white traveller's privilege and the cliché of finding yourself in India, but also drunk lawyers, Mumbai nightlife, and a catalogue of Kerala's best food offerings.

Early readers say:

"Honest, heartfelt, empathic, and beautifully written"

"This book is a human experience—real, and straight from the heart; and stomach too."

"I'm a slow reader, so the fact that I polished it off in two weeks is saying something."