A video shared on Instagram by a German vlogger visiting Kerala has become a talking point online. The vlogger, identified as Alexander Welder, uploaded a clip captioned “2$ chaotic bus journey in Kerala, India”. The footage shows him wandering through Changanassery while trying to locate the bus he had booked to Munnar.

The footage begins with Alexander saying, “Local bus trip in India today.” He arrives at the Changanassery bus stop to board the bus he had booked to Munnar. In one shot, heaps of garbage can be seen piled up by the roadside as he walks through the area.

At one point in the video, Alexander remarks, “According to Google, this is our bus station, but I don’t think it’s the right spot,” showing the pile of waste in the frame. He then reaches the KSRTC bus stand and informs the staff that he has a ticket to Munnar, only to be told there is no bus operating on that route. Confused, he continues searching for the correct bus stop.

Alexander explains that he had booked his ticket online through Red Bus but could not find any specific pick-up location. He also mentions that the contact number provided was also not working.

Eventually, some local residents come to his aid and take him to the right bus stop. However, Alexander expresses confusion over the bus details, noting that the destinations were written only in Malayalam and that the buses lacked route numbers. With help from the locals, he finally identifies the correct bus to Munnar.

The vlogger praises the kindness and helpfulness of the people he met, saying, “The people in Kerala are so friendly and helpful. The guy just checked the ticket for one second and said it’s okay. It is a $2 ticket for four and a half hours. And no AC is needed as the window is open.”

However, the video has drawn mixed reactions from Malayalis online. Many have voiced frustration in the comments. Some users have tagged Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, Kerala Tourism, Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, and Red Bus Kerala, urging them to address the issue.

Others have apologised to Alexander for the unpleasant experience he encountered during his journey. One user wrote, “We re sorry for your inconvenience we will do the best of us for improvement”. Another wrote, “I request everyone to keep our city clean, highly embarrassing to see our place this way.”