KR Vijayan, who along with his wife Mohana came into limelight for his travels across the world using savings from their small tea shop, died of a heart attack on Friday. The couple had just returned from a trip to Russia a fortnight ago. He was 71 years old.
He was planning his next trip to Japan and also included Vietnam and Cambodia on his wish list.
The tea-seller couple had visited 26 countries across six continents over the past 14 years and were featured in national and international media.
His tea stall next to Salim Rajan Road in Kochi is adorned with photographs of his many foreign trips.
Read also: the world from a teapot
maiden trip
The couple began traveling with Egypt in 2007. He initially raised the necessary funds through bank loans, which he repaid at least ₹300 from his daily savings from a tea shop. But, as the number of visits increased, so did the loans. However, as his fame spread, he began to receive sponsors and he no longer had to pay for his travels. The couple’s trips to Australia, New Zealand and Russia were sponsored.
brand ambassador
Mr. Vijayan, who considered life as a journey of countless times, also went to Singapore to inaugurate the office of a travel agency of which he was the brand ambassador.
Last year, the couple brought out a book titled Chhaya Vittu Vijayanteyum Mohanayudayum Lok Sancharangal, which loosely translates to ‘Vijayan and Mohana’s global tours selling tea’.
Read also: Travelers doubles batting for clean Kerala
Homage
The tourism department paid tribute to Mr Vijayan by sharing a picture of him on Twitter, calling him a “fearless traveler who began his last journey.”
Writer NS Madhavan recalled the time the couple spent at the cafe and enjoyed their tastes and stories from their travels.
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