From Italy and Germany to Israel and the UAE — a 95-year-old is travelling the world!
Living by the saying that 'age is just a number', 95-year-old Annakutty Simon has been bitten by the travel bug. She has so far visited Italy, Germany, Israel, France, and the UAE (four times) and is eyeing Calvary near Jerusalem for her next trip. The great-grandmother of 20 children, she often grabs the limelight for being dressed in the traditional 'chatta' and 'mundu' no matter which part of the world she is in. Annakutty, who is also called 'ammachi' (grandmother in Malayalam) flaunts her trademark 'thoda' in her ears with all grace.
Born in Kottayam, she lives in Kuninji village in Idukki district and prefers to travel alone. Annakutty's immediate family comprises 70 people including her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Though she travels the world, Malayalam is the only language she can speak and it is surprising how she manages her communication in a foreign land, says a TNM report.
Thankfully Annakutty is hale and hearty and doesn't suffer from any ailments, unlike other people her age. A widow for over 50 years, most of her travel plans are interrupted by the visa officials considering her age but her zeal and excitement have never come down.
Her first trip was to Germany in 1997, when she was 75 years old. With only primary education, Annakutty toggles between her other hobbies — farming and nursing — when she isn't travelling.
Hailing from the Kanamkombil family of Kadanadu in Kottayam, Annakutty, the tenth child of her parents, Anna and Mathai, got married to Pendanathu Simon at the age of 14 in 1936, reports Dailyhunt.
Among her 12 siblings, only her younger sister Mariyakutty, settled in Kozhikode, is still alive. Annakutty visits her even now. If you are already amused by her story then wait till you hear about her latest adventure — she recently acted in the Malayalam movie Aby.
With her infectious zeal, this 95-year-old is giving us major travel goals and we can't help but envy her.