We continued our driving tour to Trivandrum and visited the Padamanabhapuram Palace. A group of teenaged school kids were at the palace at the same time we were. It was the perfect opportunity for them to practise their English and was our first experience with the massive attention lavished on Westerners. After speaking to and shaking hands with too many kids to count, our Indian friend suggested we use the Indian greeting "Namaste" with hands together at chest level. It was a life or rather hand saver as our trip progressed and many, many people greeted us enthusiastically.