The News Minute| August 9, 2014| 11.50 pm ISTOn June 17 this year an impressive tour was flagged off from Kochi in Kerala. Ace director Lal Jose and his two friends, writer and traveller Suresh Joseph and journalist Baiju. N. Nair were embarking on a 75 day trip that would cover 27 countries, in a car.Strangely, the tour was supposed to spread the message for world peace and encourage people to travel. The trio were also eyeing a Guinness record. Then Keralaites were treated to photographs, videos and hundreds of selfies of the three men literally having a ball at various countries.Nepal, China, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Venice, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Austria, Italy… as they conquered places, the pictures kept appearing without fail. Eating fish curry in Milan, getting a royal welcome at Indian embassies in Milan, Prague etc, visiting churches, pubs and tourist destinations- the warriors for world peace did it all.But first world peace suffered a big blow as the three friends had a fight and one of them ditched the trip. In true ‘Record Drive’ style Baiju Nair posted a selfie and declared that he was going ahead with the trip on a train, alone, all for the sake of world peace. We can’t tell world peace suffer, right?And just as Lal Jose was happily posting pictures from Italy, news broke that the trip even had the blessings of the Kerala government. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation has sanctioned Rs 30 lakhs for the trip. Malayala Manoram reports that its not clear if the money has been handed over, but the question has been raised by many that why should the state send a penny to send three rich men to 25 countries for a ‘World Peace’ tour. The trio made lot of friends during the journey, dined with them and posted pictures- how exactly did that help Kerala’s tourism?