Sun set in the Backwaters of Kerala

 Watching the sun set in the backwaters of Kerala, at Kumarakom in Lake Vembanad.

The traditional cultural heritage of Kerala

 The traditional cultural heritage of Kerala is there for every one to experience at Thekkadi. We first attended a Kalarippayattu show, which is the world famous ancient traditional martial art form of Kerala. Though, Karate, Kung fu, Judo own a lot to Kalari this is hardly acknowledged. I was very keen to experience this for my student Ashitha had worked for her Ph. D on Kalari and women and had shown how this martial art got converted into a performing art for women. This art is performed in a Kuzhikalari, which is an earthen carved stage. The performers use, swords, shields, sperars, daggers, belts, long and short sticks, fire etc. One can admire the fitness of the body and the perfect union of mind and body among the exponents of this art which comes with a long dedicated training. I also spent some time watching the artist get ready for Kathakakali another traditional art performance. This is performed in a Koothambalam, an art performing temple usually narrating stories from the classic  epics. The costumes are elaborate and the dance is performed with a lot of facial expressions. The facial makeup called Chutti is very elaborate and the facial expressions of all the rassas done by the artists, mostly male, are beautiful.The hand movements are so delicate and elegant. The town has a lot of herbal parlours and is famous for the Kerala Ayurvedic massages. A thrilling trip and I now want to come and spend some more time here.

Thekkadi in Kerala

 Thekkadi in Kerala is all about spice gardens.It is on the borders of Kerala, Tamilnadu and is famous for its wildlife, which can be seen in the Periyar wild life  Sanctury. One travels through beautiful landscapes of Jungles, tea gardens and breathtaking views. I would recommend Kerala tourism to every one for the place is so neat and clean and very clean toilets are available at every stop. One feels very happy on seeing such clean and green spaces every where. I need to have a discussion with my Kerala friends for I saw very few Liquor shops and am not sure if drinking is very limited here. Is the Government not getting its revenues through liquor as in other states? On the way we stopped at a Church, then saw a giant Ganesh statue, again had the Kerala food Sadya. Also saw many Kerala architectural styled  buildings on the way. The most interesting  visit was to a spice garden where we got to see for the first time all the trees of the various spices. We had a wonderful guide who explained about all the Ayurvedic medicinal plants and I  could see the trees of spices like Cardmom, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves. Indeed Thekkadi has, become famous for its spices, Ayurvedic massages and medicines. The hotel where we are put up also has a beautiful Kerala style of architecture.

Local sight seeing in Munnar

 The local sight seeing in Munnar is a wonderful experience. The place is clean and not very crowded with tourists. What I really liked was a sign post that stated, you are not the first visitor to this place nor are you the last There will be many who will follow and please leave nature unspoiled for them. Many areas, were designated as Plastic free zones. The place is not crowded with hotels. In fact there is only one four star hotel in Munnar and the rest are three stars. These are all in the outskirts and do not crowd the landscape. A lot of Jungles and trees are left untouched. We had a beautiful experience of the flower gardens, water bodies, jungles and tea gardens stretching for miles all together.

Munnar in Kerala

 On 8thDecember, 2018 reached Munnar. Munnar is the Hill Station of Kerala located in the western ghats of  Idukki district. The drive from Kozhi Kode to Munnar was a long, tiring one no doubt  but equally enjoyable and very beautiful. We crossed a large number of beautiful houses, thick forests and few waterfalls. Munnar is known as the Kashmir of South India. As we came nearer to  Munnar our spirits soared for we were surrounded by endless stretch of tea gardens. The spread of the green cover all around us, as far as the sight went, was very soothing to the eyes. We started around seven in the  morning and reached around five and are dead tired. We will explore the town tomorrow but we are in the midst of the Jungle away from the maddening crowd. I could see a lot of impact of the recent floods of  August in Kerala at Munnar  for there are many landslides on the way and a lot of reconstruction work is going on along with road widening at some places. In spite of this havoc caused by nature's fury, this looks like a paradise on earth. Arun our driver is a young fellow, who has done his Engineering and then went to Saudi for two years and now combines driving with photography. He is the same age as my twins and it is fun talking to him and getting to know the little small  details of Kerala society which are generally missed in mainstream literature.  Arun told me he likes  looks like Shahrukh Khan his favourite and he is acting as our local Kerala guide. We had the lovely Kerala traditional lunch Sadyia on the way to Munnar.