Rightful Citizen- Pulling Your country down or Pushing it up?

#Demonetization is the most trending topic these days all over India and since 09/11 the heat has been sweeping the country. Inarguably this is one of the most significant development the country has seen post Independence, probably after the 2 major Indo Pak Wars and the period of Emergency. Now before I dwell further onto the topic, I would like to make a few declarations to shun the prejudist tag.  

1) I am not a Modi Bhakt or an ardent fan of the PM, neither a supporter of BJP 

2) My support is case specific and I will not hesitate to criticise or laud a party or a leader if his/her decision is apt and makes sense. 

3) I belong to the middle class, importantly an income tax payer though not very happily and one who feels that we are being taxed  for more what we deserve while the big fishes are set free in the open.

 4) My opinions are formed using my own logics rather than going with the majority. 

 While this supreme decision was being made, I was enjoying the ISL match live at the stadium along with a crowd close to 50,000. There was a shift in focus from the match and it was all praises for the move everyone lauding the decision and sharing it on social media. After the initial round of applause, it made way to thoughts of the imminent repercussions. That night around 10 Pm while driving back home I could see people running frantically towards ATM counters , and the channel guys running around to get their catch. I was least bothered then changing my old currency notes of 1000 & 500 and reassured myself looking at my wallet which had a few 100 notes and change. I was going gaga over this move and was feeling proud as a citizen of this country for such a revolutionary move. I was relaxed too owing to two reasons 

 1) I haven’t visited bank more than 5-6 times over the last 10 years or so, that too for some home loan purpose. Ironically I have never visited my parent bank at Trivandrum ever in my life. ATMs/Net banking/Credit Debit Cards/Mobile banking has been my companions so far and I made sure that I stay fully updated with the changing trends and never felt a hitch. 

 2) My wife working with a bank which I thought would do away with the hassles of changing money and deposit though I was proved wrong here. 

 For the first couple of days, the PM was the hero all around, the whole country sounded positive and the opposition parties were all taken by surprise didn’t have words to oppose except for the ever sensible and smart Financial Minister of kerala who made some remarks which doesn’t seem to have made any sense even to himself.
 The cash crunch has started in the next few days and there was total chaos….which had inflicted new life to the other political parties who gradually started raising voice of dissent and protest …the days progressed situation got worse…more voices this time , louder and stronger. Polarisation followed (religious angle too) and finally we have reached a situation where it is all politics. The party in power Vs all the rest and this is getting worse day by day. For the past few weeks I am tired seeing the digital war on social, print and visual media , allegations, counter arguments, photoshop at its best , fake messages, hoax and what not….but I must admit that I enjoyed most of the #trolls especially by my fella keralites whose sense of humor and creativity is par excellence. 

My family has somehow managed the situation pretty well though there were inconveniences and despite being non supporters of the ruling party we have seen it in the larger picture of National interest and hence able to cope up with it.
There were a few situations where we got stranded but since we have seen even worst situations it wasn’t beyond our tolerance levels. 

 I would also like to  recall a funny incident when I had some 100 Rs in my wallet as change and  had to buy some eggs for home that night. The tempting smell of hot street food shop made me spent three quarters of it unknowingly and I was feeling relaxed seeing the nearby ATM counter ( realised it was empty only at a later stage). A momentary lapse left me with some 20 odd rupees and eggs were a distant dream by then. Finally I went to my car, searched thoroughly and pulled out handful of coins worth 14 Ruppes and bought some 6 eggs though short by 2 rupees but the Bengali guy selling the egg accepted it with smile which said never mind. He was aptly compensated with a bigger purchase the very next day. 

 Ok coming back to the topic, I would like to pen down a few of my observations which may sound stupid to many but seriously I don’t care and as I said these are MY views and I stand by it. 

 • To me this was a decision taken with good intentions and undoubtedly towards the betterment of the nation’s economy …and no one can ever question that. Please accept that before we proceed to the next else you may leave right here.

 • While I say it was a decision with good intention, I don’t appreciate the way the crisis management was planned and executed. After a few days the machinery was somewhat clueless of the damage control and things started going haywire. There was inconvenience to people especially the poor who knew only one card viz the Ration card , ATM/ Debit/Credit cards please excuse.

 • The country need to slowly come out of the Cash centric economy and get onto the online /plastic money track. Let us spare the lower end and I am not referring to them for their basic needs are to be addressed first. But there is a vast population who just don’t want to use the bank /online transaction but has all the time and energy in the world to forward all sorts of messages on whatsapp and even play candy crush saga.

 • There is a lot of black unaccounted money in the society amassed by evading taxes and through multiple sources some clean and some not so clean which needs to be digged out and this would certainly help in achieving this to a good extent and also will create a fear in the mind of the ones keeping stock of it. 

 • Counterfeit currencies are a threat to the nation and there is a parallel economy running and the GDP growth we boast about doesn’t have any value when so much of fake currency is in circulation and this move would help the cause for sure. 

 • Inconvenience caused to the poor is a concern. The people selling stuff on the streets, finding hard to make a living will all get affected in a bad way. But one should realise that this is not the only problem they are facing and till now how many political parties have shown interest in their upliftment and the sudden sympathy towards them is a political stunt. 

 • Anyone who supports the move is invariably termed as a #Sanghi or a #ModiBhakti without a second thought and anyone who opposes this is termed as #Antinational and both are totally wrong. There should be freedom of expression and there should be constructive debates and criticism.

 • Being from the tourism fraternity I must admit that the foreign tourists on tour have suffered badly and I feel sorry for them too. They have suffered worse with missed flights, terror attacks, landslides, Tsunami and political turmoil and this is a one off case. 

 The situation will continue for a few more days and as always happened in the past we will come to terms with this and the country has to move forward. It is indeed sad to see that a decision meant to strengthen the country’s economy is criticized for the wrong reasons. The execution had its own failures but as responsible citizens we should bear the heat for a while, weather it and move together to come out of it instead of creating a havoc and making the situation worse by adding more fuel into burning fire and, if you don’t think on those lines, I am sorry you too are nothing less but an anti-national in your own little way. Criticize, Suggest and ask for clarifications but stay within the track and help the country progress and not try to derail it. 

 The crocodile tears of politicians including the ruling party has been seen by us many a times and let us not make it a yardstick for measuring their integrity and commitment towards the nation. The very same people have disrupted our daily lives on many occasions mercilessly and have made us hostages for their power show off. 

Come to Kerala and experience the #Harthal ( almost a monthly routine) and then we will understand how they make life treacherous for the common man and the prime motto seems to be how to restrict people from  doing things "what they need to do on that particular day". And what is the implication to the state exchequer? The same people talk big about loss of states money and suffering to poor. Hypocrisy at it’s best !! 

 Frankly , how many of my dear friends making such hue and cry over the cash crisis has been affected seriously by this ( I am not referring to the politically charged lot..you better stay out of this). Did any of you had to stay hungry, cancel your travel, missed a family function, didn’t get your treatment at hospital, missed watching your favourite movie, said no to your daily evening drink?? We are a special creed who are tuned to survive the worst of situations. And if the feeling towards a suffering fellow citizen is your concern , I would like to see it always, and not just during time of #demonetization. 

 On the threshold of one more Nation wide strike on the 28th of NOV #BharatBandh #Harthal or #Strike whatever name you call it, the nation will be losing thousands of crores on a single day, more people would be stranded on the streets , more starving tummies, deaths, wounded, damage to public and private properties. Will this do any better for the crisis than making it more worse. 

 Time for a self introspection guys..should we be the puppets in the hands of a handful of people who are worried about their political mileage and survival at the cost of National interest?

New Liquor Policy in Kerala - from a Touristic Angle

Move to ban liquor continues to be the hot topic in Kerala. Personally I like to believe that this is very much a political move , a result of the power tussle between the stalwarts of Congress party. The implementation also leaves many questions ahead of us and as any other citizen of the state I too have my reservations on the results and very much skeptical about the possible catastrophes. No doubt its going to hurt the state exchequer quite badly with an anticipated revenue loss estimated to Rs.8000 Crores. Having said all this , and being an "above average" spirit lover it gives me a good amount of pleasure seeing Kerala taking the path of "alcohol ban".

                                                                                          Keeping aside the technical side of it.... the impacts including flow of adulterated spirit , hooch tragedies, home made arrack, impact on addicts so on and so forth, I would rather prefer to see the face of a smiling family with happy kids, healthy men , and better living conditions as result of saved income. No more people lying on the streets, no more brawls and fists of fury after drinking, lesser road accidents... yes I am game for it. Sounds to be an Utopian theory... but that's my take.

Have been maintaining a deliberate silence on this topic and was silently observing , communicating with some of my friends and I felt its time to express my views now, though I am sure , it may not be to the liking of my friends from the Hotel & Tourism Industry.

There has been a lot of hue and cry over the impacts of tourism..... widely covered in our media that it is going to Kill Tourism in Kerala... Sorry I have my strong differences here. It would have some impact for sure but I would like to thing from the point of view of a common man of Kerala before I step into my tourism shoes. You will not find a foreigner lying on the street after a couple of drinks neither fighting in the streets of Kerala. They just enjoy their drink with the dinner and that too in a limited quantity. Sharing my views....( we can debate and I am looking forward to some open healthy discussion)

Kerala Tourism has more serious issues which are directly affecting the tourist arrivals. Why are we not making serious attempts to overcome evils like the frequent Harthals ( strikes), poor infrastructure, bad roads, illegal constructions, encroachments , waste disposal and various forms of pollution. If we rectify these issues it could fetch more tourists that we may possibly loose as a result of the liquor ban.

1) I don't think that liquor was a reason / attraction for a foreign guests to chose Kerala for their holiday. neither it was a catalyst. I would like to believe that it was only a "feel good factor" once they were here. we have always thrived with our unique attractions, culture, history, natural beauty and the people. If that wasn't the case Goa was always there, which is the place to party and have fun.I would see it as an insult for a state like Kerala if we project alcohol as per our selling Point

2) with my 15 odd years experience in Tourism Industry , I feel, hard liquor has never been the priority for the foreign travelers, especially in our kind of climate. Yes beer and wine is a major concern which I strongly recommend for and has a major role as far as tourism is concerned. It should be made available, no second thoughts.

3) Yes with regard to domestic tourists there would be some impact especially in the corporate travel and MICE segments. Again majority of the MICE and Corporate requirements in Kerala happen in 5 star properties where there is huge inventory.. and the bar licence for 16 of them is still intact. Then comes the 3-4 star hotel segment which too gets a decent share of corporate events. Yes they will be affected , and a policy must be negotiated with the government for a one day licence ( which was already there). Prior requests can be made with the details of the event and the hotel can take the licence to serve the same. However they are only allowed to serve and not sell. The liquor for the event could be brought by the organizer. It sounds complicated but.... better than nothing.

4) Existing Bars who are asked to close down may be given Beer and Wine Licence and staff could be retained to avoid job loss. Rest could be considered for restaurant jobs. Government should take the responsibility of rehabilitation.

5) Govt should ensure that there are no adulterated beer or wine sold and must take strict actions including periodic checks and including cancellation of licence. Go strict on local produce as well.

6) Toddy parlors could be increased with a stress on hygiene , being natural , toddy isn't a bad alternate as far as the localites are concerned, however not at all practical for tourists.

The rule is cut down the consumption of liquor by the residents of kerala and not the tourists. It's a socio- cultural issue and having a major impact on the living of many house holds across the state. Alcoholism is a direct reason for the domestic violence, abuse and health of the people here. Lets be more concerned about that. The drinking habits of our people have been very embarrassing and I have been a victim of it during air travel, while in movie halls, travelling in trains and where not. The average Keralite drinker's objective is to prove how much he can gulp in one go, as if a competition with his mates than taking in what he is comfortable with. The first thing he has to tell his friends next day is about the gallons he gulped down the previous night stamping his " capacity" , his fabulous knowledge on different brand names and using their abbreviations aptly. Come on , the national consumption is average 2 litres per person in an year and we are happily cruising over the 8 litre mark . The long queues outside the Bevco outlets bring a smile to our faces, all movie and TV comedies have drunkard characters who are widely accepted and enjoyed... 90 % of the jokes we read and share are about liquor, photos of expensive liquor we share gleefully, and talk about the sessions we had...( i am no exception) but is this time for a change... don't they all deserve a better living, don't our children deserve to live in a better society?

When the majority of the state is welcoming this rule why should we object this citing technical reasons...and let's not think alone on the tourism angle alone, be a general public first...Tourism in Kerala has been a success story due to the efforts of many personalities from the public & private sectors and liquor had never been a criteria. It will be alright.... lets not panic.

I enjoy my drink whenever I get a chance and would have reasons to be upset with this proposed ban .. that doesn't mean that I am alcoholic or can't live without it. If its there i might have an occasional session, if it's there to go... what else to do ......let it go.

Kabini - Gateway to the Wild

Kabini -  Gateway to the Wild

From a monsoon soaked Wayanad , our next destination was Kabini. The excitement of exploring a new destination was high which took away all the fatigue of hectic travel. We left from Wayanad post lunch around 3 pm and had to literally rush through , as the fear of the forest gate getting closed by 6 pm was in the back of our mind. For the driver just above 75 km we chose the route Panamaram-Kappumchal-Kattikulam-Bavali-Kabini which was expected to be done in 2 1/2 hours.

From Bavali the drive just got better with unbroken stretch of greenery, green farms on both sides, small villages with cattle gazing around, people living in close harmony with the nature and nothing but agriculture for a living, in total contrast with their cross border counterparts of Kerala, where agriculture practices are fast dying and on the verge of being  a 100 % consumer state, depending on the trucks from neighboring  states to feed through his ever active mouth.

The drive through the forest was interesting,  roads were so good, rubberized with scanty traffic and the thrill element of driving through the forest started creeping in. I was on the constant look out to spot the wild, after hearing tales of charging lone tusker, Indian Gaur and the occasional big cat. My observation skills  paid some dividends with out much wait as we spotted the stand still grey image of a  young tusker , quietly chewing his tea time snack. No time wasted saying "Cheese", and the tusker was " Clicked" mercilessly till our fingers went numb. Herds of spotted deers were found  which is quite common and some bird varieties to please the ornithologist in you. 

Important- Watch out for the no stop zones and there could be heavy penalties in the range of 10K if you are caught by the forest warden who do keep moving around. 

By around 5.30 pm we reached our accommodation, Kaav which was a only few minutes drive away from the sanctuary, tucked away in a large green compound, with electric  fencing  around it. Kaav in malayalam mean the Sacred Groves , once a part of Kerala Hindu families and used to be a place of worship.  

It was a single block building, with 4 rooms on the 1st floor. The building was compact, contemporary and had most of the  comfort elements. All 4 rooms shared a common living room,  with a lot of wood furnishings. 

                                                   The rooms were really good, cozy and came with a spacious balcony. Bathrooms were split into 2 cubicles, one for the shower and the other with WC. I wished if the  shower cubicle could have had a bit more space, for my frame. The toiletries, accessories and guests supplies were of high quality. Television lovers, please excuse , you must be prepared to miss your daily dosage of soaps and reality shows. There are no TVs in any of the rooms including the common living room, so please just forget the idea, as there are better things to see around. Pavithra Kumar aka PK  the resident manager of Kaav was very much welcoming ,helpful and possessed rich   knowledgeable about the terrain.

A quick shower and we were down at the dining area on the ground floor overlooking the Swimming pool. After a recharge dose of piping hot tea and dal vadas ( crispies made with split lentils), we were out venturing on the 05 bicycles available at the resort. It was already dark by then, but no stopping us. From the compound we cycled on to the main road , which leads to Mysore and yet again was in great shape and inviting. Hardly any other vehicles, it was a great experience  cycling through the small village homes on both sides, huge trees and small worship places. After a while we passed on the cycles to the other friends,and took a long walk ahead talking ........ for a good 30 minutes or so when we were hit by the first rain drop... followed by the second , third and the thousandth one. In a moment it started pouring and we were running for cover but in vain and finally settled down under a tree, fully drenched but enjoying every minute of it ... like in our school days. Mobile phones were left behind at the hotel and there was no way we could get to our friends and call for help. A "lift" was the only thinkable option and after a couple of attempts a jeep stopped and we were on our way back ........ a few meters drive and we spotted one of our friends stranded with a damaged cycle pedal in the rains wondering what's next ,and to his relief our jeep stopped and "lifted" him along with the cycle held outside the jeep with our hands. The jeep driver was kind enough to make a detour and drop us right till the reception , where the rest of the gang was anxiously waiting our return ............... only to to make fun of us.

A soothing  relaxing session  with " great spirits" and lighter moments was to follow Meantime we did manage to get slots for the next days early morning jungle safari which injected the thrill element back  into us yet again. 

Dinner was announced and we rushed !!!! They arranged a mini buffet with 6 items or so, such a great balance and right portions ensuring zero wastage. The Bagara Baigan (aubergines), Chicken curry ( in local style with lot of green corriander), hot Phulkas and the  local lentil salad  were so very delicious.

                                       
The chat session continued way past midnight and finally we retired to bed all excited about the early morning safari.

                                                                    Thanks to the wake up call by hotel staff , we were up by 5 am and were served with hot tea, got ready and  in our casual attire  moved on to the nearby Kabini River Lodge, owned by the Karnataka State Government which happens to be the starting/drop point of the safari jeeps and boats. The Wild Excitement still alive and kicking.

There were around 4 vans an jeeps  which moved as a convoy towards the park by 6.30 Am and picked up guests from other resorts enroutes.  Around15 minutes drive , passing through the village we arrived at the park gate where the tickets were exchanged by our driver. There was a strong drizzle through out which however failed to dampen our spirits. ( The charges for Safari is approx INR 1250 for Indian nationals and INR 2500 for the foreign nationals). There were quite a few foreign nationals who were armed with the latest and most professionals cameras meant for the prize catch. The lenses protruding resembled Canons, justifying their brand name.

Well I must admit that the sighting didn't live up to our expectations mainly due to the ongoing monsoons, which allowed the animals to stay within the comforts of the deep forest rather than venturing out to the riverside for water. It was a boon for them , sadly not for us. 

So advice no: 1, Safaris during Monsoons( JUN- AUG) can leave you disappointed. October to April period however is the best time to spot the wild cats and hence plan your trip accordingly. It wasn't too bad either as we did see some wildlife included the Serpentine Eagle, Spotted Deers, Sambar Deers, Water Otters, Peacocks and elephants. Yet again the Indian Gaur & wild cats evaded. There was a sudden rush of adrenalin when the guide mentioned about the alarm call seeing the herd of spotted deers , sensing the presence of a big cat, however was short lived, though we waited a while to catch a glimpse of the wild cat pouncing upon the herd. the safari lasted for around 3 hours and we were back at the base camp by 1000 hrs and didn't wait a second to rush back to our resort to pounce upon the breakfast... the canine instincts transferred to us !!!

Breakfast was ready at the restaurant , yet again a mini buffet of 6 items. It looked to me that the buffet supply might be inadequate, but held its forte  even after a pretty generous serving for 10 odd in-house guests. I would say it was a NIL leftover scenario and was quite impressed with it as we are used to seeing criminal wastages, at many places with certain items not even touched. There was bread, stuffed paranthas, Upuma , fresh fruit cuts, sausages and cereals  + eggs and dosas to order  Its all about the right choices & right supply which makes the portioning was so very perfect. Also I have always felt with too many choices we tend to try many and ends up eating more but you really don't really enjoy the meal ......at least in my case. The dinner and the breakfast  had here, would easily rank amongst the best enjoyed meals in recent past.

Quick shower , packing and we found some time to thanks the Kaav team for the warm hospitality, and did find some time to take a photograph with the staff there. 

 

Before leaving Kabini we tried a boat cruise to cross the kabini river,known to be home for crocodiles. The water levels were quite high due to the ongoing monsoons, and the strong waves kept banging the boat,  rocking it hard  and splashing water on us. The cruise was however enjoyable and the sight of the meadows on the river bank with gazing cattle was picture perfect. 



Soon we were rushing back to Wayanad and the Curtains were drawn on a short but memorable trip to Kabini with its share of  "soft" adventure !!!

 

Urus ---- The "Fat Boys" of Beypore

URU ... heard this name before?? Might  be an easy answer for people from the Malabar coast of kerala. For the rest..... it's the name for the large wooden Sail boats ( Dhow) which takes birth at the coastal town of Beypore near Calicut/ Kozhikode in Kerala. Dhow must be a much more familiar name for many, especially those having close ties with the Arabs.  These Fat boats , known as Pathemaris carried the spices from India to the Arab countries in the past and were silent witnesses for the trading activities carried out through the Malabar Coast.

These are massive vessels , made with wood by local craftsmen and in the earlier days machine was not at all used. Yet , it had the perfect finish, balance and endurance to withstand the rough sea waters. The Wooden planks are joined with great perfection and leaves one wondering about the finesse of their craftsmanship.


Been there recently to see what the  stuff is all about and  the very first sight of the 02 gigantic vessels under construction left our group open mouthed. One of them has been termed as the largest Uru ever built in Beypore's history. We were told that these were being made for a prince in Qatar and the construction had commenced almost two years and a half back. 

It might still take a few more months to finish the work and there are periodic visits from Qatar to check the progress of the work. The interior works and the luxury element will be added upon reaching Qatar. Earlier days, the Urus were taken to the Arab countries through the Arabian Sea fully manually and by the Oarsmen , however these days due to Government regulations it will be mechanized henceforth. 

                                                            In olden days Urus were purely hand made, without any mechanical aid, right from joining the planks, smoothing of the edges, cutting and fixing wood. Majorly  local Teak wood from nearby Nilambur town was used for the hull for its long life and endurance. However these days the machines are also used  to save time and energy. The major works however are still done with hands and mind you its not every ones cup of tea !!! For the frames wood of Jackfruit  tree is used and for the planks it is the Teak always. Perhaps the availability of the teak in the region forms the major reasons behind the establishing of the Uru making centers here.

We took the effort to climb up to the top, with the help of a wooden ladder and a rope to hold on. Atop the Uru it was a great feeling looking towards the sea as if we had the perfect carrier to conquer the waters ahead. Took a walk around and it was huge for someone who has been only on small boats before. It stood like a massive structure overlooking the sea. The internal partition works were being made with plywood and as mentioned the luxury element was lacking.There were 4-5 people working silently , doing the finishing works and were kind enough to explain us the history of Uru Making, while continuing with their work.

There are 02 Uru making centres at Beypore currently, one is in an island where we need to take a ferry boat to access. The other one is near to the Beypore Port where the large Urus are being built.For tourists staying at Calicut or nearby towns , please make it a point to drop in at the Uru making centre for an hour or so, for these are unique experiences. Its just a 30-40 minute drive from Calicut city centre and accesible by road.


( a funny side to it, for my malayali friends......  no one would forget the character Gafoor played by mamukoya in movie "Nadodikattu" who exploits the situation of the 02 unemployed bachelors,Vijayan and Dasan.. promising to divert "Uru" to California and take them to Dubai)  

Nilambur Kovilakoms - Being traditional with a touch of Simplicity.........

Being traditional with a touch of Simplicity.........

Once you pass through crowded Nilambur town, take a turn from the highway and enter the secluded compound through the arched gateway ( accessible for medium sized vehicles only), the calmness and the different architecture strikes you instantly. Amongst the patches of greenery , you would fine houses looking alike...... with absolute silence for company !!

Puthiya Kovilakam at Nilambur presents you with the chance of staying with a very active and energetic Varma family.. the best of hosts you can imagine in an ancient kovilakom typical to North Kerala with its tiled roofs and wooden structures. Kovilakom has 02 rooms for the guests and with its long corridors, open courtyards and ancient utensils takes you a few hundred years back.

Being Traditional" in "Simple" ways, remains the salient feature of this house and it reflects in every aspect right from the ever pleasing wonderful host , to the architecture... and of course the food and the life style.

The near by temple of Vettakorumakan ( Kiratha incarnation of Lord Shiva) is an abode of peace and one can spend many hours silently gazing at the calm and picturesque settings. The murmur of the breeze emanating from the nearby river presents the perfect background score.
The river bank bordered by the rock beds under the shade of trees forms an ideal refreshing spot for mornings and evenings when the sun is not at his peak.

Nilambur is an ideal midway stop if you are driving from Cochin to Ootty or Cochin to Wayanad or vice versa. It boasts of a very rich history and known for its Teak plantations. The famed Teak plantation is only a stones throw away from the Kovilakom.

 For more details visit : www.kovilakam.com

CONTACT SREEVIDYA VARMA           : +91 9446332500 /+91 8547773937 /+91 09446332600

LAND PHONE NUMBER    : +91 4931 222343

Conservation - takes some doing !!!

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”......Mahatma Gandhi.

Seems the blogging bug has bitten me hard and my recent travel to Thekkady region has served as a perfect catalyst. Well folks, this time it's not about a destination but some laudable efforts of nature conservation which caught my attention (yet again) at the Spice Village Thekkady.
                                           It was definitely not my first visit to Thekkady or Spice village for that matter. Being a part of the much privileged tourism fraternity, I have had the liberty of being there on more than 3 occasions, but each time looking things from the perspective of a tour operator or a foreign tourist....... purely on a commercial angle. 

Sadly, I must admit never did I got into the shoe of a responsible citizen, who could care and concern for the nature. My visiting card doesn't speak of  any positions like environmental activist or an expert on the subject for I am a more of a novice, who hasn't done much, BUT, could make some minor contributions to the nature during my tenure  left on this planet.

Responsible Tourism seems to be the mantra followed by many these days but how many does it genuinely, remains a question. CGH Hotels always had the tag of the sustainable, responsible and conservation tag on them and the units like Coconut lagoon, Marari Beach resort, and Spice Village are the perfect examples, making me wonder if the C in  their name stood for Conservation.

While planning my visit to Spice Village, I made it a point to take family and kids along, purely to make them understand the concept and I must say that this  stood out as the best experience during our holiday. Perhaps the presence of 02 Agriculture postgraduates within the family just made things better.

Pratheesh , the in-house naturalist was a real gem. Very professional, rich knowledge and most importantly a great attitude. He explained the procedures with great patience and we could feel the vibration of the the passion he possessed on the subject. 

                                   The flora & fauna is very well maintained and there were some species which we never seen or heard off. The nomenclature is done perfectly and names displayed.

The organic farm was the show stealer. Such a variety of vegetables grown here with a good yield just amazing. Goes on to show , it just needs some effort and will to maintain. We always complain about the pesticide soaked vegetables and fruits coming cross borders but never bother to grow anything on our own. Cabbage, Spinach, Corriander (leaves), peas, chillies, tomatoes, pumpkin and a variety of leafy herbs are found here.It's high time we look at creating our own vegetable garden in our terrace than going for ornamental plants which might be pleasing to your eyes but doesn't help your tummy a bit.

Excellent waste disposal techniques, garbage treatment process, vermi composting, biogas production , Sewage water treatment...... all this and much more.The recycled paper making was something which needs a special mention. From old newspaper they come out with such a fine products the way a sculptor turns a stone into an idol. It was so simple a process which could be done at home. The finished products just looked awesome.

Guests staying at Spice Village ....... please please ensure that you take the kids along with you when you walk around the property with the naturalist. Most of the things were new to the kids and it certainly generates a great enthusiasm and interest in them about the Nature and the importance of conserving our resources. Kids of this generation sadly are not privileged like us, to see squirrels moving around , humming bird feasting on flower nectar or a chameleon standing still in deep thought. These have become rare sights even for us and that's precisely why I strongly advise kids to be taken for the tour as they would get to see all this and in the process, you could too make a silent dive back to  your childhood days.

Closing with a quote by American Environmentalist Aldo Leopold 

"Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left"


(based on my visit to the Spice Village on 15th APR'14)

Special thanks to Shilendran Mohan & Johny Tom for the great hospitality and the fresh lime soda ;)