Wander Woman

I was always fascinated by this bridge since the time I landed in Kochi. and this fascination hasn't dimmed as yet. In fact I'm fascinated and amused by most things around me and I consider it a good thing in retrospect. I love this old Thevara bridge especially because a train track (bridge) runs alongside and also because it offers a magnificent view of the channel. I resented the building of the new bridge and was happy that it took almost eight years to build. So anyway, I always wondered how it would feel to be passing on the bridge with a train chugging beside you. The train has to go really slow because the bridge is very old and doesn't have railings. Found that out the other day when a train was crossing the bridge. We literally felt the vibrations even though we were on the road bridge. Now, that the new bridges have opened up, they have closed the old bridge for people and evening finds many people indulging in fishing from this br...

I have a group of friends here who have been most instrumental in introducing me to the Malayali culture. It is to them that I turn when I need to learn the meaning of a word or when I need some Malayalam lessons. Words that I have picked up are edathu (left), Vallathu (right) and nirthu (stop) which are enough to direct my auto to the office everyday.So, I was just talking to one of them today and telling her that how Malayalis cant say 'sir' but instead pronounce it as 'saaaaar' when she told me that it is the custom here in govt offices to address everybody, including ladies, as 'saaaar'. I was in splits when I heard that. She told me that her mother works in a govt office and they often receive calls asking if 'Lakshmi saaaar' is available. Also, I got to know that a very arrogant, proud person is labelled 'decent' condescendingly. I think the meaning must have gotten subverted over the years and people of proud bearing are called 'decen...

In the last month Kerala suffered a lot from Load Sheddings. Load shedding is when electric utilities turn off the electricity. It is usually done to save money, units and pollution. Every day for half an hour, different places at different times, would be plunged into darkness. The schedule was already printed in the local newspaper, so everybody was aware of the timings and made arrangements accordingly.I like Load sheddings. I like to think that I can live without air conditioners and fans and made do with candle light, if I have to. I've seen people cursing and railing when the lights go off.I take a walk. It is beautiful on most nights with only the moon for company. I get to hear a lot of birds whom I havent heard before.And I like Candlelight. I like lighting scented  candles so that my house is filled with sweet fragrance. Since there is nothing to do at home , we all go out for walks. Its a good community feeling when neighbours chat up each other, otherwise people hardly ...

Fort Kochi is one of my favourite places and in that Jew Town and Princess Street are my most faourite haunts.   I love going for evening walks along the channel and having my cuppa in one of the various cafes and restaurants dotting the banks. Jew town still has a few jewish families living there. It is said that Jews came to Kerala as early as 700 BC for trade and some of them even settled here during the reign of King Solomon. The then ruling king gave them some land in Mattancherry and that is where they flourished till most of them migrated and some converted. But they still have the impressive Jewish Synagogue(AKA Paradesi Synagogue) with an 18th century clock tower.I love going to Synagogue and then walking back to the Dutch palace. Its a five minute walk and there are plenty of antique shops in between to spend your time in. I love walking into these shops and looking at things because most of them are sourced from old tharavus (traditional kerala houses). I ...

Varkala is one of the awesome(est) beaches I've seen. The sun,sand, sea and cliff. The cliff actually overlooks the beach and so in the evenings you can see a beautiful sunset from any of the various restaurants situated on the cliff.It is an ideal place to just sit and laze. However, if you HAVE to do something, there are various places of interest in and around the town of Varkala,like the Varkala Tunnel and the 2000 year old temple. There's also paragliding on the beach. As for me, I like to spend the entire day on the beach topped off with some delicious cocktails in the evening. Varkala is A four hour drive from my place and so we generally set out on the weekends. Once, when I was having breakfast in one of those open air cafes, my waiter pointed out to a school of Dolphins on their way to Quilon :) It was funny, but it got me really excited.One other time I almost caught a jellyfish but then it drifted away with the waves. There are many migrants from Karnataka who have...

Mararikulam is a tiny little white beach in the district of Alleypey. I've visited the beach a couple of times and am absolutely in love with the white sand. I love Marari more than Cherai because it is clean and relatively unpopulated, therefore quieter. It is just a short (and pleasant) drive away from Kochi. There are some great resorts lining the beach if you want to stay for a couple of days. We stayed at the Marari Beach resort and loved it. They have tiny cottages with open bathrooms. BY "open" i mean, open to the sky. Traditionally built, these cottages are great fun. They even have their own tiny little pools behind them. I must warn however that there is absolutely nothing to do here. The beach is quiet and the only activity is swimming in the sea. Go to Marari for some serious R&R. I love Marari beach because the sea here is blue and clean. If you're going on a short visit, it is advisable to carry your own food and water because there are no shops on...

The temple festivals of Kerala are quite intriguing. Temples here are divided on the lines of the deities eg, Krishna temple, Devi temple and Ayappa temple. I went for a local Krishna temple festival. I was surprised with the arrangements. The festivals generally span three or four days and elaborate arrangements are made for it. On this particular occassion i had the pleasure of seeing elephants and listen to the kombu(a wind instrument). The pooja started at around 9 in the morning and continued till 11 to the accompaniment of Madhalam(drums) and Kombu. I learnt that only a single community called Maraars are eligible to play these instruments and Maraar boys are trained from the age of three so that by the time they get to play these instruments, they have the rhythms by heart. It was a spectacle - a group of men playing these instruments in unison and three elephants in attention with the idol atop one of them. I did feel bad for the elephants though, because they stood for such ...