Resist if you can...

Resist if you can, let us see if you have iron will. For there is every chance that you will be tempted and grab your wallet.

If you like it and the price is right, time to seal the deal, unless budget and shipping are real concerns.

Snaps from Fort Kochi, Kerala-

Shops in front of Malayalappuzha temple in Pathanamthitta.

She sells sea shells by the sea shore.......
The shells she sells are sea shells by the sea shore....
Indeed, they are.

She sells more than sea shells it appears.

 A shop at the temple precinct. Picture from Ochira near Kollam. If you are after Rudrakshams (Yoga beads), such shops sell them.

These lamps are popular through out Kerala. Lighting them is an important part of rituals associated with weddings, inaugurations, auspicious occasions etc. They are good gifts as well as souvenirs.

Different design, good old oil lamp. At an antique store in Cochin.

Here is a Kathakali mask. Kathakali is a dance drama, unique to Kerala. A miniature replica of the original stuff, this is a gift that is truly representative of Kerala. Colourful, inexpensive and light to carry.

Do you like wooden objects?  This snap is from an antique store in Cochin.

Obviously these items are from mud and the like-

Native Indian cows have hump. They produce A2 milk. Hope you know the difference between A1 and A2 milk.

The expression on the face, the art work - great!

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The multiple faces of work - pictures from Kerala

 The basket seller is delved in deep thoughts. How not to be thoughtful, when life throws so much at us?

 What keeps us going, is the silver lining. isn't it? Pictures from Malappuram, North Kerala.

 There are some people who can't smile back at us. Nor do we want them to take their attention off.

 Not a risky profession, still needs a lot of attention. The artist at Fort Kochi -

Washing elephants is not everyone's cup of tea.  Tamed, however, there are some 'protocols' in the relationship between man and beast I suppose.  Hence the hint of suspicion in the corner of mind is an everlasting presence. May be a survival instinct:)

Elephant washing is at Guruvayoor Anakotta, one of the largest elephant parks in the world. The park belongs to Guruvayoor temple, and has about 60 - 80 elephants at any time.

Now to something lighter.  Flowers are integral to weddings and worship. Women love to wear Jasmine garlands on hair. The florist at Kollam -

World's apart is this wood workshop where timber is cut into pieces of desired dimensions. A scene from Kallai, the wood processing centre near Calicut.

Again wood. This time it is about repairing, which is a different breed of cat. A snap from Vallikkavu in South Kerala. You got it right, it is a sea side village. Nowadays this leafy hamlet in the forefront of news, being the village of Mata Amritanandamayi.

It is team work, hence the second picture-

Colours mirror demeanor or is it the other way around? A snap from the backwater village of Elathur, near Kozhikode.

A smile that goes miles. A picture from Ponnani.

 Another great smile. The location is Beypore harbour.

 People handling ice at Chaliyam harbour, on the other side of Beypore river.

Time to move to the hills, where plantations galore. Rubber plantations employ many, since tapping has to be done regularly. Kottayam is the place of rubber estates, this picture though is from Pathanamthitta.

Marayoor in Idukki has several small scale jaggery production units. Jaggery is a better type of sugar created out of cane sugar. Boiling the molasses is in full swing.

The small jaggery unit down the hills at Marayoor-

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Life at Kerala backwaters

At Kuttanad, people live at water's edge. Instead of roads, they use canals for travel. Here are a few snaps from the villages of Kuttanad.

 

Economical and the most effective means to transport cargo for many villagers is water transport.

Travel through large lakes and you will see workers in action. Their livelihood is based on these large backwaters. Fishing and sand mining support many lives.

A few photos from Lake Vembanad-

On the background is Pathiramanal Island.

Cherai is a popular beach - backwater destination outside of Cochin. Rustic charm is in abundance and a slow pace of life goes well with it.

What is your idea of 'bulk fishing'? Here is a new perspective.

The location of fishing is Chaliyam, a scenic village near Beypore, Kozhikode.Here is another photo from the same place.

Let me balance it with the opposite. Here is people wanting to get in, all set with vests. This picture was taken at Mattuppetty lake in Idukki.

Passengers getting off at Muroe Island, Kollam-

Here is the city version, from Cochin.

How can anybody talk about Kerala backwaters ignoring all those beautiful birds, seen all over, on hyacinths, lotus leaves, stumps that peep out of water etc.

Here is Chaliyam harbour again, where birds rest on boats.

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Kerala - snaps of life

Well, let us start with something sweet. And what is sweeter than Halwa? This snap of the line up of Halwa, impressive and inviting, is from the heartland of sweets - Sweet Meat Street, Calicut.

Do you know which is the most popular of all?

When it comes to Halwa, the king is BLACK.

Sealed safely in this humble jar is my all time favorite - Chukkappam. A must try, if you are at Calicut. Chukkappam and beef Jerky are the classic combination. Since kissing good bye to beef, I am contend with Chukkappam alone.

 And where to find them? A picture is supposed to speak a thousand words, right?

 Time to spice up. The pickle stand looks like a hit destination. Photo from Calicut beach.

If you accuse me of being the advocate of unhealthy choices, here is my defense. And that too from Calicut.

This apparel store is not too far from where these fruit carts are. The colourfulness of Indian textiles is too obvious to explain.

Now let us look at how clothing used to be a century ago. In this picture are higher caste women. This type of clothing was limited to them.

January has arrived and so is the festival season in Kerala. Here is a small festival procession slowly making its way through Kollam town. Guess what, no one is in a hurry.

Elephant in costumes, ready for the festival. Too high for the small boy to be on top.

These kids are having a great time, dancing to the beat of drums. Picture from Central Kerala.

 Drummers in action. A snap from Vadakkekad in Thrissur District. Obviously, they are happy to see us.

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