Kerala’s Big Travel Propaganda

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Ads on Kerala as a travel destination is being promoted in all grandeur by kerala tourism department. You can’t miss it in TV’s, in digital media and even in iphones. But all this glossy images come to naught when you land in God’s own country. Roads are full of portholes, dirty public loos, lecherous men like me, random strikes for some goddamn reason are just few ills.

If you’re visiting Kerala, I suggest you to look for natural gems in the tropical hills, open beaches and relish the open backwaters of this golden state.

Dead waits at a traffic junction

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Just as I was waiting at the traffic light, an ambulance came in with a dead body. The body was draped tightly & neatly in a white cloth. I was expected an old person, but as the truck moved the face showed of a young healthy man. Even in his dead, he had a graceful face with thick bushy mustache. But then why was he alone in his last journey.

TVS Moped – An observation

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Villager in TVS Moped at an open train level cross

I took the shot while traveling from Trivandrum to Bangalore in Garib Rath. The recent rain has given a green cover to the dry lands of Tamil Nadu. As I clicked away, I go this picture.

TVS MOPED – Icon of Tamil Nadu

This is the first moped that came before bigger cousins swanky kinetic Honda and other wheeler. With the arrival of new automatic two-wheelers, popularity of TVS moped has died down in Kerala. Now kerala women has long abandoned the use of TVS mope, instead they have embraced fuel gushing, big vehicles from Honda’s and other big companies.

But TVS is still an essential moped for most folks in TamilNadu. I wonder why TVS moped has become inseparable with the landscape of Tamil folks. Why do they prefer to use this vehicle, despite its old design?

I think there are more reasons why people still stick to this brand. It’s a marketing case study for experts. Maybe, it can shed more light on how marketing or product can evolve with the traits of a demographic class

Fillet of joy – Banana fry and coffee

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This pic reminds me of the numerous coffee I’ve shared with the boys at Coffee house in the heart land of “gods own country”. Now in Bangalore, these little cups of joy seems so distant and grayed as my hair.

Branded “coffee Day’s” and “Barista’s” of today don’t offer these little banana nuggets but their line-up includes more on western . “Lot more can happen over a cup of coffee” punch line seems so alienated in these sterile coffee shops.

There’s something natural about the small shops that serves hot coffee/tea. Early mornings these small tea shops are buzz with people sprouting Marxian thoughts and a hot doze of stale politics over a steaming cup of tea. I think secret to kerala’s literacy mushroomed from these little discussion groups centered around these tea shacks.

Vazhakappam ( banana fry), this ( Kadi) item served along with is another delicacy that I miss in Bangalore. These yellow slices of ripe banana, dipped in flour syrup and fried in oil is one of the best accompaniment to my evening coffee chat.

How to make banana fry ( Kerala style)

Banana(ripe) – 2 nos
Flour(Maida) – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 – 2 tsp
Oil for deep frying

Banana fry recipe:
Mix together maida, tumeric, sugar and water to make a thick batter with a dropping consistency. Mix well, clear all lumps .

Slice the bananas to two halves and then each halves to vertically thin pieces.

Dip the slices of banana in the batter and coat it with the batter.

Heat oil in a deep-fry pan and fry slices one by one,(both sides).

Watch till the fry turns golden brown. Remove and Keep it on a tissue paper to remove excess oil.

Serve hot with Tea/coffee

Koshy’s – Aging Bangalore icon

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A gentleman at Koshy’s

                                                      Coffee – Famed beverage at Koshy’s

Koshy’s Restaurant – Street View
What makes Koshy’s restaurant so special?
  • Is it the ambiance?
  • Is it the history behind it?
  • Is it the food? Appam or beef?
  • Is it the laid back attitude?
  • Is it the sugar bowl?
  • Is it the checkered table cloth?
  • Is it the kind of crowd it attracts?
  • Is it the location?
First exposure to Koshy’s joint
My first visit to Koshy’s restaurant chanced upon me, the first glimpse of the hep crowd from Bangalore. At that time, smoking was allowed, and I looked at awe, on the sight of ladies who smoked with manly confidence.

Sights like these were new to my life, and I wanted to know more. As my life progressed in Bangalore, I soon got acquainted with a lady. Our initial rendezvous was all in Koshy’s over a glass of rum and fish.

Life moved forward, we spend less time in Koshy’s and started visiting many new age pubs and cafe joints. Each place comes with a story, but I feel none as old and peculiar as Koshy’s.
So, much has come and gone for this iconic restaurant. Started in the 40’s, Koshy’s has come a long way. People from the Emperors and to small time crooks(like me) has come to dine.
Koshy’s on the move

What’s the future for Koshy’s. Will it move bodily in the test of time, or will it still cling to the old tales that still hang on its walls.

I hope it moves with the change, at the same time retains the laid back warmth to all the patrons under its roof.


If you’re reading this post and looking for a coffee partner at Koshy, then don’t hesitate. During weekends, I’ll free to join for a coffee & chit-chat.



Epitaph

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This pic was taken inside St Patrick’s Church, Bangalore. Taken after I atttened the late evening, Sunday

Epitaph:

I fell in love with Epitaphs reading it from the news dailies. Those carefully written beautifully verse mostly touched up the survivor’s grief & regrets.

Whenever I read an epitaph, I ask myself, “How did this person live his/her life”, What did they accomplish in Did they touch other people’s lives in a positive or negative way? Did they leave behind something of value for others, will the people miss this person?

Some verse are very touching, some just reflect the year, time and age. The one I like are those, which reflect the grief, the bond left by the departed.

Few months back, I went to Hosur Cemetry, Bangalore and captured many of the old rustic graves of old settlers of Bangalore. The moment I spend around shooting took me back in time when these loved ones were lovered to the 7 feet grave. How was it back in that time?

Soon, we too will follow to a grave, to be left to share the tales with the old folks

Dream it. List It.

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Compile a song playlist that makes you happy

Punch line from the book “Dream it. List It” got me to write this blog post. This essence of this book is abt listing down all the to-do list.

The book includes a site “43things.com“, wherein an user can long in and post the 43 wish list to be followed. .

Instead of going with the site, I opened a diary, with few pages for jotting down all the ideas under different section. For instance, you can keep heading for Finance, Happines, Professsion, Spiritual, holidays, Social etc…

Under it note down all your aspirations, things you would like to live for. It could be crazy as “Visit Peru” or anything that might look very fanciful.

After listing, revisit you list to follow your dreams to fruitition.

Bahadur, lives

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Lord, take me to those wonder years, when I trolled along with my Dad to buy the latest issues of Indrajal Comics. The comics heros from Bahadur, the Indian dective to the ones from the American heart land, Flash Gordon, Phantom, or Mandrake filled the road side book stalls.

Thesse where the heros of my childhood? I had few organized boys who made comic and I used to love reading from those big collection. Often I would go to the Childeren’s section of Public Library, at Palayam, I would dig down the shelves to find some unread comics.

These days, I wonder what the kids read. For the current gen “X”, comics are not the vouge. There are just too many things to do with too little time. Video games, T.V programs, Internet, etc take up the little time ….

Now those Inderjal comics are collectors item. It has become vintage! Recently at an used book store I saw a big bundle but it got me to think of collecting Inderjal comics…esp Phantom and Flash Gordon.

Yet another collection to build and to live for….

Sardine times

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My love for sea food know no bounds. All sizes and shapes of fish fit in my menu. After moving from the coastal town of Trivandrum to Bangalore, my initial apprehension about the availability of fresh sea food was unfounded with the choice of fish available here.

Keralaties are fond of fish and it forms a staple diet for all class of people. I think the eating habits form out of the abundance of resources and for the same reason, original Bangalorean are less inclined to the food from the high seas.

Given a choice I would stay with sea fish rather than the produce from the lakes. For me, the taste of river fish comes only second to the sea fish b’cos river fish taste mud in their flesh.

One of my favorite fish is Sardines ( Mathi or Chala ) as we call it. Though it is small and full of small bones, I love the taste of fresh Sardine curry. Being a die hard fish eater, I love havin fish along with my break fast, something many yuk. My staple breakfast goes with fish curry and puttu. I wonder how many share this queer eating habit but I still regard at the mother of all breakfast.

Next time you venture to buy fish, try out Sardines dish for a change!

Walk fit

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Wake up brothers and sisters of Bangalore. Wake to the bight new shining day.

This is my call, my epiphany for today. My intend to write these lines is to make people come out and embrace the early morning glory. Bangalore is blessed with little green oasis amids the mad frenzy of unplanned and ugly housing structures . Even thought, the name “Garden city,” has lost its real name, still each layout retains small pools of green chambers.

I stay at Cambridge Layout, with many parks spread. But the park I visit for my morning walk is one behind ESI hospital and the other Indira Nagara Park near CMH road.

Even though park behind ESI hosiptal is near, these days I go in my vechile the one near CMH road. The choice is due its greenery, woods and the wonderful flower beds of Petunias, sunflowers and marigold.

I usually walk in the park area which is not cemented. This makes walking or jogging more health and less tiring for my aging legs.

Main reason for this post is a fall out from my observation. I’ve noticed that, there are few youngsters in the park. Most of them are oldies like me or those who have retired from the mainstream of life.

Where ‘ve the young ones gone

Many are preoccupied with job, the demands of which either makes u work for odd hours or nessisitates you to leave home early. There are other who has household chores. Apart from them there are lazy bones or those who are still rich or keep the economy going by joining the expensive health clubs.

My post is towards these two sects>

Brother and Sisters enrolled in the new age fitness around Indira Nagar ( Fitness one, Figurine Fitness, ), I’ve a small request. Why don’t you visit these green space once in a week.

This place is very near CMH road. You can

Walk around the concrete payment
Bring a friend – walk and talk
Take a stoll in the groud
Admire the beautiful roses and peturias
Remove your shoes and walk in the grass
Lie down on the grass and admire the open sky
See eye-to-eye with a stranger
Smile and give a friendly nod to a beauty
Watch how she joggs or watch her gaceful walk
Thank those gardeners behind this beautiful garden
Get motivated to have a garden at your house

Or, chat with me as I go strolling around – I’m open to suggestion : )


Next, there are those who are lazy to pull themselves from the comfort of their cozy bed. Why don’t u for a change, come out and be a part of the nature. Join me or pull a friend to this gree n sanctuary for a short vacation.

Life is out there! It’s time to make the best. Meet & see interesting, beautiful faces trying to chisel their body. Forget all these new age slimming spas, the answer is right in front of you.

All you need is just a pair of walking shoes and you’re on the way to start a magnificent day!

See you in the park


JC