Beautiful Kerala-3

Kochi- The Queen of The Arabian Sea

Kochi or Cochin was known in ancient times to travelers and trades men as Cocym, Cochymn, Cohin, Kochi etc. The Jewish community settled in Kochi call it as Kogin and is in their seal of synagogue.It is also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea or Gateway to Kerala. It is mostly known as Ernakulam which in fact is the main land of Kochi.

Kochi (Kochchi) means:

• From Malayalam words kochu azhi meaning a small laggon
• From word Kaci meaning harbour
• Named after river Kochchi which connects the backwaters to the sea
• Portugese and British called it as Cochin which remained for a long time
• In 1996 the name of Kochi was retained

Kochi is a port city on the west coast of India on the shores of Arabian Sea. Since ancient times this port city was known to Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Jews and Chinese and was an important spice trading center. Kochi has a coastline of 48 Kms and is well known for its backwaters. The climate here is Tropical Monsoon type. It is hot and humid and during rainy season there is  heavy rainfall from June to December .

We  find, Hindus, Christians, Muslims and followers of other religions living peacefully. Now for the details of my travels...


Day-1-kochi:


Well we all piled up in the van at the airport and headed towards the city very eager and excited.

This was the van we went around for the entire trip, from place to place as we traveled by road. It was roomy and comfortable and our driver was also a very good one. His driving skills put me at ease. Or else on our India roads, I am always nervous and edgy.

 See the lush greenery, paddy fields, surrounded by coconut and jack fruit trees.

Not the Big Ben but a clock tower on our way into the city. We reached the hotel in half an hour. It was a real charming place very beautifully done, oozing the old world charm, reminding me of old houses of South India with heavy wooden furniture made of teak, rosewood.

The coffee shop in the hotel where it is cozy and charming. We spent the evening here  and later had dinner as it was raining.

This was our suite. The wooden furniture and brass/copper fittings reminded me of old bungalows in India. My grans place was like that.

The front room divided into two by wooden partition fitted with glass. The above area for sitting, had a big TV and the sofa which could be turned in to a big bed at night. The one below is with a small table. The small wooden thing on the right actually a had a tiny refrigerator inside it.

The beds again were old fashioned made with wood and metal (brass perhaps) but comfortable. The wall paper with roses captured my attention.

 See the old lantern fitted with bulbs on either side of the beds.

The mirror, the desk and chair- look at them. Colonial style furniture. These days we don't find such pieces made of red wood or teak. But in our childhood we had so many of those. Later on many people threw them out saying that it was old fashioned furniture, heavy and was occupying lots of space. But now they cost you a fortune.

 This is the wardrobe with sliding doors.

See the luggage rack where you can place your luggage is made of wood and brass.


We all had a very sumptuous lunch, with Rotis, white steamed rice, curries, chutneys and  curds. Then took rest for an hour as it was very hot and humid.


Then we were to go for sight seeing....so watch out....

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Flower Arrangement

People always think that they need lot of expensive things to decorate their homes. But it is very much possible to decorate our homes, using less expensive things. Fresh flowers, from our own garden or growing wild are one of them.

Here is one arrangement of fresh flowers in water. This was in one of the resorts I visited in Kerala. All these flowers grow wild on the road side.

Terracotta tray filled with fresh cold water has been used. The flowers used are hibiscus, periwinkle, blue flowers(I don't know their name), daisies etc, which are quite common in our homes and also grow abundantly on road side. 

This arrangement will last easily for 3-4 hours. This can be placed on North-East corner (as per Vaastu) or in the living room or on the front porch, or on a table. Even in the garden this would look great.

One can use various sizes and shapes of terracotta, glass, metal, stone or other trays or bowls for such arrangements. Use of fragrant flowers will also fill the area with fragrance. or else one can add a few drops of aromatic oils or scents to the water.

So why don't you try it to please your guests.....

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Beautiful Kerala-2

Arrival at Kochi

Kerala also known as Keralam is an Indian State located on the South West coast (known as Malabar Coast) in India. It has an area of 38,83 Sq Kms, capital is Thiruvananathapuram(Trivandrum). It was formed in 1956 by combining three areas of Travancore, Cohon and Malabar.It is surrounded by Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Arabian Sea. The language spoken is Malayalam hence the people are called Malayalees.

Kerala Means: 

The word Kerala or Keralam is said to have been derived from 

• Chera- a dynasty which ruled some parts of South India and alam means land. Hence land of Cheras. Word Chera later on came to be pronounced as Kera.
• Kera(sanskrit)-meaning coconuts and alam means land. Hence Land of Coconuts

It is said that Parasurama one of the Dasavataras of Lord Vishnu created the area of Kerala when he threw his axe into the Arabian sea and the sea withdrew from the area where the axe fell.

Kerala is known for 

• its beaches lush greenery, ayurvedic tourism
• tropical forests, breeding and nesting place for many birds, 
• animals like elephants etc. living in sanctuaries
• spices, coconuts, cashew nuts, jack fruits, pineapples, bananas
• their unique culture and cuisine
• huge stretches of back waters where one can do boating and fishing
• highest literacy rate
• highest human development index
• least corrupt states of India
• nominated as cleanest state, five out ten best cities to live
• nominated as one of the ten paradises of the world, 50 must see destinations of a lifetime

You can read more about the State here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala

http://berchmans.tripod.com/kerala.html

One has to really see through their own eyes the beauty of the destinations of Kerala as it cannot be described in words. I visited it once long time back and since then was wanting to go their with my family to explore the state and enjoy the nature. It happened now.

OK here we go.....The dairy of my travelogues..

Day-1-Kochi:

We were a group of nine people, three children and my mom included, reached Kochi (Cochin) airport in the afternoon by 1.30pm. It is a quaint little airport but so beautiful. The buildings reminded me of our old traditional homes of South India. I grew in one such huge home of my maternal grandmother. The slanting roofs in the shape of pyramids, constructed on wooden beams and rafters, supported by lovely carved wooden pillars and covered with red coloured terracotta or clay tiles. The entire building is usually surrounded by open varandas with slanting roofs and pillars.

Here are some shots.

You can see the spires. Traditionally they were made of bronze or copper to conduct electricity in case of lightning striking during rainy season.

This is a shot from a distance. Look at the lush green surroundings.

I am afraid I could not get a proper shot of the structure. You can see some here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kochi_airport_aerial_view.jpg

Well we were very hungry as we had some break fast early in the morning and with all the excitement, we could not eat much. So quickly we piled up our luggage into a 15 seater van and started towards the Kochi city......All of us were very excited and thought Yahooo.....Kochi here we come.....

Watch out for the next posts as our travel to beautiful spots starts from here....

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Beautiful Kerala-1

A Glimpse...

I promised you all that I would share my glimpses of the Beautiful Kerala with you all. Kerala known as God's Own Country is really so. The backwaters, lush green nature, air filled with the scent of spices and colourful flowers and fruits, yummy cuisine and to top it all beautiful people with their simple living and friendly nature.....

Well I am as much excited and impatient to share it all with you...but it will take some time..so here is a glimpse...

KathaKali-Traditional  Dance from Kerala

This is KathaKali-the traditional dance from Kerala. I will write about it in detail in my next posts and also have some videos to share with you all. This live performance we enjoyed  in one of our stays at a small town. I have always been fascinated with various dances of India-whether traditional or folk and try to learn as much about them as possible. Katha Kali is one such forms which has attracted me even as a child. The elaborate makeup, extensive use of eyes  for expressing various feelings is what enthralls me...

Well keep a watch on my blog....it will be a feast for you eyes......I promise..I will share it with you all.... the moment I can find a little time...but bye for now...got to go....

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I am Back

Hi there. I am back after a wonderful rejuvenating trip. Though I travel so much, this is an outing with my family and friends after a very long time. It went well though I missed out some of my plans but I have so much to share with you all. I did not feel like coming back from those lovely places. 

Back to my home where the summer is at its peak-this year temperature at its high continuously with out even a drop of rain in between. Some of my plants died due to heat and some were on the verge. The moment I entered my home the first thing I did was to water the plants. This is when I don't like to go away from my home. Well I need to work on my garden this monsoon-it needs a lot of work. We are just waiting for the first few showers.

On my work front...so much has piled up in just a week's time..I just don't understand  how it gets piled up easily. I need to work hard now to clear off all that. But more and more work keeps coming. This is a real hectic time for us at our work place. I envy all those who are out still, enjoying the summer holidays. 

Well I missed out last week's TAST challenge. Hope I can do next one....

In this heat I don't feel like doing anything...Just completing my daily chores apart from my work is really taxing...I hope and pray that Monsoon comes here soon....

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Out on a trip....

Hi ! I have not been able to post much for the past  few days. I was very busy on my work front. At last I am free to go out with my family and friends for a short trip tomorrow..I am excited like my little niece...

We are all going to Kerala-God's own country...and enjoy- some beautiful beaches, hill stations, sanctuaries, stay on a house boat, visit some tea and spice plantations, paddy fields, and perhaps lots of shopping... I hope that we can squeeze in as much sight seeing as possible...I just want to freeze all those moments of joy in my camera so that I can share with you.....

The colours- predominantly green and perhaps the rainbow colours if I can visit the spice bazaar which I have been thinking of since long time....smell of fresh air, free from pollution, salty breeze from the seas....pungent smell of the spices.... well just thinking of all that is making me so excited...with so many of us...I don't know whether we can do all that is planned...But the most important thing is being together and spending time, having fun.....

So I am off now to pack the last few things...my camera, journal to write and a sketch pad if possible...away from all this hustle bustle to the beautiful, scenic places....Be with you the moment I get back....

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Rangoli-192

Here is one more simple chain Rangoli:

If you remember Rangoli 189 where I give you this small block and a bigger Rangoli using the block.

I have drawn the bigger Rangoli as three columns. I have left some space in between the columns so that you can see the difference. If the space is narrowed down, the Rangoli will look like one huge block.

Try it out.....

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Bullion Knot Stitch-1

TAST-2012-Week-20-Bullion Knot Stitch

This weeks challenge for TAST 2012 announced by Sharon is Bullion Knot Stitch. Please visit her site for more details.

This is a stitch though easy needs lots of patience and time. I have tried it out before but for making loops and roses. This is actually a very good opportunity for me to work on this stitch. But here it is so very hot. With power cuts and childrens' holidays, I am not able to do much.

This is my first attempt:

You can see the bullion roses with Bullion knot leaves and detached Chain leaves. I have used BK Stitch with Feather and Detached Chain. I am still trying to think out ideas. So watch out....

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Rangoli-191

A simple and easy Rangoli.

It is Berries and flowers. This is 5X5 block put together so that in the center it is 13 dots 5 times. Join as shown. You can just use one block of 5X5.

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Half Chevron Stitch-2

TAST-2012-Week 19-Half Chevron Stitch

Well I have been quite busy during the week on the work front. So I could only try a few stitches for my sampler. Since one of the challenges is to combine various stitches along with this stitch, I have done my sampler accordingly. Here they are:

1.  Half Chevron Stitch (HCS) with Cretan Catch Stitch and + Stitch

2. HCS laced with beads

3. HCS with Tete de Boeuf Stitch

4. Double HCS(facing each other) with beads
5. HCS with Buttonhole Wheels(half) and beads
6. HCS with Detached Chain, Beads and Stem Stitch
    

7. HCS with Wheat Ear Stitch, round and bugle beads

 8. HCS with Zig Zag Chain and Slipped Detached Chain Stitch

I am still doodling so watch out for more....

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Half Chevron Stitch-1

TAST-2012-Week19-Half Chevron Stitch

This weeks challenge announced by Sharon is given below. Do visit for details and join in the challenge. 

http://pintangle.com/2012/05/08/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-19

My first attempts are here:

1. Half chevron stitch
2. Half Chevron with Open Cretan Stitch
3. Half Chevron with Herringbone Stitch
4. Half Chevron with Fly and Detached Chain Stitches
5. Half Chevron with + Stitch


Working on more stitch samples...keep an eye on my blog....

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Crossed Buttonhole Stitch-2

TAST-2012-Week-18-Crossed Buttonhole Stitch 

It is very hot here with temperatures soaring to an unbearable  levels. With power cuts it is really very difficult. One feels drained and listless at the end of the day. Completing the daily chores in itself is a challenging task. Therefore I could not accomplish much though i had many ideas in my mind. 

Any way here is my second set:

Stitches with different heights, with different shades of same colour stitched one upon another, and stitches in the last two rows were stitched one way first(left to right) and then  in reverse direction stitching in the same holes.

I think it is clear form this picture. I have used two colours in the last row to make it clear.

May be I will post more some time later.....Watch out....

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Crossed Buttonhole Stitch-1

TAST-2012-Week 18-Crossed Buttonhole Stitch

This week Sharon has announced Crossed Buttonhole Stitch. Visit her site for more details. I could not work much as I am busy with my work. I tried this stitch for the first time and it was confusing for the first ten minutes or so. Then I picked it up. Here is my first attempt:

Crossed Buttonhole Stitch, closed version, with beads.

with Running Stitch, Detached Chain Stitch and beads.

Watch out for more.......

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Rangoli-190

This is 15-3 times to 1 dots-i.e., 15, 15, 15 in the center(horizontally) and then 13, 11, 9, 7,5,3,1 on both sides

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The Post Card Which was never posted...

Yes it is the post card which was never posted...:) :) :).....because it is unfinished.

Well I was going through my stash and projects yesterday thinking that I should organise my stash and also list out all my unfinished projects at various stages so that I can complete them.

This is what I found. A fabric post card.

There are many firsts with this post card. 

My first crazy quilting. 
My first fabric post card.
My first Needle weaving.
My first Silk Ribbon Embroidery.

I have always wanted to do some crazy quilting. But it is always very hot in the place where I live. Winters are pleasant not too cold and summers very hot. So what is the use of a quilt? 

I also wanted to do a fabric post card for a long time. But never attempted.

That's why I chose to do a crazy quilted fabric post card.

The fabric used for this is Jute. I had some scraps of jute cloth in various colours. So I used them. I used a very simple pattern for the crazy quilting as I don't have much expertise nor confidence in that area. I covered the seems with lace. Then I stitched the beads, flower shaped sequins and beads. It is not clear from the pic but the dark green long leaves have been worked out in needle weaving. The thread used for this is Neem zari thread. That is silk thread with a glitter(zari) or golden thread.

On the other side I attempted some SRE flowers, for the first time. They came out well. On the orange coloured strip I embroidered some vines with Feather Stitch,  French Knots, and Detached Chain for leaves.

But I was some how not satisfied. There was still some blank space left over my sequin flowers. I wanted to add a butterfly and not something ordinary. So I tried a beaded 3D butterfly. My first attempt so not very neat. But with this attempt I knew what to do and what not to do...

I backed the piece with unbleached soft cotton . Then I wanted to make it into a post card. But there was some error in measuring and cutting of the fabric. So it came out much smaller than it should be. I just left it like that for my album. Well I will try out a few now that I have some time on my hands. Let us see....

Well just when I was recollecting all my experiments with this project, my friends walked in. They admired it from all angles and certified it to be a brilliant piece. Hmmm....I don't think so. As a perfectionist that I am, I can see that I made many mistakes that I could have done with out. But for a first timer it was OK I guess. What do you say?

Oh, by the way I will be posting the tutorial for the Butterfly shortly...

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Rangoli-189

Here is one more simple chain Rangoli.

 This is a small and simple Rangoli of 3X3 block.

The above block of 3X3 can be developed into a bigger one as shown above or according to your choice. My Rangoli is not so neat. If drawn a bit carefully would look good.

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Been Away

Hi friends. Hope you are all doing well. I have been away for sometime now, trotting across the country. That's why you have not seen work or heard from me till now.

Who says air travel is the best? May be it time saving, especially for those who are busy and don 't have time but I find it boring and tiring. But then many a times I am forced to do that as my work involves me to travel to distant places at short notices. Hopping in and out of air planes is not my definition of being successful in life.

I have always been fascinated with trains and love journeys by train. I feel I can have a glimpse of the country, its people and their culture both inside and outside the train. I get a chance to acquaint with people of different regions, cultures, lifestyles, languages. India being such a vast country with different regions, cultures and so much diversity, I don.t think one can know even a little in an entire life time. Every time I get something new to learn. So I never miss an opportunity to travel by train. 

Looking out of the window from train is so fascinating. I loved it as a child and still love it. Perhaps there is child in every person?

Water bodies surrounded by greenery, water lilies, birds busy in and around the water, reflection of clear blue skies in the water...Isn't it beautiful?

The rustic country side of India, cattle and farm equipment in the yard, chicken trotting around, women sitting in the front of their homes, chatting but working without wasting any time....

Cattle grazing in the fileds after the harvest....

The small huts serving tea and snacks on the edge of roads near villages....

Green fields, swaying palms, men and women working in the fields singing merrily (one cannot hear but feel it from a distance) on a clear sunny day...

Mountains and plains, green vegetation and plated crops, rejoicing in the wet monsoon showers...

Well for me the romance never ends. I have seen it all-many facets of my beautiful country, changing seasons, peoples and their lives at different times of the day or in different seasons, young smiling faces waving their hands as the train passes by-all from the window of a train. 

Still I want more, I want to travel again.......in a train if I can.....singing this beautiful song..

Well.....

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Earth Day

Today that is 22nd April of every year is celebrated as International Mother Earth Day. This is celebrated across the world. You can read more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

Let us all pledge to do our best for saving the Earth. How to do that?  Read here :

http://secretsofancientwisdom.blogspot.in/2012/04/save-earth-save-environment-save.html


Happy Earth Day. But let us not forget our responsibilities....


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