Chinese and Russian tourists make a beeline for Kerala
Published April 25, 2012 | 
Apart from the love for communism, the Chinese and Russian tourists seem to have many other reasons to make a trip to God’s own country! There has been a steep rise in the number of tourists from the distant lands of Russia and China to Kerala. The new statistics has given the Kerala Tourism Department enough reasons to explore ways and means to attract more tourists from these countries. However , the language barrier makes the biggest stumbling block for the tourists from these countries.
A major chunk of Russian tourists come from Moscow and St Petersburg and the biggest attraction for these tourists has been ayurveda, which is a unique attraction in Kerala itineraries. Nature trails and beaches too interest these tourists. Figures show that there has been an impressive 24 per cent increase in issuance of visas through the Indian Embassy in Russia during 2011.
Though the tourists are bowled over by the hospitality of the local populace , the pathetic road conditions, traffic snarls and waste management policies prevailing in the State has not gone down well with the tourists. Kerala has to get the priorities right in improving the infrastructure on a war footing to bring in more tourists from the untapped markets around the world.
The Tourism Department has initiated many plans including conducting road shows in these countries to spread the message of the tourism potential of Kerala and to lure more tourists from these countries. There are also plans to explore new markets in Malaysia, Australia and Middle East.
Japanese flavors to tickle the tastebuds of Kochites
Published April 20, 2012 | 
Tokyo Bay, which claims to be the first authentic Japanese restaurant in Kerala has started functioning in Presidency hotel in Kochi to pamper the palates of the gourmets. The mild flavors of Japanese kitchens are all set to conquer the hearts of the food lovers of the city in the days to come. The city folks of Cochin have always patronised good food and the sheer multitude of eat out options in the city that brings together the tastes and flavors from different parts of the world in itself is a proof for that.
Tokyo Bay, an innovative joint venture project of hoteliers in Japan and Kerala was launched by Tsukiji Kohi Restaurants Private Limited. Set up at an initial investment of over 1 crore, Tokyo Bay is located at the seventh floor of Hotel Presidency. It can seat over 50-70 diners at a time and serves a bevy of popular Japanese dishes. The menu underscores on dishes that are low fat and healthy and are made from natural and flavorsome ingredients. Tokyo Bay will be yet another milestone for Kerala in the growing economic relations with Japan that has funded various important developmental schemes like the Prestigious Metro Rail project among others.
So, in case you are in a mood to try out something different this weekend, Tokyo Bay will be a good choice for sure.
Telecom Start-up village launched in Kerala
Published April 17, 2012 | Kerala has become the home to the first ever PPP (public-private-partnership) telecom-based incubator start-up village in the country. This innovative venture was inaugurated by Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder, Infosys, who is also the mentor of the village. This village will have over 1000 start up companies over a period of 10years. Situated at Kinfra Park in Kalamassery, Ernakulam this project is likely to be an important milestone in the industrial map of the state in the days ahead.
Startup Village is a joint venture of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the DST, GoI and the Technopark, in collaboration with MobME Wireless. The start up village will ensure state of the art facilities and a conducive atmosphere for the development of start up entrepreneurial ventures, which typically face a lot of hurdles and challenges in the initial stage before getting themselves established. The start up village will throw open various job openings in the telecom sector and will go a long way in heralding a fresh IT revolution in the State. The village will have 4G network, telecom labs, well furnished office spaces, innovation zones intellectual property services, video conference rooms and added advantages like three-year service tax holiday to fund building startups. Novel concepts like start up villages are well suited for states like Kerala, which has a large resource pool of well qualified professionals.
‘Tsunami’ at Karma Kerala!
Published April 12, 2012 | It was an afternoon of ‘Tsunami’ for us at Karma Kerala yesterday…
The time is 2.20 and we are working, most of us glued to our seats and computer screens. I have my headsets on and at the same time am part of a group chat on Skype, with our Scottish boss Mark Scott getting me to change a blog post. Suddenly I see some kind of a commotion and people looking down on to the road and some pointing to a fan. I don’t realize what’s happening; I guess it’s some film-star who has appeared in the studio opposite our office for a shoot or a photo-shoot that has caused the commotion. But then, why do they point at the fan that’s not working?
I take off my headphones… I hear something, can’t make out what it is. I prick my ears and listen… and hear it vaguely – “Earthquake!”
“Earthquake?! Where? When?”, I ask myself, since I was sitting in the very same office and didn’t feel anything. Thejal, Venu, Tijo, Tanweer and others move about; they point at the fan that’s swinging slightly. Aji surfs the net for updates. Praveen makes some quick calls to newspaper offices. Jisha says she can still feel the slight tremor. Shyama, who works from Delhi (Dilli), says over Skype that an earthquake of magnitude 8.7 has happened in Sumatra and that there is a Tsunami warning too…
“So the earth did tremble, after all”- I say to myself, and sit down on my seat after going around for a while.
By that time the word ‘Tsunami’ reaches our ears. My cousin who is on the train to Chennai from where he has to catch a flight to Port Blair the next morning calls me as he could not get connected to his father, my uncle, who is in Port Blair. I make a call to Port Blair, for the sake of my cousin. That gives me a clearer picture. My uncle says, “ We just felt a slight tremor, I was having my lunch then. There are Tsunami alerts in Southern Islands like Car Nicobar (I had spent my early years there), Kamorta, Katchal etc, but it’s just an alert”. (They have been used to having tremors of much more magnitude, ever since the 2004 quake and Tsunami, from which my mother, who was then working there, had a narrow escape).
Then on, it’s ‘Tsunami’ at out Karma Kerala office. People check the net for online television news and updates. Sreekumar gets calls from home; he is told that something had happened to a building at Palarivattom here and he’s worried. Jisha goes on saying she can feel slight tremors still. Praveen and Aji tell us people have run out of high-rise buildings and the IT companies at Infopark when the tremor happened. We are told the Mullaperiyar dam is safe and we needn’t worry on that count.
Over a cup of Coffee, the ‘very vocal’ Venu talks about quakes and Tsunamis. Aji once again checks the net and says people say the Tsunami has struck Indonesia. Shola says she wants to die wearing a Saree. Usha and Deepa remind her to wear a white one. Shola asks Aji when the Tsunami would hit Kochi. Aji says ‘Dunno!’. Shola retorts by saying she has to apply some makeup and lipstick to greet the Tsunami. Remya is worried that tremors are happening at Thiruvananthapuram too, her little son and parents are there. Rinoj gets calls from home, asking him to come home, at Thrissur. Ragesh calls his wife; he is now the proud father of a baby boy, whom he has named Rakshan. Amjath sits glued to his computer screen, working and in between cracking jokes.
Jisha says she is a Taurean and hence can feel the pulse of nature. Meanwhile there is a second tremor and some of us at Karma Kerala once again get the feel of it. Still I am excluded!!Caro (Carolane) moves about, inquiring things and making calls. Leneesha is a bit worried. Tanweer and Mary and Sara and Divya and Sooraj and Teena are all part of the talks on earthquakes and Tsunamis. Sreejesh, who had gone to the bank, comes back after a while saying he felt nothing as he was riding his scooter.
I ask Shyama to keep me updated, not because I am worried about the Tsunami reaching here, but because I have close relatives in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and I am concerned about them. Shyama is ‘worried’ about her Kochi apartment, which remains locked as she is in Delhi. I take the occasion to philosophize, on a lighter vein, on the group chat on Skype, saying that there’s absolutely no reason to be worried and that life is just like a ‘bubble of water’ and what’s destined to happen cannot be changed etc… It’s blah blah blah…
Rain clouds gather around and that adds to the worries and the tension that’s created.
Finally, Thejal, who manages the office and decides things here, says the ladies can go. Ladies start moving out; bidding adieu and saying, though light humouredly- “See you tomorrow, if the Tsunami doesn’t strike!”. Shyama reminds Remya over Skype- “Dress well to bed…not make-up…but running clothes”, Remya responds with a smiley and leaves with a ‘bye’, along with Jisha.
Sreekumar is busy planning work for the next day. We are in office till 5.30- 5.45 and talks are mostly about Tsunami and earthquake. We try to remain updated on what’s happening. Aji reminds me to write a post here on this Karma Kerala blog on the earthquake and the Tsunami alerts and related things.
Well, this was what happened at the Karma Kerala office yesterday; I feel this would suffice to give you an idea of the commotion that struck Kochi in particular and Kerala in general after the tremors that were felt in various parts of the state and the Tsunami alert that came into effect.
Munderikkadavu bird sanctuary – a haven for bird watchers
Published March 30, 2012 | The Munderikkadavu wetland, nestled on the banks of the Munderi river in Kannur , has become the fourth bird sanctuary in Kerala. The other three bird sanctuaries being Kadalundi, Thattekad and Kumarakom. Munderikkadavu, which is home to over 100 different species of birds, is all set to become a bird sanctuary. The Kerala wetlands get over 1 lakh winged visitors including 60 migratory species every year including Eurasian wigeon, black-headed bunting and red-headed bunting among others.
Mundrikkadavu bird sanctuary is being allotted an amount of over 20 lakhs and this innovative project will go a long way in nature conservation and to bring man and nature closer. Though basic facilities like roads and parking area are being planned, these will be done in such a way that the natural habitat of the birds are not disturbed. The wetland that spreads over 1,000 acres will be a haven for bird-watchers from far and wide in the coming days. Ornithologists warn that the fast depletion of wetlands might cause the extinction of many bird species and wetland conservation is the only way to ensure the conservation of these winged beauties. Munderikkadavu wetland project will be a small step in the right direction for conservation of the avian population.
Real Madrid to set up academy in Kerala
Published March 27, 2012 | 
The football crazy populace of Kerala could not have asked for anything better. Real Madrid CF, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world will be setting up a football school in the city of Kochi as part of their ’social-sports academies’ initiated by the Real Madrid Foundation all around the world. Real Madrid has a substantial fan following in this tiny state of Kerala, which makes this venture all the more special.
The KFA Secretary confirmed that the Panampilly Nagar Sports Hostel will be the venue of this sports academy. All the latest amenities like artificial football turf, swimming pool and a multi-purpose gym will be added on to ensure the best facilities for the aspiring sports persons. This institute will offer the best training facilities to the talented youngsters under the watchful eyes of professional coaches and experts.
Real Madrid is planning to take up similar projects in other parts of Kerala too, as part of their socio cultural awareness programmes. Apart from sports activities, Real Madrid also takes up various social welfare and cultural activities through which they reach out to the society. Their first project in Asia was in Kheadah, West Bengal, which offers education to over 150 students in various age groups between 7 and 15 years.
This state of the art football academy will indeed be a fitting tribute to Keralites love for football that has stood the test of time and the cricket fever gripping the country.
Cricket frenzy stands between life and death
Published March 22, 2012 | The capital city of Thiruvananthapuram woke up to the gory news of the brutal killing of a woman by her husband in a residential colony in the city limits last week. Apart from being another instance of domestic abuse, this incident is a wake up call of the changing live styles of Kerala. It is shocking to note that the cricket crazy neighbourhood preferred to ignore the distress calls of the dying woman as they they were deeply engrossed in the keenly fought cricket match that was being telecast live at that time. By the time the match got over and the neighbours stepped out, it was too late and the convict had escaped the scene after committing the ghastly crime. The fact that this unfortunate incident involving a hapless woman has to happen in March , as we celebrated woman’s day, reiterates the fact that violence against woman continues unabated even today.
The community living culture has set off many new social issues and challenges in the Kerala society. Relationships have lost their relevance and reverence as people preferred to recoil into their private domain. Though people live close to each other than before, the distance between them has only increased manifold. Often people who stay next to each other do not know each other and don’t bother to help in times of distress. Many accident victims lose their precious lives on Kerala highways for want of timely medical help as people who like to be curious onlookers shirk away from the responsibility of taking them to the hospital probably because of the legal hassles involved.
It is paradoxical that Kerala, which takes pride in a high literacy rates has undergone an erosion of social values and culture as its populace indulge in the mad chase of money and power. If knowledge does little in fostering empathy and love for fellow human beings, it is high time that we reconsider our priorities and practices!
Kerala, one of the best two states to be born in- Health ministry
Published March 13, 2012 | 
The latest Union health ministry data puts Kerala and Goa to be the best places to be born in India. While Goa recorded the lowest infant mortality rate of 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, Kerala was at a close second position with 13 infant deaths per 1000 live births. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha fared the worst in the list.
These brilliant statistics prove that Kerala is indeed living up to its name, God’s own country’ atleast in some areas though alcoholism and sex and drug abuse continues to be the biggest threats for Kerala.
Cricket lovers cheer for the Kerala Premium League
Published March 9, 2012 | 
It is cricket all the way !After the Indian Premium League and the Celebrity Cricket League, it is the turn of Kerala Premium League (KPL) to cater to the die hard cricket fans. Based in Dubai , KPL too has its fair share of glitter of the tinsel world. The presence of celebrities like movie icons Suresh Gopi and Bhama and cricketer Sreesanth who will be the brand ambassadors and team directors of the new league will pack a style factor to the tournament.
Dubai has a huge population of cricket lovers and even Ranji Trophy players who are scattered in different parts of the country and KPL will bring these players together. The team will comprise of three to four players representing each of the 14 districts apart from international players including Afghans, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans among others.
KPL, which was inaugurated by forest minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar in Dubai has the approval of the Dubai Cricket Council. Initially, it is planned to hold at least one match every month. The first edition of the tournament will have eight teams, which might also include the team members of Kerala Strikers. So, the cricket crazy people of Kerala can look forward to see some of their favorite movie and sports stars on their tele screens in the days to come!
World’s first integrated solar power tile launched in Kerala
Published March 6, 2012 | 
Kerala has become the launch pad of the world’s first integrated solar power storage tile, made using super capacitor. An innovative team of Amrita Centre for Nanosciences is behind this path breaking invention that is likely to hit the market in a couple of years. Named ‘Amrita Smart‘, this product was launched a fortnight ago at the International Conference, NANOSOLAR 2012, organised by the Amrita Centre for Nanosciences at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi.
The product developed by a team of 40 researchers headed by Shanti Nair and Vinod Gopal, is a combo of a solar cell and a battery that can be used to power devices even at night. Amrita smart uses special electronic techniques to integrate the solar cell with the storage device. It can be used to charge mobile phone or lap tops without depending on the expensive battery systems. When exposed to sunlight for just 4 hours, this device will be able to store power for over a week.
Weighing only 200 gms, this handy device will be a convenient option in places reeling under power cuts and for those who travel a lot. The development of the solar storage tile is feted as a milestone in nano solar aided research and in the field of renewable energy sector.