Archive for November 18, 2009

Entertaining is tiring…

November 18, 2009 | Author sholto

Lola Exhausted

Lola (a pug) is officially our chief entertainment officer. She certainly does no work but mobs around the office saying hello to each and everybody and exploring under every desk. When a comfortable chair becomes available she takes the opportunity to undertake some desk time, except in her case she droops her eyes, rests her head and falls fast asleep.

Posted in Office, Work | Tags: | View Comments

The best of Minicoy, now showing in Kochi!

November 18, 2009 | Author riteratlarge

View of Minicoy from the skies

Step into David Hall at Fort Kochi this week and you are likely to be transported into a distant world, viz., the Minicoy Islands, the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India’s smallest Union Territory.

For, on show is the ‘Minicoy Festival,’ being organised by the Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society (CARESS)-a Chennai-based NGO, Maliku Development Society, Minicoy, Maliku Hikimas Producers’ Society, Minicoy and the CGH Earth Group of Hotels, as part of the ongoing conservation Enterprise and Livelihoods programme in Minicoy.

Visitors can get to experience Minicoy culture, cuisine, handicrafts, games as well as a variety of fish and coconut-based products. One of the major attractions of this event is the chance to sample the unique cuisine of Minicoy to your fill. Prepared in the traditional manner by the Minicoyans, these delicacies range from appetisers to a sumptuous meal.

For those keen on handicrafts, there is much in store – miniature jahaadhonis (snakeboats used to tow sailing boats) as well as dathuru odis (sea vessels that once linked Minicoy and Kannur as well as GalleGalle and Rangoon) – are on display for sale.

All in all, a must-see for die-hard foodies and culture vultures, who happen to be in Kochi at the moment.

More about Lakshadweep Islands here

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | View Comments

Rowing all the way to Olympics!

November 18, 2009 | Author tessajk

On your mark, get set, GO!!!

Snake Boat race lovers who flock to “The Land of Snake Boats” just to be a part of the boat race fervor are in for some good news. You can keep your eyes open and lookout for the 2012 London Olympics. For people who have not yet had the blessed opportunity to see the wonderful sight of a snake-boat being manned by 100-125 oarsmen, who along with four helmsmen, paddle in unison to the swift cadence of ‘vanchipattu’ (song of boatmen) sung by 25 singers (who never illustrate a slight dwindle in their enthusiasm all throughout the race) – this is the time to get lucky! The Snake boat race may make an international debut at the forthcoming Olympics.

Unlike most of the Olympic events (individual competitions), here is a sport which epitomizes integration, harmony and team spirit. If everything falls in line with the plan chalked out by Keraleeyam (a non-government organization with headquarters in the State’s capital), the boat race is expected to be held on the River Thames. The NGO has charted out a plan to exhibit five leading ‘chundans’ or snake-boats on the Thames as a part of the inaugural ceremony functions. Mr. Keith Vaz, Member, British House of Commons has guaranteed all support for conducting the event in London.

We love it too!!!

Keraleeyam is leaving no stone unturned in making the event popular and has also decided to demonstrate a snake-boat race as part of the Cambridge-Oxford University water sports festival to be held in 2010.

So far, snake boat races have remained confined to the Kerala backwaters and are a matchless attraction. Keralaites love these boat races and even movies which revolve around them have turned out to be blockbusters.

Wait till you get to see them and you will understand why this sport is the Malayali’s favorite!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | View Comments
Live Chat With Us
Karmakerala on Facebook
What I'm Doing...

Posting tweet...