Hot …hotter…hottest!!
Published March 15, 2010 | 
This blog is not about the sizzling ramp shows and glamour girls of Hollywood as the title might imply;).It is about the scorching summers and soaring mercury at Kerala, which is somewhat uncharacteristic to this region. Sun burn and sun stroke has become the order the day with more people reporting sun burn related incidents by the day. At 42 degree, Palakkad has been the hottest of the lot and the city administration has revised working hours for daily wagers who will be toiling out in the open, to reduce the risks of exposure. People are trying to cope up with this phenomenon by keeping themselves well hydrated and keeping off the open spaces between 1-3 PM when the sun rays fall vertically on the ground. Apart from eating fresh fruits and drinking lots of water, people are advised to wear hats and goggles to protect the sensitive parts of the body.
As they say, in every crisis there is cash and traders have come up with novel ideas to beat the heat. Umbrella makers who have been sending lots of white umbrella exclusively to the gulf to beat the desert heat has found a thriving market at their door step. There are many takers for these albino versions of their black cousins, which have been reigning this state for eons of years. Made from specially made imported cloth, these umbrellas can shield you from the harmful rays of the sun and the blistering heat around. The wayside vendors too have set up stalls selling watermelon, lemonade, buttermilk, sugar cane juice and more and are doing brisk business.
With the summer showers still keeping off the scene, the situation continues to be alarming. The power situation is bleak and a power cut is the last thing that Keralites would like to happen at this juncture. Till the monsoon breaks loose at June, which is still two full months away, we are all destined to sweat and fret at the scorching heat outside. The irony is that , every time you switch on your air conditioner, you are only adding up to the global warming, which will further push up the earth temperature. So, try to put a stop somewhere so that there is a way out from this vicious circle. Let there be more trees on the avenues, more cycles on the road and let us try to reduce, recycle and use the natural resources sensibly- that is the only way to ensure a better tomorrow for all living beings!
Kovalam wakes up to the call of Responsible Tourism
Published May 16, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: The fabled beach resort of Kovalam is all set to join the celebrity bandwagon of a few elite destinations in Kerala that have already introduced Responsible Tourism. Kumarakom was the pioneer in taking up this ground breaking decision followed by Thekkady and Wayanad, which have already launched this system on a trial basis.
The committee set up is trying to develop the all important link between the tourism industry and local entrepreneurship. A survey was conducted to monitor the consumption patterns of over 100 hotels that are located near the beach resort and a part of their requirements will be sourced from the local community. Home grown products such as vegetables and diary products shall be delivered to the hotels and Kudumbasree units would be playing a larger than life role in this initiative.
An agreement has already been inked to supply the local farm produce to some of the hotels in Kovalam to meet their needs. Apart from these, self help groups would also supply eco-friendly baskets and paper bags, thereby reducing the distressing impacts on the environment and social set up. It is aimed at improving the living standards of the host communities.
It also focuses on improving working conditions apart from involving the local populace in the decision-making process that affects their lives. The best part is that this initiative would involve the local community including the tour operators and nearby educational institutions in the promotion of eco friendly tourism.