Luxury cruise to be back in Kerala tourism circuits
Published July 7, 2011 | 
AMET group is picking up the cruise options from where Louis Cruise had left due to high berth charges! The AMET group has already started arrangements to operate the cruise by the first week of October , if everything goes on as planned .
AMET group CEO, P Bharathi held discussions with the officials of the Cochin Port Trust in this regard, a few weeks back. The final decision on berth charges and other related matter will be taken at the next board meeting of the Cochin port trust.
AMET is planning to start a cruise service from Kochi to Maldives ( 4 nights), Kochi -Lakshadeep ( 2 nights)and high sea cruise during nights. If there is one trip to Maldives and three high sea trips one week , in the next week it will be two trips to Lakshadeep and three high sea trips, which will be on a rotation basis. High sea trips will be conducted every week as it is the most attractive package and a handy get away for a day for the busy city folks.
The cruise liner will operate for 5-6 months a year and will make a minimum of 100 calls to the Kochi berth. At present there are over 50-60cruises calling at the Cochin port and once AMET starts its operations, it will go up to more than 150 a year. With the resumption of this service, cruise tourism is likely to gain more popularity and is expected to bring in huge revenue. State of the art facilities may be introduced at the berths to woo international tourists.
It may be recalled that when Louis cruise introduced their services nearly 2,50,000 people enjoyed the cruise in a matter of just 6 weeks, out of which more than half of the tourists were from states outside Kerala. The count down has already started. So, be ready to explore the high seas and the fun of a luxury cruise right here in Kochi in the days ahead.
An apple that turned bad for investors
Published June 22, 2011 | 
How a real estate firm- Apple a day properties took the investors for a ride!
In what could be termed as one of the biggest real estate frauds in the state of Kerala , a Kochi based company ‘Apple-A-Day Properties’ reportedly swindled a staggering amount of 100 crore from buyers which included 125 Indian expatriates in the Middle East. The customers were lured into their trap by smart advertisement campaigns and roadshows in various cities like Bangalore. Many IT professionals bit the bait of the smart city trump card of Kochi and the emergence of this city as an IT hub. Though the fraudulent company floated several projects like bigapple, apple nano, apple.com, apple suite and many more, none of these were completed even after many years.
Many customers invested huge amounts ranging from 50 lakhs to over 1 crore in each project though none of these took off. It is shocking to note that many of the investors had been paying EMI of Rs 10,000 to Rs 24,000 for the last three years for the flat which they had booked to pay off the home loans that they have taken.
The company offered villas and apartments in the heart of the city at attractive rates and it banked upon the goodwill it created through a couple of completed projects to attract buyers. Though the investors became apprehensive after it missed many deadlines for its 11 new projects, formal complaints were lodged only as recently as a few weeks back, which again raises a different set of questions .
The firm’s Director and Managing Director went underground after withdrawing money from all their accounts after the company allegedly went bust a few weeks ago. They allegedly used the money to lead a lavish life style and the police has confiscated around 20 luxury cars of theirs. After giving a slip for over a month, the promoters – Saju Kadavilan and Rajiv Kumar Cheruvara surrendered and the police is trying to tie up the loose ends of this real estate scam by taking them to the various project sites and ascertaining the fate of the money collected from the buyers.
So far around 250 FIRs have now been registered against the company and more owners are coming up with their complaints. The duped customers have also formed a buyers association to take up the case of the buyers who have invested their hard earned money to buy a home of their dreams. Police sources say ‘Apple-A-Day’ fraud is only a tip of the iceberg and that many real estate developers are under the scanner. Now that the government has promised tough action against fraudulent real estate companies, the victims are hopeful of a getting justice at the earliest.
Welcome to the largest floating book fair in the world
Published May 27, 2011 | 
Step on to one of the world’s largest touring and floating book fairs on board the ship MV Logos Hope, which will be berthed in Kochi till June 21. The public can visit the book fair at the North Coal berth in Willingdon Island. This interesting book shop has a rich collection of books on a range of topics and is spread across an area of 610 sq m.
This floating book shop will be open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 2 pm to 8 pm on Sunday and Monday. The entry fee is Rs 50. Admission is free for children under 16 years, however they must be accompanied by an adult. Another attraction of this book fair is an international coffee shop with a seating capacity of 800, where the visitors can meet the crew and watch interactive displays.
Operated by GBA Ships, a German charitable organisation, Logos Hope is the fourth in the fleet operated by the organisation. The ship has a work force belonging to over 45 countries apart from volunteers ranging from pensioners, families and even children who serve in their professional capacity.Now that the summer vacations for the school kids in Kerala are in their last leg, this floating book fair would be a great holiday idea for kids who might have run out of all the choices in the past two months:) Check it out!
Kerala to get comfort stations that live up to their names
Published April 26, 2011 | 
Anyone stepping into any public comfort station in the Kerala State Road Transport bus stations of Kerala will be taken aback by the pungent stink that emanate from the dilapidated comfort stations with broken slabs and leaking taps. Many a time these become not only ‘discomfort stations’ but also a nightmare for the passengers who are forced to make a stopover. The filthy state of affairs of public comfort stations have always invited the wrath of the public and the tourists.
At last, Kochi is all set to get the state of the art e- toilets in the next three months. The project envisaged by a team of officials led by Transport Minister Jose Thettayil will go a long way in enhancing the hygiene standards of the public comfort stations. The formalities for implementing the project have been completed and the work is expected to start in the next two months. e-toilets will be installed in a phased manner in Kollam, Thrissur and Palakkad KSRTC bus stations also. The installation and maintenance of the e-toilet system will be handled by a private firm based at Thiruvananthapuram with no financial burden on the KSRTC.
With the advent of this technology, Kerala too will join the league of the developed countries , where this concept is in use. When the user puts the coins, the doors of the e-toilet will open and after each use, the system cleans the toilet automatically. The best thing is that it will open for next use only after the machine automatically cleans the toilet. Now the public will be a relieved lot literally:) thanks to the state of the art toilet facility that is all set to become part of the life styles of Keralites.
Ladies only buses prove a big hit
Published April 5, 2011 | 
Kochi, being the business capital of Kerala accounts to a substantial population of working women . Travelling in the crowded city buses is a painful ordeal in itself for the thousands of women travelers especially those working in night shifts. Many a time the women passengers are harassed and bullied by men not only during night trips but also in broad day light. Not many people come forward in their defense and even if someone choose to, they wont find many supporters for their cause!
The gory incident where a lone woman passenger was raped after being pushed out from a moving train in Palakkad is the latest in the morbid state of affairs in Kerala as far as the safety of women passengers is concerned. To add more teeth to the self defense of women, a group of innovative techies employed in Technopark has made arrangements to distribute pepper spray among its women work force. While the ordinary women suffer in silence, it is heartening to note that some women gather courage to respond and react. There also has been a steep rise in women joining for self defense classes like Karate in institutions like the Andhra Cultural centre and Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium among many others!
Now, in a bid to ease their travel woes, KSRTC has now introduced ladies only buses, which have proved a huge hit. At present there are two buses exclusively for women, which operate on Kakkanad-Aroor route and Kaloor-Chottanikkara route respectively. Now the women passengers can travel without any worries and the best part is that they can bring their children too along with them. At present these buses conduct services during office hours in the morning and evening.
The women in Kochi seem to make the best use of the facility, considering the tremendous response it got. Finally a city ride sans the shameless glances and lewd comments of the men folk is on the cards for the women in Kochi!
Twestival 2011 Kochi
Published March 24, 2011 | 
Today, Kochi is playing host to Twestival 2011, the largest social media event in Kerala. It will be held at the Cochin Gymkhana near Toc-H school Vytila from 5.30 pm and around 150 tweeters are expected to participate in the event. Twestival is a global event that happens in over 175 cities all over the world simultaneously. Considering the fact that social media like twitter and Facebook has set off the sparks of revolution in Egypt and later in Libya and the Arab world, the reach and viral effect of social media is well illustrated all around the world.
The power of social media will be highlighted in the festival, which is held for a charity cause every year. Twestival 2011, Kochi has already collected Rs. 50,000 through its online campaign alone and the proceeds will go to Adarsh charitable Trust, which strives for the rehabilitation of differently- abled children. Twitter is a powerful communicative tool and a public forum for causes and a brilliant opportunity to meet like minded people and to enhance your social and friends circle.
With the ever increasing number of Indians who use twitter to exchange ideas and communicate, the importance of festivals like Twestival is on the rise. Instead of a mere tool for micro blogging, twitter has evolved to be a perfect platform for responsible social messages and causes. The main attraction of today’s event is the music shows by the bands KAAV and Frozen Flames in addition to fun events and games. So make sure that your opinion is heard all over the world by the active participation in this unique festival in Kochi, which is a great place to see people and to be seen!
The unseen nightlife of Kochi
Published March 22, 2011 | 
No matter whether you are here in Kochi on a weekend or any other day , the startling silence after dusk, will surely turn you off. Though Kochi is an IT hub and home to many prestigious business establishments including the international container terminal, the fact is that Kochi still prefers to sleep early, even on weekends! Save for the buzzing transport bus stand and a handful of shops in its vicinity, the city will be fully cloaked in silence at night.
However, there is an unseen nightlife facade for this city, which most of us may not be even aware of! So, before you tag this city of Kochi as dull and mundane, just hop into a lounge bar on a weekend to get smitten by the high voltage party milieu. The young and the trendy crowd grooving to racy mixes and plunging into a whirlpool of fun and fiesta would make you feel that you are in a bustling metropolis.
Come weekends and these night owls throng a few city lounge bars with passion and fervour. They waltz well into the wee hours and soak up the party fun at its best, topped off with fast music and the choicest cocktails. The lounge bar of Dream Hotel, the Ava Lounge is one such hot night spot. Flaunting a loyal clientele that drop in to make the most of the peppy DJ music and its glitzy ambiance, Ava remains open from 4 pm, though the music starts only at 10 pm. The eves in the city can have the fun of an exclusive ladies night on Thursdays. It caters to a mixed crowd of all possible types of party animals though a major chunk of its clientele is made up of business people and the deep pocketed NRIs.
So, if you want to let your hair down and to have some great fun to the accompaniment of waltz, wine and music, then hit the roads that lead to these party hubs. Though Kochi is still in its nascent stage as far as its nightlife is concerned, this city would outsmart many other bigger metros like Bangalore or Delhi for being safe for women who wish to party alone. So, it is party time for all those in the XX genre; grab your dancing shoes and hit the tiles tonight! Kochi is calling you!
Are Traffic rules made to be broken for Kochi drivers?
Published February 22, 2011 | 
Kerala drivers especially those in Kochi are infamous for their over use of blaring horns, jumping traffic signals and breaking the road rules. Recently the Kerala Transport Minister Jose Thettayil had appealed to the motorists to make a quality change in their driving etiquette and road rules to be at par with the rest of the world. The newspaper report of the minister’s speech created lot of interest among drivers in Kochi that one among them decided to give it a try by mending his ways and practicing good driving.
When the day’s service began, he decided to stick to his slow and steady principle. A rival bus driver, smirked at him and sped past him with no real challenge coming from the reformist who preferred to keep his speed limit. The conductor who was surprised and annoyed at the unexpected turn of events and the apparent drop in adrenalin of the driver yelled at him and tried to pep him up. “ Come on ,ram the pedal and beat them all” But in his new avatar, what the driver did was just to shook his head and drove the bus within the permissible speed limits. This irked not only the conductor but also the passengers in the bus, who are well accustomed to rash and thrilling city rides.
However, after a couple of hours, the irresistible urge to break free reigned over the hapless Kochi driver, who is conditioned only for speed drives. Habits do die hard and the effect of restrained driving was clearly showing up. Suddenly he stopped the bus and jumped out; dismayed by his erratic behavior he was taken to a hospital nearby . The doctor said that he is perfectly fine except the fact that he in extreme mental duress and when the doctor found out the reason he opined that sticking to his normal driving pattern would be the best possible option.
The driver was relieved that he got a clue of what was bogging him down and as soon as hit his seat, he rammed the pedal at full blast and set out on his habitual rash and heart racing drive. The driver was happy and relaxed so were most of the passengers who are addicted to super speed rides. As he wound up his duty hours he muttered “ these reforms are not for us in Kochi …Good bye minister 
and walked off with a naughty smile!
Kochi goes global as International Container Transshipment Terminal is inaugurated
Published February 11, 2011 | 
Kochi has been placed in the elite league of maritime trading nations with the opening of the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, which was dedicated to the nation today. OEL Dubai became the first cargo vessel to enter the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) to ink a new chapter in the global maritime trade.The total cost of the first and second phase of the terminal is expected to be around Rs 6,250 crore.
Kochiites are truly delighted at the completion of the first phase of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), after a long wait. It will bring in lot of employment opportunities to this city and will mark an increase in the exports and imports from the Port. Touted as one of the most modern ports, Kochi will be a preferred choice for traders all over the world for its quick cargo handling facilities. The commissioning of the transshipment terminal will also bring in an impetus for many industries such as tea, rubber and cash crops of Kerala About 1,100 container lorries are expected to pass through Kochi for ferrying cargo and it will result in a flurry of activities in all sectors of economy .
Kochi will emerge as one of the most favoured destinations in the world with this feat. The hospitality industry across the state will be hugely benefited as the demand for hotels and boarding facility will increase manifold with a large number of people from all over the world frequenting the city. The logistic sector also is expected to make an exponential growth and will throw open more employment opportunities as cargo handling will require huge manpower. The project, which will be operated by Dubai Port World (DPW),would make Kochi a key player in the maritime industry and would reduce India’s dependence on foreign ports for its trans-shipment requirements.
To catch up with the immense opportunities that ICTT would bring to this city, Kochi will have to work against the clock to ensure good roads and supporting infrastructure to ensure the benefits that this terminal will bestow. Kochi indeed has done us all proud by going global!
Air India Express plans to change its base to Kerala
Published January 21, 2011 | 
New Year has brought cheer to the tourism industry in Kerala with the announcement of the plan to shift the head quarters of Air India Charters Ltd (AICL), which operates flights under the brand name of Air India Express.
By shifting its base to Kerala, this low-cost arm of national carrier Air India that operates most of its services to the Gulf and South-East Asia would ensure better connectivity. It would also be of great service to the tourists and scores of Keralites who work in these regions.
A press release from the airline said that, during the meeting of the Board of AICL on October 8 it was decided to shift all of Air India Express’s operational and administrative functions to Kochi whereas the engineering functions of AICL would be at Thiruvananthapuram. At present, this domestic carrier connects 16 Indian cities to 14 international destinations and operates a fleet of 21 Boeing 737-800 aircraft.