By June 1st week the schools in kerala open but our schools in M.P.would open only by July 3rd week.That gives us chance to attend Malayalam medium school for almost 7 weeks with our relatives.The Lower primary school is only till4th standard.Right from the Principal to the peon everyone is a relative or Known to the family unlike the city where we were studying.
Morning 9 a.m. it is assembly time which ends with national anthem.Later every teacher who comes to class would pray for 2 minutes before starting their topic.
Lunch hour is one hour and we all run to our homes have our food and run back to start the afternoon session.By 3 p.m. the school is off.We go back home slowly enjoying the rain,the waterfalls and the greenery.Those days Vacations were an experience which was practically enjoyed in a slow pace.
Now a days more people would prefer package tours to destinations in foreign country and the schedule is so tight that they don't realise what they are seeing until they come back and go thru their digital photographs.Hardly we try to understand the culture and beauty of the country we visit.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Enjoying
Once in kerala there is nothing much to do hence the best way to while away time would be to work with workers on field.Iwould take the smallest spade available and try to do some physical work with the workers.However the elders would not allow us to do work once the sun is too hot.
Back home there is not much to do except listen to radio as Telvision was not available in India on those days.All India Radio Alleppy was the most used station and depending on weather we might also get Radio Trivandrum and Radio Trichur.They all have set timetable for programs and most of the day it will poetry or classical music which was of not much intrest to us children.So we would play with calf and small goat and then after lunch it is time to rest and later all go to the river for a good bath.Days seems to be so relaxed as compared to busy life in a city.
Once in a week we had market were everybody comes with there products.Vegetables,Chicken,eggs,jackfruit,Coconut plant etc; are for sale.I too wanted to sell something in the market so my grandfather allowed me to carry 20 numbers of eggs.Luckily in 2hrs I could sell all the eggs then I and my helper purchased things as per our list and came back home.The market was 4 Kms.from home and walking was the only means of travel!
Back home there is not much to do except listen to radio as Telvision was not available in India on those days.All India Radio Alleppy was the most used station and depending on weather we might also get Radio Trivandrum and Radio Trichur.They all have set timetable for programs and most of the day it will poetry or classical music which was of not much intrest to us children.So we would play with calf and small goat and then after lunch it is time to rest and later all go to the river for a good bath.Days seems to be so relaxed as compared to busy life in a city.
Once in a week we had market were everybody comes with there products.Vegetables,Chicken,eggs,jackfruit,Coconut plant etc; are for sale.I too wanted to sell something in the market so my grandfather allowed me to carry 20 numbers of eggs.Luckily in 2hrs I could sell all the eggs then I and my helper purchased things as per our list and came back home.The market was 4 Kms.from home and walking was the only means of travel!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Enchanting Kerala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKsVnOgCSdE&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYuajt0Vww&feature=related
Once we reach home first and foremost thing to do will be to get rid of all the dirt that is accumulated all over body thanks to 4 days of journey.We go to a river near our house which has a very clean water.Head is washed with Shikakai soap as Shampoo was unheard of those days.
The cold water of river is very refreshing.
Later we have traditional Kerala food.Vacation in Kerala is full of enjoyment.Taking the Calf to feed on the ground as we are afraid of big Cows gave a proud feeling of a farmer.Also Goats,Hens,Dogs and Cats were all over.Climbing on a Cashew Nut tree was very enjoyable as those tree grew very low and was very strong.
Going to Local cinema was another thrill.The Theater was Hatched with palm leaves and inside you find steel chairs and wooden benches.People use to smoke beedi inside but as the place is hatched there is no congestion.During intervel people would drink marble soda.ie.soda bottle has a round marble inside and it is pushed down and soda is served.
The leading actors in those days were Satyan,Madhu,PremNazir and actress's were Sheela,Sharda and jayaBharathi.It was compulsory to bring in some comedy into the Film though it may not have any relation to the storyline.So Compulsorily Adoor Bhasi,Bhahadur and Sankradi or Kuthiravattom Pappu came in between and as a kid we had great laugh.Also villians were a compulsory feature and Ummer was almost a permanent Villian.Songs were of of various Lyrist but Vayalar Rama Varma is quite a distinction.Yesudas or jayachandran were permenent Male voice while P.Susheela,S.Janaki ,P.Madhuri were Female sounds.Television was not available on those days hence Radio made a regular companion to each and everyone in India.Radio Ceylon was a favourite station as it gave Latest Songs in that era.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYuajt0Vww&feature=related
Once we reach home first and foremost thing to do will be to get rid of all the dirt that is accumulated all over body thanks to 4 days of journey.We go to a river near our house which has a very clean water.Head is washed with Shikakai soap as Shampoo was unheard of those days.
The cold water of river is very refreshing.
Later we have traditional Kerala food.Vacation in Kerala is full of enjoyment.Taking the Calf to feed on the ground as we are afraid of big Cows gave a proud feeling of a farmer.Also Goats,Hens,Dogs and Cats were all over.Climbing on a Cashew Nut tree was very enjoyable as those tree grew very low and was very strong.
Going to Local cinema was another thrill.The Theater was Hatched with palm leaves and inside you find steel chairs and wooden benches.People use to smoke beedi inside but as the place is hatched there is no congestion.During intervel people would drink marble soda.ie.soda bottle has a round marble inside and it is pushed down and soda is served.
The leading actors in those days were Satyan,Madhu,PremNazir and actress's were Sheela,Sharda and jayaBharathi.It was compulsory to bring in some comedy into the Film though it may not have any relation to the storyline.So Compulsorily Adoor Bhasi,Bhahadur and Sankradi or Kuthiravattom Pappu came in between and as a kid we had great laugh.Also villians were a compulsory feature and Ummer was almost a permanent Villian.Songs were of of various Lyrist but Vayalar Rama Varma is quite a distinction.Yesudas or jayachandran were permenent Male voice while P.Susheela,S.Janaki ,P.Madhuri were Female sounds.Television was not available on those days hence Radio made a regular companion to each and everyone in India.Radio Ceylon was a favourite station as it gave Latest Songs in that era.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Train Journey
Travelling on a train those days were very hectic but enjoyable and adventurous.Those days the trains were running on steam engine.All over it is black smoke and many a times small pieces of coal usually got into your eyes.
For us to reach our destination Thiruvalla first we take a train and get down at Voltaire in AP or Nagpur in Maharashtra.From there after waiting for 4hrs.another train comes from Calcutta for Madras.That would take whole day and night,Next day morning we reach Madras.However the next train for Cochin will be only at 7.00 pm.So we have 12 hrs.We get into a Lodge near Railway Station.First thing to do is take a bath and whole lot of black steam is cleared from our body and is quite refreshing.Then famous Idly vada breakfast and filter coffee is taken and immediately we hit the bed.By 1.30pm we are asked to get for lunch and famous south Indian vegetarian meals is served.I really cherish the south Indian meals available at Madras those days.Next is a trip to famous Moore market.Bargaining is the biggest lesson you learn from that Market.I usually buy some fancy items beside books which was surprisingly very lowly priced with lot of choices.Even now when I visit Chennai I long for the Moore market but it got demolished and is replaced by railways booking office.One thing that we find in India is we do not value anything old.Rather than preserving it as a Monument it had been razed.In modern Bangalore too the same trend is followed.I hope better sense would prevail with the authorities and would preserve the antics.
So after shopping at Moore market we reach our lodge pack up everything.by 6.00pm one more vegetarian dinner the famous Chapati and veg.Kuruma along with salad.Then off to station.By 6.30 the train Cochin Express is ready and we go into the reserved coach.The Train is very neat and clean as compared other trains which we travelled till now.Next day morning we reach Ernakulum Junction.Further we rush into Quilon Passenger train and it travels at a snail pace and by 11am we reach Thiruvalla.Further we reach home by Taxi as Autoriksha was not Known those days.
For us to reach our destination Thiruvalla first we take a train and get down at Voltaire in AP or Nagpur in Maharashtra.From there after waiting for 4hrs.another train comes from Calcutta for Madras.That would take whole day and night,Next day morning we reach Madras.However the next train for Cochin will be only at 7.00 pm.So we have 12 hrs.We get into a Lodge near Railway Station.First thing to do is take a bath and whole lot of black steam is cleared from our body and is quite refreshing.Then famous Idly vada breakfast and filter coffee is taken and immediately we hit the bed.By 1.30pm we are asked to get for lunch and famous south Indian vegetarian meals is served.I really cherish the south Indian meals available at Madras those days.Next is a trip to famous Moore market.Bargaining is the biggest lesson you learn from that Market.I usually buy some fancy items beside books which was surprisingly very lowly priced with lot of choices.Even now when I visit Chennai I long for the Moore market but it got demolished and is replaced by railways booking office.One thing that we find in India is we do not value anything old.Rather than preserving it as a Monument it had been razed.In modern Bangalore too the same trend is followed.I hope better sense would prevail with the authorities and would preserve the antics.
So after shopping at Moore market we reach our lodge pack up everything.by 6.00pm one more vegetarian dinner the famous Chapati and veg.Kuruma along with salad.Then off to station.By 6.30 the train Cochin Express is ready and we go into the reserved coach.The Train is very neat and clean as compared other trains which we travelled till now.Next day morning we reach Ernakulum Junction.Further we rush into Quilon Passenger train and it travels at a snail pace and by 11am we reach Thiruvalla.Further we reach home by Taxi as Autoriksha was not Known those days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Hnphg6bFo&feature=related
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)