Paradise of Kerala- Kumarakom

The Journey was well planned in advance and we started around 3PM from our Uncles home -Alappuzha(Aleppey).May is the peak summer season in Kerala but luckily  the seasonal cycle reversed for these two days. Thanks to the summer monsoon for showering & whipping up the romance .We shared one umbrella holding hands; looked at the rain drops and walked together towards the car. “Romantic Isn't it? “Cinema has spoiled us  .But that was a great Lovey-Dovey moment together to be cherished !!!!

The roads of Allepey were looking beautiful & we were almost nearing Kumarakom. And we reached an amazingly beautiful; lush green; serene place. The resort was located  amidst the greenery & has its unique ambience with the grace of nature’s natural colour.This Was the perfect vacation that I was longing to have ((away from the Polluted city life and hectic work schedules))...combination of Sounds of nature & Sounds of silence Yes I wanted this break badly.

We reached the” Royal Riveria “around 4.45PM.We freshened up had a cup of coffee & started exploring the new place. The dusk-dawn time started and orange light of sun never failed to delight...Those were the sunsets for life time!!!!

View Royal Riveria  http://www.royalrivierakumarakom.com/

Sunset

We walked through the narrow roads of kumarakom to explore more taking clicks on the way. 

This was an opportunity to understand about the life of local people living there. The economic & domestic activities for supporting livelihood are agriculture, fishing and tourism.

 The interior village of kumarakom doesn’t have public transport they rows the canoe very easily for their local commute. The slangs of the people were very different compared with other parts of Kerala. By then It was around 7.00pm we decided to spend time in the resort. The resort had a big swimming pool; a hammock to the other end; the waterfowl species (ducks) were given a separate habitat. I also enjoyed feeding them the seeds, grains which was kept in a nearby big bowl. We were too tired to go out for the dinner hence adjusted with the complementary cake provided by them.

Habitat for ducks !!!!

Our amazing next day started with the complimentary Breakfast -Tasty Ghee roast dosa;sambar and chutney ((we opted it)).we headed towards our next destination at 9 am to "House boat" & we were mesmerized to see the beauty of Kumarakom.
"Set amidst coconut grooves; enchanting backwaters of vembanad lake -she is the Jewel of central Kerala."

Back waters of vembanad lake 

We entered our house boat ((the word “our” with  prideJ)) for one day. A Perfect - warm welcome by the captain & his assistant with two glasses of tasty lime juice in the hot climate. A not very big House boat with a small Living room; small Dining; Bedroom-Perfect for a couple.



Boat was navigating in and around the Vembanad lake. In between we had  our sumptuous & filling lunch with starter"Kappa -Fish Curry " and the famous "Pearl spot fish fry " alias "Karimeen" as well as the  evening snack the tasty “Banana Fritters”  .

Kappa-Fish Curry

Yummy & Delicious lunch :-)

We were almost nearing the shore and  took a snap with our captain & assistant who were the caretakers of our entire trip.Thanks to them for making our journey so memorable and returned back to the hotel heading towards our next destination .
A worth remembering trip treasured for ever with lots of food, fun-Quality time breaking the usual routine and especially the work

South India's Bangle Khazana

Finally after the hectic work schedule me & my colleague got a free weekend & decided to hit the most fascinating destination of ladies in Chennai.Yes the famous Sow carpet (Sahukar Pet) also known asMini Rajasthan of Chennai- Land of Marwadi businessman/Merchants. 

Sowcarpet is located in Parrys,near southern Chennai central railway station is the best place for whole sale market textile,especially the fashion jewelry and street foods.Definitely I would suggest shopping freak girls to spend an evening there.You will get everything under one place 

The city is very crowded with narrow lanes where you can't ever imagine about taking cars.so there was no other option than to walk.Hence we made ourselves comfortable - carried a Big water bottle to beat the heat;scarves covering face and sunglasses to protect ourselves:-)

Streets of sowcarpet

Well for people who believes that North India have a bigger market for bangles you are mistaken we too have in south India.Hence we decided to land MINT STREET where one can find an array of garments and accessory stores.we were astonished to see the bangle stores that is spread across the entire street.There will be hardly anyone who has come empty handed from sowcarpet  

Bangles varied from-Gold,silver,copper glass,metals and various other alluring stones.

So I decided to spend few bucks for my 2 dozen beautiful stoned bangles.Its been more than a year now without any damage.what say about this "Kangan"???Well I loved it.Worth the amount spent and adding dozens to my collection :-).

Love these choodis:-)

After that we decided to head towards the saree shops.My friend is a common visitor in sowcarpet so she took me to one of the best and reasonable shops in ALMUDAI STREET.Since i Know hindi It was easy for me to get a clear cut bargain :-).Hence I got a very good saree for the best price

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We were pretty much tired after our shopping and hence decided to take some rest and fill our stomach.we couldn't resist our hunger hence decided to get into a small hotel we saw on our way -"Aggarwal Bhojnalya". We relished the food we ordered-okhra,paneer and roti-a perfect menu.

Then we walked along the street for another one and a half  hours and decided to have some sweet paan,Jalebi and sandwiches (which we parceled )for our friends.By then it was around 6.00pm and we decided to put a full stop to our outing with complete sense of happiness and satisfaction hoping to come back again.

Vanishing relations

Eternal; Selfless -when all these "used to" be the definition of Love because now exists an Amazing FundaJin new generation “Love breakup and zindagi".Well I am quite confused with this new generation theory.Sometimes I really wonder am I real a fit into this so called new generation?The blood relations Mother-Daughter; Sister-Brother;Son-Father;Boy Friend-Girl friend;Husband-Wife  has started vanishing.Full stop to the relations treasured for years !!!!!

It’s really ridiculous to see how people change with time and they starts to bury the relationship which they called it love long back. We can make someone easily feel worthless at the same time we can’t take the risk of breaking our hearts as well. Too many breaks ups.Funny isn't it??Human changes from time to time and say they are moving away ….Just Wondering do “True Selfless Love” really exist??or is it Merely "Love for convenience"??

We get busy in too many things in our life and simply walk away from the relationship which we had, hoping never to see them in life… again."And  WELCOME to the reality where Life is a race&  man is ultimately turning into a machine JJ".

Years later we come across many people whom we never wanted to meet in life. A point in life where you feel we have achieved everything and still can’t make eye contacts to them. Broken hearts again and Still finding answers,reasons to console your Inner consensus??So do we really need to lose them??Do we need to burden ourselves with relationship by breaking hearts??So let’s atleast make an effort reduce the backages towards the end of life.JJ

((courtesy-Google for pictures))

The beautiful lyrics of the song " I Dreamed a Dream"  seemed to be very perfect match when I was writing this. Beautiful Lyrics and wonderful performance by Anne Hathman!!!!What a wonderful movie & Powerful song...... touching and simply amazing.

                                                      
                                                       That’s when she Cried I Cried L L L

 There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung

No wine untasted

 But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed

Couldn't have described love in a better way..........