Andaman: Nature’s Sanctum

We were looking for a place to visit during this vacation, and immediately decided against most of the locations outside India, as the passport was on the way after renewal and could not be sure about it returning in time. Then we looked at the islands, and Maldives still continued to be on the list despite being an outside location, but was left out as it was too much of a busy place with celebrities roaming around and an Indian island would be preferred. Lakshadweep was not considered as it seemed to lack the infrastructure that Andaman and Nicobar Islands had. Port Blair seemed to be a place which seemed to have basically all kinds of people, a perfect blend of everything from the statistics, and we decided to go for the same. Such a diversity would make us more confident to make a visit as the language problem is immediately solved like the food complications.

The journey to Port Blair from Cochin was through Bangalore, and before landing at the airport, we could have a glimpse of the beautiful world which was to come. As it was a defence airport, photos could not be taken there. We start with Corbyn Cove Beach, which looks like a standard beach, and having a lot of water activities. Traveling to Havelock Island would bring the Elephant Beach known for the best water activities, Kala Pathar Beach known for the rock formations, Radha Nagar Beach known for its exotic looks and Govind Nagar Beach known for its serenity to the grand picture. Back to the Port Blair, we have the cellular jail with light and sound show, along with those shopping options. The variety in food was rather too good, and with such a diversity, there was so much to choose from, not just sea food, but dosa and biryani to idli and paratha or noodles.

Memories of an independence struggle received with respect in the cellular jail.

Some grand formations become parts of most of these beaches.

Waiting for the sunset at the right place with kulfi & continuing to do so.

Havelock has one harbour that looks like we should stay there for longer.

Nautika makes one fine vessel which makes us wish to travel more on the sea.

White sands and green water makes us feel like two beaches are same, but are not.

Munda Pahad Beach makes a point with the feeling of forest power.

Govind Nagar Beach shows that one tree that stands against the tides.

This reminds us that you do not need to go outside India for the perfect beach.

The clean water here is that miracle that we need to keep away from pollution.

The boats that need to take us far away, into a world of enchanting greenery.

Elephant Beach is where you see the best of coral reefs and more under water.

This is our YouTube video detailing the trip.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my One Plus mobile phone during my visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

TeNy

Three Mains: One Degree Course

As the students and parents look forward to the best options for higher studies, Rajagiri Viswajyothi College of Arts and Applied Sciences should be the name coming into one’s mind. This college located within a serene, rural area, becomes the perfect choice to pursue the best courses away from the busy world of concrete and pollution. The town of Vengoor where the college is located is situated around a very old church, Mar Kauma Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, and a large number of temples which also surround the area. The college is part of the Rajagiri Group of institutions run by CMI fathers, and is ten years old now, post the inception in 2014, a newer one among the CMI colleges, but a smart one. The power of the brand should come as no surprise for the people of Kerala with the name “Rajagiri” seen everywhere.

The location is the way to Paniyeli-Poru, one of the most beautiful locations to have a visit, with an ecotourism centre nearby. It could be reached by taking a left turn on the way to Kerala’s greatest hill station, Munnar. Located about seven kilometres from Kuruppampady, eleven kilometres from the nearest big town Perumbavoor and twenty one kilometres from the very next closest town, Kothamangalam and also twenty three kilometres from the towns both Angamaly and Muvattupuzha. The college might seem far away from the major towns, but it is actually not, and the efficient hostel facility makes sure that the things get better for students. At the same time, an opportunity to study in a green campus in the lap of nature is not to be missed, and the courses include BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main), BBA, BCA, BSc Psychology and B.Com (Model I and II Finance and Taxation/Model II Logistics Management).

The green campus of RVCAS remains a source of eternal joy. You walk through its beautiful premises & understand the bliss nature brings us like William Wordsworth would know.

But the course we would be talking about here is BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main), a rare course which has many benefits in this competitive world, where suitable multiple divergences become the key to success. This is very much a misunderstood course, as the three mains coming together would create a feeling that things would be complex, but it is not. The journey through this particular course is smooth, and it also provides a lot of options which others do not. The combination of three mains makes the course not only effective in its implementation, but also useful in going through more than one career option. The deviations that the course allows are much more than one would think it could. The media options can only make the choices better than ever.

As English is the dominant language of communication in journalism and media, the course successfully establishes a strong command of the language to open up opportunities for the students to shift to a global level at a later point of time. The papers like Conversational Skills and Interpersonal Skills focus on the same. There are also strong writing skills being developed through the course. Journalism requires clear, concise and engaging writing to effectively communicate the news, and the same gets focus on multiple journalism-based papers, not just with the fundamentals which are given focus in the first year, but by further focusing on Digital Writing, followed by Business Writing and Writing for Radio and Television, making the package even better with the course.

Creative Writing is another paper which opens a wide set of opportunities for those who are interested in venturing into a world of fiction as much as non-fiction or a mixture of both. With a boost of creativity, who knows one would not end up becoming a world famous blogger or vlogger, who make the impact which nation has never seen before. There is enough inspiration already available within the green campus that surrounds the building. There is a certain amount of versatility that can be associated here, as media and publishing hold hands with literature and communication, a rare sight which blends the intellectual and creative side to inspire students which different kinds of skills.

In the present world where media literacy is very important, the course helps the students to develop better critical thinking skills, enabling them to make a fine analysis of the media content critically, understand existing biases, and also interpret news stories accurately. In today’s digital era, there is a lot of information available, but much of it is not reliable or accurate – here, students also gain the ability to verify sources, and discern credible news from misinformation and fake news. The attempt at reporting with accuracy, fairness and objectivity against sensationalism by learning ethical guidelines leads the students in an ethical path. As the significance of media keeps increasing, so does the value of the course which has journalism with a major place in there. The focus on entertainment and advertising industry are also present, as the course makes the students ready for adventures in entertainment channel floors too.

From the media visit of a few BA English Triple Main students with teachers to Mazhavil Manorama during the shooting of Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri 2.

BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism (Triple Main) at Rajagiri Viswajyothi College is also that kind of a course which brings a lot of media exposure. The last media visits to Manorama News and Mazhavil Manorama proved to be magnificent experiences to the students who got an opportunity to expand their horizons of knowledge. The students are also encouraged to visit literary fests including the grand celebrations hosted by DC Books and Mathrubhumi in the beginning of the year. The visits to libraries and places of cultural importance also serve as significant journeys which enrich their learning experiences as well as leave them with memories to take forward to their next adventures. With an on-the-job training provided in the final year, the students can get opportunities in the media field with ease as an extension of their internship itself.

Visit the Website: http://rajagiriviswajyothi.org

The advance intimation for BA English Triple Main course can also be filled in here: https://rajagiriviswajyothi.org/advance-intimation/

In the preferred course drop-down list, choose BA English Literature, Communication and Journalism

Visit the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rajagiriperumbavoor

Visit the Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/rvcas.live/

Mail to: admissions@rajagiriviswajyothi.org

***The images used in this blog post have already been posted on the college social media pages.

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TeNy

Films Further Awaited

The earlier list of the most awaited films on my list seems incomplete, and therefore a few more are added here. There was always the scope for missing one or two movies in the middle because we never really calculate one year full of interesting films completely. We never have the complete update on the list of movies either, for we do not follow the cinema industry like full-time work. Therefore, our list keeps having more interesting movies to watch every now and then. When considering movies from other languages, the list might feel to be too much, and keeping the list as purely Hollywood would be a better choice. The following movies have kept me interested in this year too, and I would be glad to watch them in the theatres. After all, the 3D experiences have become even more rare after the corona virus pandemic and we do miss our superheroes and the fear factor of theatres’ dark shadows.

Madame Web
Related to the new Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Madame Web comes up with an interesting concept. This makes the film more interesting than any of the films featuring the new Spider-Man who feels too dumb in comparison with the previous versions. This movie might be the most interesting thing when we consider anything related to the new world of Spider-Man. The cast led by Dakota Johnson seems to be really good, and you know it when Sydney Sweeney is around. Isabela Merced is also there, and the world of spider-related people never gets any better. Then there is the psychological element which seems to be in play here. The action sequences seem to be really well done, and an expansion of the Spidey world was surely required, which was evident in the earlier movie’s addition of earlier versions.

Nosferatu
This is not really a name that happens to be a strange one for us. The 1922 German Expressionist film of the same name which was the unauthorized remake of Bram Stoker’s Dracula never ceased to be part of our literature text books which derived some energy from film studies. The addition of Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of Johnny Depp, seems to be an interesting appendage to the film. Then there are the names like Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe and Aaron Taylor-Johnson which seems to power the interest in movie even more. We have Count Orlok returning again after we saw the same person again in 1979. As far as this variation of Count Dracula is concerned, there can always be more to be added, with the newer technology and divergence related to vampires which keep coming with new works which never cease to amaze us.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
This is the kind of name that reminds us of games like Warcraft and a number of other adventures which had the cold associated with demons or other sinister creatures of darkness – most of them are not that changed with the new age of authors in comparison to vampires who became part of common life with some of the recent works. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was one interesting movie, and reminded us of what the whole franchise used to be. The evil forces from the past which comes to take over the land of the living never gets old. On one side, we have the usual kind of demons that have been losing their power to scare people, and on the other side, we have this combination of the supernatural and comedy that seems to work better these days. We hope for the best with this particular sequel too, as there is always the extra mile which can be travelled with relative ease when these two genres are compared with a certain amount of effectiveness.

Terrifier 3
The Terrifier series have managed to be terrifying enough for all with not just the supernatural elements and jump scares, as it had a lot of blood and gore to go with the same. It is the multi-dimensional slasher horror which combines more things than a usual flick of the genre. Art the Clown is the terrifying creature like no other, as he rips his victims apart with no remorse, with no additional elements getting added in between and without purpose – a bigger source of terror than Pennywise of It, considering the river of blood that this one leave behind. For the same, Lauren LaVera served as a legendary scream queen in the last version, and in that angelic costume, made the one true archangel who had no match. It does have the WWE wrestler Chris Jericho, one of those names from the trump card, and the person who made our childhood awesome; the 1990s kid wrestler who battled the big names in style and was even part of those computer games. We await this terrifier with open eyes.

Venom 3
There is something about Venom that keeps us going all the time. He is unlike Deadpool who makes the dumb jokes all the time and have us irritated on many occasions. Even though both are villains turned into semi-heroes rather than anti-heroes, we can only love Venom more because of the idea that lies beneath and Deadpool often making no sense to the intellectual and going completely brainless at times. Considering the current situation with a more childish Spider-Man, one can safely say that this sentient alien symbiote from space could lead the way, and the new generation of weakling Marvel characters can follow. In a new Marvel Cinematic Universe which is full of weakness and dumb characters who are forced into it, Venom is the one true man of heroic valour who can bring the balance. Otherwise, just like The Marvels and Thor: Love and Thunder, nobody around here is going to tolerate the new level of Marvel nonsense anymore, even though we have always loved those older classic flicks with Avenger power.

Alien: Romulus
We feel that there is something great about the Alien franchise all the time. Often, there is greatness written in each movie at some point which keeps us so much interested in possible sequels. Prometheus was one underrated film in this particular franchise with scenes that keep us pinned, with that kind of intensity which has not been seen in any movie featuring aliens in a long time – Alien: Covenant was pretty much a worthy sequel, even though it moved away from the earlier film a little bit more than we had wanted. With another movie coming up in the series, the hopes are sure to be higher than ever. The presence of Isabela Merced and Cailee Spaeny would seem to suggest that there is lot more to come in this universe which we have loved for so long. The director of the new Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe gets his hands on this one, which means that there will be more to this flick than just aliens wandering around to create the known terror carried over.

***The images used on this blog post are the posters of these movies taken from different sources, used to support the movies in this particular blog post only.

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TeNy

Why is Death Significant?

There are not many things more significant than death. The hands of death can be seen everywhere, and we just need to lose some optimism to see it more often. At nights, death maybe even more visible with a lovely charm combined with moon light and the presence of some nocturnal creatures not limited to bats and owls. Darkness seems to serve as a supporter of death quite well, and we see this end of life as something that should follow every human being with good skills. It serves as that wonderful reminder that we are all going to finish the journey. It might not be that good a choice for the richest among them all, as they wish to continue towards eternity with all those available riches. We saw that kind of a man in the Alien sequel named Prometheus, and when you get to be too rich, such feelings can be considered quite natural.

Nowadays, there could be so many celebrities who would wish to go on for eternity. Well, politicians, cricketers and film actors can have it easy, as far as living forever is concerned. They have their posters and flexes all around the towns and the money that they earn can help them to go in a Prometheus-like mission just like the big business people can. There is no limit to being rich in a world which has so much disparity, and even the most educated do not get the respect that they deserve – only money matters in the end. It feels that you do not need to think about others or have common social values when there is too much money is involved. Death has been a great leveler between the rich and the poor, and it has been a fine duty, served well. Serving as the grand equalizer, one can never question the usefulness of death at any moment of life’s struggle.

The sea and its rocks will take us all into its eternity.

Life and death have never been the opposites – there has been life in death and vice versa. There are so many signs of these on two different sides of human lives with all the mortality which can be seen around. We can be sure that Hades and his hound would agree without second thoughts. Finding death out of life has been the easier job, and it is also a much-needed finding with humans going on like virus on Earth. Death serves nature more than anything else. It has found time to eliminate a few and bring the balance. The fall of the grand empires is only one of the many results of the same determination to make sure that there is balance. No empire should be able to live forever, at least not in the form of huge dominions. The attempt to bring those empires back to life in the name of racism, fear and hatred is of no use, as some of the decisions are forever.

The world changes, and without embracing the same, there will be no progress for humans in a world which has seen extinction of life so many times. The past has already been taken away by death’s charming workers and little helpers, and there is not much be done against them who have served the ender of life well. For what human beings have become, death requires the appreciation for doing the job better and any other creature from another world beyond human comprehension. But with the further development of science, death has found the job rather more difficult, but there are those forces of science and technology which help death at times, and in the hands of the right evil human, it can do much more.

Why would not someone take an eternal leap of faith into nature?

Death has inspired so many people to jump of a cliff and have a beautiful view of the nature below them as they come down. Those moments of beauty with the charming view might be enough to embrace death for many nature lovers. One can be sure that the Lake Poets and some of the other Romantic poets would not mind – even the lovers of dark fantasy and the gothic might not. There is always scope for poetry in motion with death, and it need not always be an elegy with a pastoral touch. All kinds of poetry can make its way here. One also has to wonder what it would mean for such a lover of greenery to be put in a loop while jumping off a cliff – how many views would make things feel like heaven for such a person? How much of such visions for heart and soul would be enough in a terrible world of never-ending chaos?

Do we have time to stop for death? Well, it does stop for us as Emily Dickinson has said before, and it is an action of care that we see around here. Death could have allowed humans to live forever, but it would not be the right thing to do. The kindness that death has decided to show it to be appreciated in a world in which empathy is rather too less. In the world where death has its home built, things might still be different, and taking the humans to that world would do no favour to him. There are many other creatures that death would prefer to take there, but humans are the least suitable creatures that could be a part of that world. Too many humans in that would also lead to the dead coming back to life. After all, who can suffer the consequences of having these miserable creatures around? Well, no sane death with a scythe would want that.

If there is the chance to invite anyone from outside human world to our homes, it should be death, or Sir Death, as we should be calling the man. A grand feast would still be necessary, and we can trust the person to be with us. We would also have wonder what the vampires and zombies would do when facing death – haven’t they faced death at least once? And what would the cats do with their nine lives? Are they all companions of darkness against all odds? Will death one day decide to appoint all of them as their minions? Death should be ready to answer all the questions, and let us be part of that final dance on one day. I am sure that death is too much of a good person to decide not to be part of a dance and a feast.

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TeNy

In Memoriam: Movie v/s Song

This will not go towards the Victorian Age poetry of In Memoriam A. H. H. by Lord Alfred Tennyson, as this is more about the memories that we have about those beautiful songs which embraced us from those lesser known or less appreciated movies. During these days, people still remember these songs, but not the movies. Some people even have the idea that these songs belong to some other films, and they have visualized them much differently. But we know that these songs had a different feeling during our childhood and youth as we watched and listened to them as if the charm of our lives depended on them like never before. These are the memories that keeps us alive while listening to these songs in a never-ending loop while traveling to distant places.

Oru Nooraashakal – Ennitum (2006)

Ennittum is one movie which is lesser known than many other films which dealt with a topic which feels modern instead of the usual traditional love stories of its time. The time period was indeed known for such innovation, but as a number of other similar films of the same time, the movie also failed in execution, but the same cannot be said about this song which has stood the test of time. The other song “Pada pedich” also made an impact during its release, but has not come that far against the test of time. The song leaves us in a feeling of love. One of Kaniha’s earlier movies, she leaves a mark in the song, and Dinu Dennis was surely better than many other actors who made their debuts during this period of time, but we did not see much from him after this.

Junile Nilaamazhayil – Nammal Thammil (2009)

This is one of those movies of Prithviraj Sukumaran that came at a time when he was establishing himself quickly in the movie field. He plays the typical toxic boyfriend in this movie with one beautiful song that is to be remembered for long. The film would not be remembered for that long though. With Indrajith Sukumaran also added to the cast, we have the brother power, but not in the song. The song with Prithviraj and Geethu Mohandas is a melody that we would remember for long, and I remember this song during my youth to be a remarkable addiction. There could be many more songs which tried to be like this, but this one will stay. The rain of June might have shifted to other months, but we are here to stay with the song’s idea of June’s monsoon rains.

Maaleyam Maarodalinju – Thacholi Vargheese Chekavar (1995)

This Mohanlal movie is one of the most underrated Malayalam movies ever, and if you ask me, this deserves to be a cult classic. The movie also starred the Bollywood sensation Urmila Matondkar whose work will also be remembered, even though this song does not include her. The other song that includes her, “Soorya Nalam”, is also as good as this one when we listen to both. A comparison would only hurt both, as one is not behind the other in quality. As the movie follows the Keralite tradition of Kalaripayattu, the strength is only increased with twists, turns and suspense in one of the best traditional action movies ever. I would not ask many people about this, as my own opinion would stand tall in the quality of this flick.

Poove Poove Paalapoove – Devadoothan (2000)

This movie has been gaining some positive opinion in the last few years even though not that much of a hit at the box-office. Not that suitable for the audience of the time, this one was far ahead of the time. Still, this song has been a hit from early times itself. The visualization of the song has also been different with special feeling. “Karale Nin” song has also gained a certain amount of fan base among Keralites. There is a certain amount of Gothic that runs through the movie along with the usual supernatural feeling. The twists in the movie have kept us going and the song also nicely adds to the same. We actually require this kind of a movie during our times, and we can only imagine how well it can do. Well, we had Athiran, Ezra and other horror thrillers which deviated with Gothic and more will be fine.

Oru Venal Puzhayil – Pranayakalam (2007)

There are not many songs which created the grand impact like this one, especially among the young lovers of the time. It was the time of the cargo pants, a season which had space for love. All those love stories have had special place among successful films, and that applies to the movies which were made with low budget. Nowadays, the same seems to be replaced with those thrillers with serial killers showing no remorse – interesting change here as serial killers are also lovers and closer to reality than true love which is too difficult to find in a materialistic world like this. Ajmal Ameer, the young man from Aluva had quite the rise then, and should have been on the big screen for more movies. The combination with Vimala Raman felt surprisingly too good.

Onapattil Thalam Thullum – Quotation (2004)

Here we have our official Onam song, and it is something which came out of nowhere – we never really knew more about this particular film, and even the title remains rather unknown. It is that kind of movie which makes us feel strange, as the quality is just too low for a full-length feature film starring a number of pretty good performers. But as far as the song is considered, it remains special. We hear the same thing again and again during different Onam celebrations, and there are so many versions of it. Despite the arrival of new Onam songs, we are never really tired of this one, and it is a sweeter one like the one song from Jacobinte Swargarajyam. For the next Onam too, this song will be the one that gets played the most in more locations.

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TeNy

The Movies Awaited

As the end of another year is almost here, some of the most awaited movies are right around the corner, and there are a few others for which we have to wait for longer. These have not been the best times of the movie lover in me, as the quantity has been less, and quality has not come up by that much. But I did get to watch a few of the films which were considered to be better than others, and there are some which are expected to be watched. There were those days when we would be inside the theatre at all times. But after the corona virus pandemic, those days were soon gone, and now we watch according to the remaining time in our lives. The following movies are going to add to that busy life with something extra.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Among the superheroes of DC, Aquaman surely has managed my appreciation more than the others. With the fine supporting characters and some great graphics, the movie never ceased to make an impression on the big screen. So, this new movie is expected to be something big yet again. Orm, Mera and Atlanna make that type of characters who support the movie so well. The trailer with the villain returning with the darker powers had our attention, and we await and wonder what would come to bring another visual spectacle. The underwater kingdom is never short of some classic beauty with the support of special effects.

Furiosa
Mad Max: Fury Road was one of those grand big screen experiences which are not easy to forget. The role played by Charlize Theron was something to remember then, and this time Anya Taylor-Joy of The Witch fame is here to go for all the action. Chris Hemsworth is also there, making the feeling better. We also have the former WWE wrestler Nathan Jones in action here. The post-apocalyptic world of this franchise would never cease to amaze us with all the action, and we are continuously aware that the end of the world event is going to happen soon. The post-apocalyptic world feels so real and so much closer these days. When there is such a dark future, you have the right to be furious against all available odds for survival.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
War for the Planet of the Apes happened a very long time ago after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and here we have a sequel for which the wait has been for about six years. The battle between apes and humans would remain interesting with humanity’s destiny to lose catching our interest even more. Even now, we keep thinking that anyone could make the world better than the human politicians. This was known even during those times when Refugee Blues was written by WH Auden. We do keep wondering if the apes can do better than most of the human politicians, but it seems to be some prophecy by an oracle coming true. Let us watch this movie and find out how well the apes can do.

Speak No Evil
Among the movies in other languages, this Danish film was found to be one Danish psychological thriller that would leave a haunting effect with its depiction of truth like no other. The cast of the English remake seems to suggest a similar experience with another powerful experience. The cautionary tale about accepting the invitation of strangers will surely have us thinking. There has always been the need for doubting people, and it has been reasserted here – you will know that people will never be the same as they look; actually, there should be no doubt about that. Let us see more of the trace of inherent evil in man through this movie. The nightmares like the one this movie displays on the screen are never really far away from us.

Kung Fu Panda 4
We are never really short of interesting movies in this particular franchise. One after the other, all the movies with Kung Fu Panda at the centre continues to impress us – Dragon warrior is never short of the duties in China. The unexpected hero should keep saving the world again, and even though the similarities seem to stay, we enjoy the series of movies. This one would be no exception, as we know that we have waited for so long for this. There can never be an animation franchise which has created so much of impact like this one, even though single animated films have managed differently. Still, in the list, this would be the one movie which has least chance to be watched by me, as I have moved further away from the interest in animated flicks.

The Beekeeper
This one should have Jason Statham as the one grand reason to watch an action thriller, and we remember that we had so much of Fast and Furious series, The Transporter and The Mechanic with him doing what he does the best so well. The star of Crank has never backed down whenever there was action, and there are only a few whom we await to see in an action movie – well, the divergences are would happen with a John Wick or in a Mission Impossible, but we know where this movie could be going – full power action would be an assurance. After all, there is the shade of vengeance running through this movie.

***The images used on this blog post are the posters of these movies taken from different sources, used to support the movies in this particular blog post only.

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TeNy

Joy and Other Bliss

The one special factor about Kolkata is that it keeps coming back to us. You are never satisfied with visiting the city once or twice. In my case, there was the need for a fifth visit, and if you ask me, it will remain a destination for me again and also a place which I would like to make my permanent residence. The usual visit is for the National Library of India, the greatest collection of books in the whole country. But we continue to visit the other attractions again and again including the Mother House, Victoria Memorial, Science City and those lovely malls which are among the best in the nation. The childhood memories just keep us going again and again, as we could be inside the first metro within the nation as well as the last tram many years ago. We find that there is always something more to visit in Kolkata, some place that we missed the last time – the city gets both new and old at the same time.

When you keep visiting the city again and again, you know where the shopping malls are, and you know which attraction to visit again. The shopping gets more interesting with the realization of the location and availability of the requirements in markets. You know how to travel better and where to get down in the city. Then there is the bigger understanding about the food, which remain our priority. Well, visiting the same restaurants multiple times is also a thing of beauty. We might never know when we will visit Kolkata again, but from our minds, we take out the fact that it would not take too long. Until then, we have these memories to cherish. The City of Joy is in the soul, and we are not done with visiting its heart and soul again. This is something which we will keep remembering in the following months.

South City Mall has the perfect shopping centre look.

The legacy of Mother Teresa will remain as it has always been.

Rabindranath Tagore and the National Library of India with glory.

Visiting the legacy of Missionaries of Charity never gets repetitive.

The picture is self-explanatory, and this is a great work of art.

This is one Spider-Man that we remember a lot.

Some food is remembered for long, like this one here.

The bust market area always have us looking for more.

Nizam’s Restaurant has us visiting the place again and again.

Kolkata Airport has its fine food and sweets joints to visit.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Being Closer to Himalayas

As I have visited Kolkata multiple times, there was always the urge to visit Darjeeling, but the same never happened. This time, we decided to make a trip in that direction after reaching the capital of West Bengal. We booked a Goibibo trip which could be well-customized. After reaching the place and until leaving, it was a spectacular journey. There was the complementary lunch at Singalila Club of Bagdogra which was among the best of food we had with a great ambience. The staff especially Risharth proved to be very helpful in making the experience better. The transportation was very smooth and the accommodation provided at Mount Conifer Suites and Spa was too good with an upgrade and once again great complementary breakfast. The location also provided to be perfect for shopping, and Rink Mall with cinemas, Dominos, Reliance supermarket and INOX along with nice local markets nearby.

As I had expected, the best experience of the journey was indeed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) which added Batasia Loop and Ghum Museum, two of the best-looking areas around. The railways journey with the view is one of its kind. The Happy Valley Tea Museum served its purpose really well too. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with the zoon and the park makes a fine walk with a small group of cheap shops and the option to take your photos in traditional clothing. Along with the Peace Pagoda and the Japanese Buddhist Temple, there are other temples including the ones at Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and Ghum, which adds some peaceful atmosphere. The place is also not short of its churches. Noor The Biryani House and Sumi Nom Nom Bakery with Korean Cafe were the places we preferred for food along with the street options. Then there is Glenary’s, the oldest and the most impressive bakers around, a must-try for foodies who also get a fine view of the natural beauty from there. All these made a fine memory for us, which we will recollect to inspire more visits to the same direction.

Happy Valley Tea Estate provides some fine views with lovely tea.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with the statue of Tenzing makes our day.

Buddhist prayer wheels at Tibetan refugee self-help area brings spirituality.

The Peace Pagoda within the greenery provides what the name suggests.

The Japanese Buddhist Temple is a separate entity by its own charm.

Himalayan Darjeeling Railways whether steam or diesel, creates the best moments.

Ghum Railway Station – the highest as well as the most charming one.

You always have the best views in the unexpected areas of the town.

Glenary’s makes the oldest & the best bakers around, not to be missed.

Visiting at least one temple or monastery in Ghum would prove to be fruitful.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Darjeeling.

TeNy

Kolkata in the Soul Again

Kolkata has always remained a favourite destination. It has had that status for me since childhood. Therefore, returning to the same place again one year after the early visit was an easy task. This time, there was also no corona virus with the threat, and this would also mean a visit to the National Library of India once more. We once again visited the largest library in the nation, and managed to find more books of relevance for PhD. The heat outside served to be exactly opposite as the cold inside with the air conditioner on. The place is like no other, and we should have something like this in other states too. As expected, we could visit other places of interest at the same time. This second journey made sure that we could feel like home rather than as a guest during the last time. Kolkata became closer to the soul and leaving the place after fifteen days was tougher.

We started visiting those places from the list – Annabelle House, which would be the first horror-themed restaurant that we visited, managed to be a divergent experience, even though we could have loved to see it as bigger and with a full Conjuring universe effect. We also visited the Science City which I had last seen a decade ago, and there was so much rush there. For the first time visitors, it is indeed a must-visit place. We also visited the Mother House once again, as the kindness and care of Missionaries of Charity would stay. This time, we also took the local train and visited The Basilica of the Holy Rosary at Bandel, a pilgrimage centre known for the blessings of Mother Mary, located about fifty kilometres from Kolkata. We did not miss the wonderful malls this time either, as we visited South City Mall, Acropolis Mall, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, Forum Courtyard Mall and Lake Mall, one after the other along with the local market areas. This visit made sure that there was some fine shopping for sure. Then Oxford Book Shop with cafe was a favourite place and going through Howrah has always been a thing of joy.

We all need such horror-themed restaurants, maybe with vampires next time.

Traveling through Howrah Bridge a.k.a. Rabindra Setu is true joy.

We can always use some blessings from Lady of Bandel with travel.

Avani Riverside Mall is one busy place which has interesting joints.

Forum Courtyard Mall was the closest shopping centre to our location.

Oxford Book Store at Kolkata remains the ultimate source of literature.

Acropolis Mall will be loved for quite a long time due to its looks itself.

We will keep visiting this science city as it is one of its kind.

Let us keep visiting the library again and again as research scholars.

South City Mall was a new lovely find for us in Kolkata.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Tourism in Goa’s Bowl

Goa has been a destination which everyone has been looking to visit. If you ask any student where the destination for the final year trip should be, the location would be Goa, the land of dreams for almost everyone. This is a place which I visited as a child, and is also the first place from where I first travelled on a flight. There is no shortage of tourists in Goa, as we have those charming beaches with the support of water sports along with the churches which has no matches anywhere else with the classic beauty that they have. We have seen such journeys become part of movies, the most prominent one being Aanandam. As it was shown in that movie, there were troubles in this journey too, which restricted the destinations covered during the trip.

The return to Goa did not bring any nostalgia to me, as I remember very less about that earlier trip which happened such a long time ago. This last tour which happened on a train and a bus was indeed different from what I had in my memories though. The beaches and churches served the purpose really well, and the journey on the scooter to discover the interesting areas would also be worth the time. Aguada Fort would be the place where one could look out for a peaceful sunset, while the beaches like Anjuna continues to be places of interest. We remember that a long time ago, it was Dona Paula that roused one’s interest, but now, there are others. Still, you have so many beaches and churches that never cease to amaze us.

Anjuna Beach gets a lot of attention with the rock formations.

There is always something more when there are rocks with sands.

The sunsets are always there to bring the charm on beaches.

We always have that cute little church building on the way.

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church at Thivim is one of its kind.

The Syro-Malabar model of the churches of Kerala is maintained well.

You look around to find one old church dedicated to St. Christopher.

The altars in the old style has us interesting more than ever.

Some churches seem to be closed, but we enjoy the architectural beauty.

Aguada Fort with the lighthouse from Portuguese times make a heavy impact.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Goa.

TeNy

The Rajagirian Opportunity

While looking for the available options for higher studies, many people are not aware of this advanced progeny of the educational institutions under the Rajagiri brand which needs no introduction in the field of education. I would remember this particular group of institutions to be among my favourite choices to learn and improve my skills. The strength of the brand comes as no surprise for Keralites, as everyone know s about the quality. Among the institutions, this newer college has covered some fine ground. Rajagiri Viswajyothi College has the following courses – BA English (Literature, Communication and Journalism), BBA, BCA, BSc Psychology and B.Com (Model I Finance and Taxation, Model II Finance and Taxation and Model II Logistics Management).

It is surprising that many people choose not to go for such degrees in our lands, and instead choose to go abroad. I would not say that it is a bad choice, but the choices in front of us right here also needs our attention. Courses like BA English with three mains could prove to be something special in the career with the right kind of training and some genuine interest in the field. Psychology and Computer Application have been only gaining more supporters among a new generation of students as well as their parents. We are never really short of the opportunities if we look at them. Still, some of us might not have the eyes to see, or are fed up with the system. But if everyone leaves while looking for the green grass on the other side, who can make the difference here?

Leaving the world we know for another always feel like a better choice, as we have been hearing stories about the stylish life there. The YouTube videos and Instagram reels would seem to point to the same, but just going for such an option by hearing or seeing the life of others would feel ridiculous. It is significant to remember that they are not us, and the experience would remain different for everyone, even when the situation and environment is the same. This is why learning from an institution which is run by experienced hands like Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) father remain an interesting choice. They are the largest such congregation in the Syro-Malabar Church, and their experience knows no limits.

CMI fathers manage about 500 institutions including schools, colleges and hospitals. Sacred Heart College at Thevara and Rajagiri School of Social Sciences at Kalamassery have remained in our hearts for a long period of time. Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology at Kakkanad had gained the upper-hand from the time when Engineering and its subdivisions had become the trend, and Rajagiri College of Management and Applied Sciences at the same area had gained further strength with its courses. Rajagiri School of Kalamassery and Vsiwajyothi School of Angamaly have their status among the best of the district. Rajagiri Hospital remains the one place where many of us would trust for different ailments.

The popularity and trust which the brand has gained through the ages would have no match in this part of Kerala. Rajagiri Viswajyothi College which is shortened as RVCAS, the newer educational institution, is located at Vengoor, about seven kilometres from Kuruppampady, and located on the Aluva-Munnar road. It is also located just eleven kilometres from the nearest muncipality of Perumbavoor and twenty one kilometres from the next closest town on the other side, Kothamangalam. Also at twenty three kilometres from both Angamaly and Muvattupuzha, the college has good access to all these towns.

Since its inception in 2014, RVCAS has come a long way with a grand improvement which can be seen in the academics as much as the infrastructure. Those who have witnessed the steady growth of the institution will find this as a magnificent achievement during these years. Located twenty three kilometres from the nearest railway station at Angamaly and twenty one kilometres from Cochin Airport, the college is easily accessible as it has been with road transport. The college itself is located a place of beauty, the village of Vengoor. The college’s location within a green world is a beautiful sight to behold.

The much visited tourist destination, Paniyeli-Poru is also close to the college, and it has been a favourite destination among the eco-tourism destinations of South India. The green campus is a reminder of the beauty which can be seen around it, with the serene village having a beautiful church at its centre – Mar Kauma Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. The experienced teachers have made the progress of academics easier and the hostel facility as well as the college bus service has added well to the accessibility factor. The college has always strived for more, and there has been no going back as far as progress is concerned.

Visit the Website: http://rajagiriviswajyothi.org

Visit the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rajagiriperumbavoor

Mail to: admissions@rajagiriviswajyothi.org

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TeNy

The Venice of the East

Aleppey or Alappuzha has served as the Venice of the East since it was given that name by George Curzon, Viceroy of India – it is a name that has well-suited the place. With Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in the whole of India, as well as the largest lake serving the state of Kerala, the status of the location can only be further justified. There are so many houseboats in the backwaters and some beautiful beaches which serve Alappuzha, making it a favourite destination for many. It is a location which I have visited multiple times, and there was a new journey to support the same again. Well, most tourists who visit Kerala, especially Kochi do add Aleppey to their list of places to watch.

The Venice of the East has maintained and lived up to that title, a realization which has elevated the status of Aleppey among the tourist destinations of South India. A vast network of rivers and canals has served the town really well. This journey to Aleppey can be combined with a straight trip from Fort Cochin on one side, stretching through the model tourism village of Kumbalangi and going further to reach the place past Andhakaranaazhi, another beach of interest. Some of the snaps from the last journey in that direction can be seen shared below. It was a one-day journey which took the route through Vyttila, Maradu and Cherthala, even though a tour from other directions including Kumbalangi would also be that interesting.

There is always enough of houseboats that we see around.

You see one of the houseboats and then you see many more.

There are always some houseboats which catch attention more.

You see those houseboats from a long distance away with beauty.

Like they say, you choose your destiny, or rather the houseboats.

Walk through the path that lead to the right houseboat.

The sunsets never get less beautiful around here.

The octopus sculpture made out of plastic waste on the beach.

Decommissioned Fast Attack Craft (IN FAC) T-81 on display.

The lighthouses are always there to keep us interested.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Aleppey.

TeNy

Trivandrum: A Quick Return

I have been to Trivandrum multiple times. The first time goes a long time back, and the most recent one was related to the Airtel 4G launch some time ago. The last journey has been different as the motive was to visit the University of Kerala as part of my PhD studies. As a research scholar, this happens to be one of those interesting library visits, which includes the time spent in the National Library of Kolkata, British Council Library of Kolkata, Calicut University Library of Kozhikode and Kannur University Library of Cannanore. This was not really a visit as a tourist, which means that there were not many places visited, and not that many photos taken. After all, we just cannot have them all during a trip, if there is a specific focus. But during my early journeys, I have visited a lot of tourist attractions in Trivandrum.

This is also my first journey to Trivandrum during which I was driving the car all the way; this makes the journey much different – we took the Perumbavoor-Ramapuram-Palai-Ponkunnam-Ranni route as the route was comfortable to travel. There was always one Indian Coffee House on the way to take a break. If you are a tourist, you know that there are many options in Trivandrum from those churches and temples to the beaches which have remained the classic destinations for such a long time. Kovalam Beach and Padmanabhaswamy Temple have been there as the first priorities for an eternity. On the way to Trivandrum, you are sure to find Jatayu Earth’s Center on the way, where we didn’t stop as there was a certain shortage of time. There was also Museum of the Word, a Bible Museum showing on the map available with a diversion. Well, there is so much more to be seen in Trivandrum and on the way back, but that would be left for another day.

University of Kerala has one peaceful library.

Madre De Deus Church (Vettucaud Church) is legendary.

St. Mary Queen of Peace Basilica of Palayam enlightens.

Palayam Juma Masjid is a place frequenting the films.

St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral features in many movies too.

A beachside church has remained a thing of beauty.

There is the eternity of serenity in these places of worship.

Some places of worship are not to be avoided during any trip.

Why wouldn’t one visit the Indian Coffee House even when there is a choice?

God faces the tides; the eternity of the sea and its waves.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Trivandrum.

TeNy

The World of Biennale

The exhibition of art at Kochi Biennale has always been something that interested us. The largest art exhibition in the nation has never ceased to draw people from not just Kochi or all around the state, but also from different parts of the nation and the world. We have had our journeys to biennale before, and people around Cochin have surely considered it to be a very significant event, something which happens with the Cochin Carnival at times, bringing an even bigger crowd to the area. Fort Cochin has remained the area of such cultural significance which cannot be matched with any other place.

The exhibition continues to be set in areas across Cochin, while using existing galleries, halls, and installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and abandoned structures. Ever since beginning on 12th December 2012, the popularity of the exhibition has only increased, despite the price of the tickets reaching a new high. The cost of the entry has now reached Rs. 150 from the early Rs. 50 which prevailed during the early times of the exhibition. As Fort Cochin is a destination of interest at all times, visiting the main locations of biennale remains a priority for the tourists.

A little bit of environment catches in with biennale every time.

Some scenes at the exhibition is worth being in the camera.

The Aspinwall House serves among the best destinations too.

There are always enough exhibits to explore at the biennale.

The Aspinwall House itself is a place which requires exhibition.

You look at the boats and the backwaters which lies in front of you.

And there is also the cafe, even though expensive and crowded.

There is also the option to travel on the boat towards other areas.

There is also that nice little biennale shop, even though it is expensive.

The old Mattancherry Bridge, also known as the Harbour bridge.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the last biennale at Fort Cochin.

TeNy

Grand Malayattoor Carnival

The mega carnival at Malayattoor set around one of the largest human made fresh water lakes in the Asian Continent is an attraction like no other. This is one other carnival which reminds us of the the Cochin Carnival. This seven day long festival with thousands illuminated stars spread around 110 acres of a lake begins with Christmas and ends with the New Year. This pool is a thing of beauty even without the stars, and it is a celebration like no other, with the crowd increasing further after the corona virus pandemic break. This event, just like Cochin Carnival, includes the burning of Santa Claus in the end.

Malayattoor is a place which was blessed by the work of St. Thomas the apostle who remains the central figure of this particular village community which consists of a large number of churches. Saint Thomas Church at the top of the hill has remained one of the most visited pilgrim centres of the area. As Cochin International Airport is less than twenty kilometres from here. The nearest towns are Angamaly and Perumbavoor which serves the village well, along with Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Sankara. Kanjoor, the nearby town is known for St. Mary’s Forane Church, another popular pilgrim centre.

The beautiful decorations of the lake keeps us interested.

Ferris wheel is the amusement ride that we shall have at all carnivals.

You see the stars, and you see thousands of them here.

The huge star and the even bigger Santa Claus remain charming.

You can keep walking around the lake to enjoy the illuminations and shops.

The number of people who visit the area in the evening is enormous.

The Christmas spirit remains there with the stars hanging around.

The pirate ship which swings back and forth would also be there.

The walk with water on both sides of the road makes a beautiful sight.

The lake and the forest – nature has blessed Malayattoor well enough.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the carnival at Malayattoor.

TeNy

Calicut: University and Others

This would be my third journey to Calicut by car, even though there were a few train journeys before that. The first one was the longest one, with a Kannur-Wayanad combination added to the trip. The second one was a direct trip to Calicut. If I am asked about which side of Kerala would I go from the centre, I would go North, to Calicut side. Well, food is one major reason for that. Otherwise, there are also others contributing to the same. Calicut’s Hilite Mall is my favourite mall from anywhere in South India. People would have wanted it to be Lulu Mall, but this one feels more like a divergent place. There are the best shops with fine offers, and the food, once again, is so good. Well, my next favourite malls are also Shobha City Mall of Thrissur and Centre Square Mall of Cochin – not the ones most people would have guessed.

This particular journey was meant to be about visiting Calicut University library rather than anything else. I visited the library for collecting some material for my research, and it seemed to be the better option in comparison with the other university libraries in Kerala, and going outside the state seemed to be difficult, considering the fact that there were too many Corona virus based restrictions at that time. So, this journey to library was made into a combination of different things – we wandered through the city, visited two beaches, and one mall – we were thinking about adding another mall to the list, but Hilite Mall was too good, and we really had to keep visiting it again. We had food from some more interesting places, and then decided to come back. We shall return to this side to visit the remaining beaches and a few historical places on the list.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Calicut/Kozhikode.

TeNy

Thanjavur: Cholas and TTDC

We have been to Thanjavur multiple times, and the last one was in 2010, when we stopped on the way back from Velankanni – we had booked an a/c bus which had too much of air conditioning, leading us to choose the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses on the way back – then we had stopped at Thanjavur to visit the temple and then stayed in Trichy. But the new situation was different, as we were traveling in Tata Tigor, and the location chosen to stay was TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu in Thanjavur. Unlike their counterpart in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation provides some fine facilities at a cheaper rate, and the free breakfast in the morning is just perfect. We have stayed in their Hotel Tamil Nadu at Kodaikanal and Yercaud before, and they had also proven to be some fine choices. But their hotel at Thanjavur is even better, as it is a very old building converted into hotel, providing the beauty of architecture along with the bigger rooms and a lot of space to walk around and also to park the vehicles. I would suggest that those who are traveling to Velankanni can also stay here, to travel early morning and return here.

Thanjavur is located ninety kilometres from Velankanni and sixty kilometres from Trichy, making it a fine space in between. When we stay here, the one place which we cannot miss is Brihadisvara Temple which is part of the Great Living Chola Temples, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The architectural marvel from the times of Chola Empire never really gets old, and provides the feeling out of this world – a perfect place to spend the evenings, as we witness the grandeur of an empire which needs to be considered among the greatest of the world. If you can travel some more distance, there are two other similar temples which can also be visited, but this one in Thanjavur city remains the best known work of architecture. Then we also visited Sacred Heart Cathedral, a lovely church located in the heart of the lovely city. We also found a favourite in Shri Dhivyam Sweets and Snacks, with Arya Bhavan vegetarian restaurant on the next floor, both serving as fine examples of quality. It is a fine place to buy some sweets to take home. Despite the posh looks, it is not that expensive a place either.

TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu is where we would stay whenever it is possible for us.

This TTDC hotel scores with the food & the looks both from outside & inside.

Thanjavur is one nice place which combines different elements for you to love.

You would never want to miss the Great Living Chola Temples in life.

Spending an evening with spirituality and history combined into one will be special.

There are not many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that provides such beauty.

Brihadishvara Temple, also known as Thanjai Periya Kovil is one of its kind.

Sacred Heart Cathedral of Thanjavur is a peaceful place of divine worship.

The cathedral is at a main area of the city & has people praying inside most of the time.

This proved to a perfect place for sweets & snacks, with also a vegetarian restaurant.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Thanjavur.

TeNy

District 13: Kannur Shores

I had my second visit to the thirteenth district of Kerala, Kannur recently. The summer in the busy town as well as the district in total felt very much hotter than what we had in the central districts of Kerala. Well, we used to complain about the heat then, and this felt more like in proximity to the sun than anything else. The journey was also very much difficult after Thrissur as the roads became narrower and with the drivers being more careless; it seems to be getting widened with more bypass paths though – the buses were more terrifying out there as we came across them; we feel that we have to move away from its path or die. But it is indeed a beautiful district, especially with the beaches which are much cleaner than what we have in the central of southern side. There seems to be poetry in the seas out there, and we enjoy the less polluted world out there.

Kannur has the beautiful town of Thalassery, which catches our attention, even though the roads are too narrow – same is the case of Mahe which is officially the part of Pondicherry even though within Kerala’s geography. Muzhappilangad Beach is among the best drive-in beaches which you will see anywhere in the continent, and there are so many other beaches to remember. St. Angelo Fort is a very well preserved Portuguese fort which provides a beautiful view of the sea in serenity. There is a lot to see with the fort too. Holy Trinity Cathedral also happened to be a lovely sight. For more of spirituality, you can travel to the Parassini Madappura Sree Muthappan Temple. There are some fine Indian Coffee Houses located in the area too. Parassinikadavu also has its own interesting Snake Park. The malls in the area are smaller, but still good enough for some random shopping.

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach – nothing better for Tata Tigor.

You continue to visit the libraries, this time at Kannur University.

Holy Trinity Cathedral serves the spirituality well.

Tata Tigor has its first visit to any fort anywhere.

St Angelo Fort is surely among the best 3 forts of Kerala.

How many battleships has this particular cannon struck?

You look beyond the borders of the Kerala lands.

The view from the top of the fort is good enough for a soldier.

Kannur is a place which can easily be proud of its history.

Indian Coffee House never losses its charm.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Kannur/Cannanore.

TeNy

Kolkata: Joy and Nostalgia

After the COVID-19 pandemic, our first grand trip was to Kolkata, and it was also the first journey by airplane – each and every other trip was by car, as we were not sure about traveling somewhere in public with the corona virus around. We did feel that the flight was also going to be difficult with the restrictions around, but thankfully, Kerala and West Bengal didn’t have problems with accepting travelers from the other. The basic motive of this journey was to visit the National Library of India, the largest of its kind in India, so that I could find some material for my research. It did turn out well, as we could get a membership online and use the reading room as much as we needed. The library is a beautiful structure in huge green compound. There is a huge collection of books, and I am sure that I wouldn’t find anything so well-maintained anywhere else. Indian Coffee House of Kolkata could have been better if people wouldn’t smoke in there, and if they had tea like those in Kerala.

The other journeys were to Victoria Memorial and Mother House, both I am visiting for third time – never to be missed while traveling to the city. We also chose to visit the British Council Library which felt so small in comparison to the National Library, and also the Kolkata Book Fair which didn’t seem to have enough English book, but seemed like a nice place to wander – too crowded though. St Paul’s Cathedral was undergoing renovation, but remained as beautiful as usual. Another visit for a show in Birla Planetarium also followed. The South Park Street Cemetery became my third favourite cemetery after the ones in Bradford and Glasgow. We also visited three malls, City Centre Salt Lake, Forum Courtyard and Quest Mall. It was very quick a journey, as we did all of these in just a week and rushed back home. Yet, any time spent in Kolkata brings happiness, as it is indeed the City of Joy. I will still miss the trams as we couldn’t find them in the areas we visited.

National Library of India. The library of the life-time.

All the time, you visit Indian Coffee House for no reason.

Quest Mall is among my favourite malls, all-time.

St Paul’s Cathedral in the evening is lovely Gothic.

This one had fascinated my as a little kid long ago.

There is no end to a cemetery love that goes on.

I have always preferred Victoria Memorial to Taj Mahal.

Mother House has been a place of blessing for long.

The mall is lovely, but needs a food court with options.

Tea in a pot is something that we need here too.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Velankanni: Longest Car Trip

This is not our first journey to Velankanni, as we had been to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health the last time in 2010. But this is the first time that we are traveling in that direction by car. Tata Tigor was ready for the most distant location from its origins, and the journey was a memorable one. We took the journey in two different routes – on the way there, we went through the Palakkad-Coimbatore-Karur-Trichy route and while returning, we took the Trichy-Dindigul-Pollachi-Nenmara route, and I would suggest that traveling through the return route, but avoiding Nemara would be the right choice, for traveling from Trichy to Pollachi is joyful. While getting to Velankanni, the route through Mannargudi was better than the shorter Nagappattinam route, which was undergoing repair. Well, we reached Velankanni at a time when there less visitors. There are times when so many people go to the pilgrimage site, and there is rarely even the space to pray in peace.

The better roads in Tamil Nadu made sure that the journey was not troublesome, and only a few areas were troublesome for the vehicle’s suspension. I don’t remember much about that earlier journey to the sacred place, but it didn’t feel like something that far away from memory; yet the place has changed in twelve years. Velankanni is part of Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation, which means that we have hope for the place to feel better. We prayed in the Lourdes of the East, and hoped for the best, as we live in an uncertain world. These are the times when life in this world seems irrelevant, and therefore, such spiritual journeys seem to be the need. Among the requirements to survive in this world, the connection to the other world becomes more important than ever. This trip has been pending for a long time, and the completion of this one provides more confidence and self-belief.

The trip anywhere would require a Tata Tigor and the usual food.

There is something about visiting Velankanni that never leaves us.

The beauty of the basilica will continue to enchant us.

The basilica has been visited by all of us for such a long time.

There is always something about the prayers and penance around here.

You keep looking towards divinity for the spiritual guidance.

Resting at places of divinity has never ceased to bring blessings.

The shrine of the old times continues to be a place of faith and belief.

You look up to God and hope for redemption in a world of chaos and hatred.

No journey is complete without Tata Tigor stopping by the side of highway for tea.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Velankanni.

TeNy