The event, organised by Impressario Events Ltd, sponsors many charities across the state. This year’s is called ‘Save a Girl Child’ mission. The winner will be working for it, too.

It will fall as a part of the inaugural 2012 London Olympics program. The fact that Queen Elizabeth II will be in attendance will only add to the glitz. The river will be witness for this event where tourists will get to see the 120-foot-long lithe boat and around 100-odd oarsmen.

Suresh Gopi, Indian actor, who is the event’s ambassador is all out to make it successful. He, along with his fans’ associations will garner funds to take the oarsmen by flight to London, and ship the boat intact, in time.

Kerala’s tourism as well as agriculture depends on these rains. Farmers can breathe a sigh of relief now. Tourism-related industries and owners are looking forward to the influx of tourists the Monsoon will bring. Travellers are attracted to the rains here: it is more than mesmerising, to say the least.

The artificial reef has many purposes to serve. It will protect the shore and the beach from sea erosion – the submerged sand bags are placed to crack sea waves taller than a metre, and allowing only smaller ones to pass through.

The reef will improve growth of underwater flora, and in turn will increase fish breeding. And most of all, the state’s tourism will leap as it will attract tourists and adventure lovers – from surfers to divers.

Inconsistent smallish showers have been teasing us for a while now. Each state across India is vying for the Hottest-State-Where-Most-People-Die-Of-Heat Award. But, be of good cheer. We’ve spotted the actual South-West Monsoon in the Andaman Islands. Yay!!!

Now, isn’t that good news? Of course. Hoping that the showers will bless Kerala by the end of the month, wait all of us. Eager to be relieved of the sun’s burning heat and to relish the cool rainy days.

Monsoon tourism will get a boost, too. Tourism agents, houseboat operators, homestay and hotel owners, restaurants, and just about everyone depending on tourists are awaiting the golden showers.

For those attending the Mart, you can get in touch with tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts, Ayurveda centres, eco and adventure tourism ventures, holiday package operators, houseboat operators, homestay owners and other related personnel. It is a platform which will see hundreds of buyers and sellers, both national and international.

This event is one of the largest of its kind. This year the Society intends to rope in buyers and sellers from Russian and Scandinavian nations, too, besides its usual clientele.

Register with the KTM Society and book a place for yourself!
www.keralatravelmart.org

This Ornamental Fish & Accessories Exhibition and Trade Fair is being organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It will be a great chance for exhibiting and marketing fish, fish-related products and accessories.

There will be competitions for ornamental fish, on features such as breeding, innovative practices, technology and display, for breeders, amateurs and traders. You can also check out the exclusive pavilion for imported aquariums. Prizes will be given away during the show, with highlights on cultural and art performances during and after the prizes distribution.

This aqua show will benefit manufacturers and distributors of aquarium, aquarium accessories and related products. Those dealing in fish medicines, drugs, treatment chemicals, fish food, fishery products, publishers of fisheries-related literature, and exporters of ornamental fish will be able to promote their business as well as interact with government bodies and the public.

Source: www.aquashowkerala.com

One can see beaches, backwaters, houseboats, hill stations, wildlife, and boat races. The captions are ‘Chalo Kerala’ in Hindi and ‘Go Kerala’ in English. This will run for 6 months, till June, 2010.  Kerala is the first state to try its hand at this unique form of advertising. More than half of India use the railways as its major means of transport. This will be a definite boost to that.

And it’s not just the passengers who will be enticed by this grand visual display, passing drivers, pedestrians, and onlookers, too, will come to know of Kerala and its beauty. Even international tourists use the trains to travel within the country, so this will showcase the state like no other campaign can. That, too, in a novel way.

Check out: http://www.hotelsthekkady.com/2010/01/thekkady-lake-alive-with-tourist-boats/

It is organised by Alliance Francaise De Trivandrum.

It will be inaugurated by Writer C. Ayyappan on January 8. This festival will see intellectuals and academics opening seminars, interacting with students, conducting science programmes, and in discussions.

The avenues at the festival will give authors a chance to understand their readers, and how best to suit their writing for them. A common public discussion and thinking will aid publishers, authors as well as the readers. Prominent cultural activist and film maker Sashikumar and noted academic and thinker Dr Nizar Ahmed will be at the forefront of the activities.

“Thinking goes public” is an apt tagline for the festival that will be a convergence for thinkers, public, photographers, critics, writers and activists.

Here’s a list of the authors and participants of Kochi Life 2010:

Slavoj Zizek                        Gail Omvedt
C. Ayyappan                      Akeel Bilgrami
Prabhat Patnaik                C. K. Janu
J. Devika                              T. M. Yesudasan
Tejaswini Niranjana         Gopal Guru
Ram Rahman                      Kumar Shahani
Annapurna Garimella       Usha Zacharias
Javeed Alam

Slavoj Zizek	Gail Omvedt
C. Ayyappan	Akeel Bilgrami
Prabhat Patnaik	C. K. Janu
J. Devika	T. M. Yesudasan
Tejaswini Niranjana	Gopal Guru
Ram Rahman	Kumar Shahani
Annapurna Garimella	Usha Zacharias
Javeed Alam

If you go via Thodupuzha, you can visit Bhoothathankettu Dam and the waterfalls there. Thommankuthu waterfalls, one that cascades over various steps, is a beauty to behold. Besides bathing there, you can go trekking up the hills near the waterfalls.

A little further is Malankara Dam. It’s not a famous one; tucked away in the approaching hills towards Idukki. We go down to take a look at it. There is no thoroughfare allowed – you need prior permission from the hydel project’s authority to walk above the dam or to go for walks in the nearby areas.

Once you hit the road to Mundakayam, it slopes to such an extent your ears start to pop! Then comes Kuttikanam, a town colder than Thekkady and much more foresty, to say. There are a number of colleges and churches here. From then on the road goes down the slope a little as Thekkady is at a lower elevation than Kuttikanam. Enroute are small shacks and restaurants in Vandiperiyar and Pambanar, selling spicy foods and spices, of course.

Kumily and Thekkady are a few kms apart. And the Tamil Nadu border is only 4km from Thekkady. The Periyar Tiger Reserve and the Periyar lake are the main attractions. The forest office near the approach to the reserve gives a detailed list of trekking routes, nature walks, guides, forest guards, jeep safaris and what not. You can also visit Gavi, a forest area known for tree houses and waterfalls, just a 45-minute drive from Thekkady.

“Elephant junctions”, advertised in about 5 or 6 sections of the town are a newer version of an age-old practice, i.e. elephant riding. These ‘junctions’ provide elephant bathing, photo sessions, and many other offers, along with the usual rides. Tourists can also book seats at the Kalaripayattu and Kathakali centres and watch astonishing art performances.

The tribal settlement down the road has a 25-ruppee walk within their living area. You can see how they live, eat and go about their works. There’s also a Tribal Heritage Museum close by.

If you like shopping, look no further. There’s a lot to choose from – Kashmiri and Tibetan handicrafts, jewellery and clothes sold by yesteryear refugee families, eco-shops selling forest produces and clothes, spices, tea, and of course, souvenirs and postcards.

Thekkady is truly a ‘walk in the forest’. There’s silence all over once the clock hits six. But you will still see birds heading home, shopkeepers bargaining with customers, tourists looking for their stay, youngsters out on a walk and many more small-town sights. This touristy town has much to offer the eco-tourist. Check it out. For things to do, visit www.hotelsthekkady.com

It will be Kerala’s second tiger reserve, the other being Periyar Tiger Reserve. Areas within Parambikulam ranges from 300m to 1,438m above mean sea level. Parambikulam has seven major valleys and three major river systems. The sanctuary has three major reservoirs – Parambikulam, Thunakadavu and Peruvarippalam.

The sanctuary has semi-evergreen forests, dry as well as moist deciduous forests, tropical rainforests and Shola forests. Parambikulam is home to more than 1,400 species of flowering plants, many varieites of medicinal plants and 67 species of orchids.

Besides tigers and white gaurs, the sanctuary houses Nilgiri Tahr, elephants, lion-tailed Macaque, panther, wild boar, flying squirrel, sambar, Bonnet Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, sloth bear, Nilgiri marten, king cobra, Travancore tortoise, Indian day gecko, flying lizard, Indian rock python, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, mountain skink, mugger crocodile, pond terapin, spectacled cobra, krait, green keelback.

You can find birds such as lesser adjutant stork, grey-headed fish-eagle, Peninsular bay owl, broad-billed roller, black-capped kingfisher, great pied hornbill, little cormorant, black eagle, great Indian hornbill, and black woodpecker.

The sanctuary, located over 285sq.km, in Chittur taluk in Palakkad, will be extended to the forest divisions in Nenmara, Chalakudy and Vazhachal (about 358sq.km of area) in order to comprise a total area of 643 sq km. Parambikulam is approachable by road from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, 90km away. The nearest airport and railhead is at Coimbatore.

The temple is flanked by hills and forests. The lake, too, is close by. The temple was built by a prince of the Pandhalam Royal family. The idol here is said to have been the swayambhu idol worshipped by Lord Rama during his trip to Lanka (now, Sri Lanka) in his search for Sita.

The temple’s 10-day annual festival is a colourful affair. The Kettukazhcha ritual procession and performances of folk arts such as Mayilattam and Ammankudam are seen here. The festival ends with the Arattu: five caparisoned elephants in a procession held at midnight. On important days and during festivals, scores of monkeys are fed at the temple premises. There’s even a trust formed to take care of their feeding and welfare!

The Fashion Expo 2009, scheduled for Dec. 18-20, 2009, will be hosted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Kochi, by Admakers Expo Company, a city-based event management concern that has 10 years experience in the field.

Fashion shows, product launches, seminars and fashion competitions have been planned for this three-day event. The functions across the days will benefit professionals from individuals and sectors such as textile, silk, ethnic fabrics, fashion designers and publications, leather garments, fashion accessories and equipment.

Exhibitors come from from fields such as textiles, jewellery, diamond, wedding collections, interior products and materials, glassware, household appliances, leather items and various apparels and accessories,

We checked out the place. It’s comfy, easily accessible, and away from the din of the city but still rocking. And there’s two floors of it. Lots and lots of tables and corners to choose from…!

The service is damn quick, menu has been improved and the lighting and seating is just right. The non-chair seats are not cushioned, though. That’s a small dampener. For the veggies, there’s quite a bit to choose from. Kids have gameboxes to order – the chicken comes with it. The 12-buck softy is too good to pass.

Their feedback form is absolutely revamped – different from the usual ‘tick the correct box’ types, and is a two fold, colourfully-worded one.

If you haven’t been to the KFC outlet in Cochin yet, shame on you. Go ahead and learn your lickonomics of the day. We’re sure you will go back for more!

Kids hang their X’mas stocking for Santa’s gifts. Mothers go shopping for clothes, cakes, wine, and all kinds of knick-knacks suitable for X’mas. Men bring out the X’mas tree and start decorating it. All in all, it is a time for cheer and merrymaking.

There was a time when, as kids, we used to bring home the topmost part of a coniferous tree and put it up in front of our homes with colour papers and stars on it. But now we see plastic trees that come in all sizes and shapes; some even with the names of people’s favourite movie stars on them!!

Several shops in the city have started stocking up ‘X’mas stuff’. A few boutiques have put up sale boards – you can buy anything from colourful candles and tree decorations to X’mas-themed linen here. Bakeries and hotels stack rows and rows of X’mas cakes – plain plum ones to rich, rum-soaked, dry fruit special ones.

The majority of the shopping in Cochin is concentrated on Broadway, behind Menaka Junction, and in supermarkets across the city. And, don’t forget that a lot of shops announce an ‘end of the year sale’, too. Here, you can shop for non-X’mas things as well.

Pick up your shopping bag and grab the best this X’mas.

Parikrama has chosen 11-year-old band Evergreen, a Kochi-based one, to perform with them. Rock on, Kochiites!!