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KUMARAKOM
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
MY DEDICATION FOR VANDANA BAJIKAR.
The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, a state in India.
Environment:
Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish), shrimp (chemmeen in the local language) and prawns. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction.
Economy:
Agriculture, fishing and tourism are the major economic activities. The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals of the Meenachil river. Kumarakom's perfectly balanced tropical climate is conducive to cultivation.
Tourism:
There are several activities for visitors, depending on how much time, money and local language skills they have.
The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by canoes, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing canoe trip may cost about INR 200-250, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun.
House boats or speed boats can cover longer distances but cost more to hire.
God of Small Things:
Arundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" is set in Ayemenem or Aymanam village, which adjoins Kumarakom. The explosive success of this novel has given some added touristic impetus to this area. The Taj Garden Retreat hotel complex is centered around a building that is called "History House" in the novel; it was built by British missionary Alfred George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elided form of "Baker Sahib"), as in the novel.[1] Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962, speaking Malayalam, and even wearing the mundu. The Baker Memorial School, Kottayam, was started by a daughter of this family in 1925. The Baker family's house is in ruins in the novel, as it was in reality before was developed into a hotel and has been restored by the Taj group. The Ayemenem house, where Arundhati Roy spent part of her childhood (like the twins in the story), can also be visited in the village, which can be reached by boat along the Meenachil river that figures prominently in the story.
Modes of access:
One can access Kumarakom by many means:
By air: via Cochin International Airport and the Trivandrum International Airport
By rail: via Kottayam (16 kilometres)
By boat: From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.
By road: Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
ENJOY THE DAYS, MY DEAR FRIENDS.. |
szatanowska, ola_kwiatek, vandana2923, gnada, tanburi, JohnTulip, ioana_tm has marked this note useful
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Hello JEAN PAUL!!
I've never seen real palms with my own eyes!!
Great colorful and nice compo!
have u taken a ride in one of that boats??
I would have done it!;)
TFS
Ania
Hi Japiey! Amazing POV. Wonderful view. Amazing colors. Good dynamic take. Cheers!
Hello:)
Nice scene, so warm and pleasant. Great POV and perspective.
Very relaxing view... :)))
Tfs,
Iza
- lopa
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1083 W: 244 N: 847]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(8927) - [2008-01-16 10:15]
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Hi Jean,
Wonderful post!
I like your POV with top view of the river. Excellent colour and perspective.
TFS
Lopa
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- korbee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1375 W: 0 N: 1674]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(13565) - [2008-01-16 12:15]
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Jean brings back the good memorie of Kerala to me.
jan
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- gnada
(21687)
- [2008-01-16 18:55]
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Hi Jean...
Excellent Sunset shot...
Beautiful colors! Very nice composition and detail.
Greetings,
George
Hi, I took an 8 hour ferry in Kerala, so nice!!! I have been on those thatched roof boats and canoes, smallboats, all kinds of boats in the back waters, so beautiful, so peaceful.....
Hi Jean,
Dance of brillant greens.
Excellent riverscape, picturesque one.
Selahattin E
Hello Jean,
THANK YOU.
This is so beautiful top view. Love it.
Did you took from the bridge?
Nice colors, and yes...warm sunny days :-)
Vandana
later
Nice work Jean Paul
I do recognise the same canal from Vandana's previous photo's.
Shot well done
JohnT
Hi dear friend,
so nice to view India thro your photos.
Nicely seen and presented.
Beautiful dedication.
Best wishes,
Ioana
Hello Jean Paul:
Besides that the photo is very pretty and is a great shot, the so extensive explanation and documented that you cause is to thank.
Cordial greetings friend.
Josep
Hallo Jean,
ausgezeichnetes Foto mein Freund. Sehr guter Bildaufbau, also...eine gute Komposition.
Gruß,
Chris
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