In the evenings leading up to Christmas the youth of Kumily take Santa on a door-to-door entertaining the residents with song and dance...with cashier in tow they collect money for charity.
These are two news stories from the Malayalam newspaper Madhyaman who reports about the slump in the tourism sector since demonetisation.
The first story is from Kasaragod Bekal fort where this trinket seller complains her business is 90% down due to lack of customers.
The second article is from the hill station Munnar (not far from my second haunt Kumily) and tells the story of a cashless American tourist who frustrated after many attempts to withdraw money from empty ATMs and driven by hunger, ate a restaurant meal then run from the eatery with bill unpaid, was chased and eventually caught by the staff, he was luckily excused and forgiven as the business owner had mercy on the staving visitor.
Drinking and eating a coconut every day keeps the doctor away, so they say in Kerala. The best coconuts have a little bit of jelly inside. I certainly feel refreshed after my daily nut.
The local authority provides a street cleaning service for the community at Thekkady, these ladies keep our neighbourhood nice and tidy by sweeping all debris away including the millions of teak leaves that fall.
(left to right) Krishnama, Jodthi, Silvi and Omana.
Sweet aroma fills the air from the flower stall conveniently placed at the Kumily bus stand. Kerala ladies like to decorate their hair with roses and jasmine, the garlands are for the departed.
These locally grown lemons squeeze nicely into my hot honey and ginger drink, it's starting to rain a little here in the Idukki hill range due to a cyclone approaching Madras from the Bay of Bengal, this drink keeps out the cold.