CHURCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the late 1700's thousands of Christians fled

Portuguise ruled Goa and the Konkani region fearing

persecution from the Tippu Sultans invasion forces.

 

Many settled in Kasaragode and founded this church

dedicated to Mother of sorrows, named Bela Church.

 

 

Love from X RJB X

TEMPLE

 

Only 16 km from Kasaragod town

is the Ananthapura lake temple

it's the only one of it's kind to be

found in Kerala.

 

The two acre hand quarried water

body is home to a crocodile named

Babiya that local people say protects

the holy site.

 

Unfortunately it was a flying visit for

us here today but I shall return next

year and investigate the reptiles

existence.

 

 

The ancient Sri Madanantheshwara

Siddivinayaka temple of Madhur

is located 7km from Kasaragod

town.

 

The Tippu Sultan wanted to demolish

the temple but after drinking water

from the well here changed his mind

and marched his forces towards

the Malabar coast and Bekal.

 

 

Love from X RJB X

MOSQUE

Situated on the Kasargod river

estuary 3 km from city centre is

the Great Juma Masjid that was

founded and concecrated by

Malik Deenar, a companion of

the prophet Mohammed, back

in 643 A.D. (Hijrah 22)

 

Subsequent restorations by the

former Qazis have left us with

this beautiful and important

place of worship accordingly

named MALIK DEENAR.

 

The spacious masjid complex

receives many visitors and is

home to an Islamic academy,

ladies prayer hall and even a

welcoming canteen.

 

The landscaped gardens are

wonderfully planted with many

mango trees.

Much to the delight of local

children a swimming tank has

been constructed within the

mosques grounds allowing a

cooling dip on holidays.

 

Malik Deenar was buried here

making the mosque esteemed

as a place of annual pilgrimage.

 

 

Love from X RJB X

MEET HAMEED

This is semi retired, yet still hard

working Mr Hameed P.M.

 

He's had a long and varied career,

spending his youth in the fisheries

sector, his middle years in hospitality

and now is a shopkeeper.

 

Talking about technology today he

recalled, "when I was aged seven

only one house in the village had a

wind-up gramaphone and I would

listen at the open window to disks".

 

He still enjoys the same old 50's

film song tunes in Malayalam but

nowadays Hameed has a MP3

player in his van.

 

His message to the world is :

"Please come to Kerala this

is Gods own country".

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

MEET SHAFI

This is supermarket manager

and entrepreneur Mr Shafi P.H.

 

Shafi sells mobile phone credit

and provides internet wifi in the

newly opened juice bar attached

to his shop here in Chembarikka.

 

Brother to four sisters and uncle

to nine children he also manages

the local amateur football club.

 

Aged 27 Shafi is now ready for

marriage,this eligible bachelor

the Prince of Chembarikka will

be choosing a bride soon.

 

His message to the world is :

"We all belong to one family

(human race) so it's everyone's

responsibility to maintain peace ,

love and care".

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

CURIOUS VEG

 

Bitter gourd

(Kayppayka)

These knobbly vine fruits are

fried and mixed with grated

coconut to make thoran.

 

Medicinal properties include

cures for rheumatism & gout.

 

Elephant foot yam

(Chenna)

This monster corm is a beloved

ingredient for veg sambar.

 

It's medicinal properties include

cures for bronchitis,asthma and

elephantiasis.

 

 

Tapioca

(Kappa)

 

Originally from Brazil these

starch packed tubers are high

in complex carbohydrates.

 

Sliced into wafers and deep fried

in coconut oil then salted they

make popular snack chips.

 

 

Love from X RJB X

BEKAL REVISITED

 

When Vasco da Gama

discovered the sea route

to India, trade with the

Portuguese grew making

the Bekal fort important

as a defender against

privateers, pirates and

the British.

 

Built from Laterite blocks direct onto

bedrock this formidable fortress has

12 metre high walls.

 

The bastions and parapets are pierced

with arrow slits and gun-holes taking

command of the surrounding area and

beach below.

 

Individually crafted, the holes line up

with potential enemy hiding places,

making any attempt of amphibious

attack futile.

The Archaeological survey

of India had four seasons of

excavation here recently and

yielded a temple complex,

durbar hall and mint house.

 

Small finds included copper

moulds and copper coins

from the times of Tippu

Sultan. People believe that

the Sultans rich stuff is still

buried here somewhere.

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

THE DAILY GRIND

 

Mr kutti spins a treadle

powered mobile blade

sharpening business.

 

Here set up outside the

solar panel outlet on

Mahatma Gandhi road

Kasaragode.

 

Providing a razor sharp

service for chefs,barbers,

tailors,agriculturists and

housewives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

BEKAL

A tour of Kasaragod

wouldn't be complete

without a visit to the

mighty Bekal fort,the

polygonal shaped

citadel spreads over

a vast 40 acres.

Nayaka rulers,Rajas

and Sultans built and

held the fortress for

hundreds of years

controlling the Malabar

coast.

Arthur Wellesley, later to

become the 1st Duke of

Wellington, chased Tippu

Sultan around South India

finally catching up with

his forces at Seringapatam

in 1799 where he was

slain by a highlander,

from then on Bekal fort

became a British held

stronghold.

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

TENDERNUT

 

 

My daily morning walk across

the city from my lodge to the fish

market would not be complete

without taking a tender coconut

at this delightful shop.

 

The rehydrating and nourishing

sweet water fortifies me for the

exhausting day ahead.

 

"A coconut a day keeps

the doctor away".

 

 

Love from X RJB X

COCONUT DITTY

 

 

 

 

 

Kerala is known as 'land of

the Coconut' , wherever you

look they are growing.

 

Constantly producing flowers

then fruit high up safe in their

leafy crowns.

 

The health promoting nut

is an important ingredient

in the Keralite cuisine.

 

Malayalam:(Thengh)

The tree has 101 different

uses, the fresh leaves when

plaited make excellent roof

and floor mats.

 

The trunks convert easily

into long beams by splitting

for house construction.

 

The mature kernel when sun

dried is pressed to make oil

and the immature tender nut

gives us the delicious sweet

coconut water.

Get your coconut water,

man it's good for your daughter,

the coco's gotta lot of iron,

make you strong like a lion.

 

You can cook it in a pot,

you can serve it very hot,

get your coconut candy,

make you feel very dandy.

 

What's best if your feeling glum,

is coconut water and a little rum,

it will make you very tipsy,

make you feel like a gypsy.

 

(Thanks Harry Belafonte)

 

 

Love from X RJB X

OPEN ALL HOURS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al-Ameen stores, the hub of Chembarikka, is run

by Mr Shafi and his father Mr Hameed.

 

It's a most obliging supermarket selling everything

from rice to cotton buds. If a customers request

isn't in stock then Hameed will source that item

immediately during his daily cash and carry.

 

Shafi dominates the mobile phone recharge

monopoly in the village as well as making the

coldest ,fruitiest milkshakes in Malabar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

FRAME UP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Famshid the picture framer runs this colourful shop with his

father on KPR Rao road, Kasaragode.

 

Wall mirrors and framed pictures of Hindu Deities, sweet baby

Jesus and Islamic calligraphy are sold here. The business has

been running for 44 years and set for the half century.

Devotion to God and self grooming go together.

 

 

Love from X RJB X

BEEDI WORKS

 

On Nayaks road Kasaragode

is the Dinesh beedi factory.

 

A beedi is an Indian style

country cigarette, cleverly

crafted from a Tendu leaf,

filled with tobacco flakes

and tied shut with a cotton

thread.

 

It's the working mans best

cigarette and used by tens

of crores.

 

 

 

Firstly the Tendu leaf

is cut to shape using

a metal template.

 

These leaves are

imported from Gujarat

and come from the East

Indian Ebony tree.

(Diospyros Melanoxylon)

 

 

Then the rolling begins with

each operative producing on

average 1000 beedi per day.

 

This Co-Op workforce seems

happy in their jobs and aren't

contracted to piece work.

 

Handling ounces of tobacco

dust soaks into their fingertips

giving an all day high.

 

Meet the Ladies and watch

them roll in this short film

(Duration 2 min 40 sec)

http://youtu.be/lkykVRKhXJ8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X

GOKARNA DAY TRIP

On the Konkan railway get down here...

 

GOKARNA MEANS EAR OF THE COW.

 

Karnatican temples parade

these great wooden carts,

known as Juggernauts,through

the streets at festival times.

 

This important Hindu pilgrim

town is home to the famous

Mahabaleshwar temple.

 

Many beautiful and secluded

beaches are found along this

stretch of coast, a favorite for

young and hedonistic low

budget back packers.

 

 

OM Beach has the naturally formed Sacred shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Koodilly beach - hedonism heaven for hippies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love from X RJB X