HARTEL TOTAL

A beautiful peaceful day here in Kumily, the general strike held between the hours of six am and six pm. Only a few two wheelers plied the roads. All shutters remained down and no masala dosas met the griddle. Looking forward to the next strike, in Kerala there is normally two per month.

 

SHUTTERS DOWN

All India general strike today in protest against the governments demonetisation of the 1000 and 500 Rupee notes. 

So many common people who earn below the tax threshold and have managed to save over the years have lost life savings, unable to bank this money as all unaccounted cash carries a 200% penalty.

 

Meanwhile fat cats and fraudsters, who keep money in BIG suitcases, have laundered their black cash at a commission rate of 20% into the new 2000 notes and now only need small suitcases.

Expecting more trouble to come...

KERALA MEALS

Jolly good lunching at Visanth Vihar restaurant for midday and fill myself up with Ayurvedic drinking water mix from the hot jug, this aids digestion, all washed down with a Sweet Lassi. 

GOLDEN TIME

Mornings are special to me, early to rise and off down the local Chia shop for tea always ordered "without sugar", strangely and annoyingly it often tastes sweet. The Chia lady's excuse is "this is Kerala - the milk is sweet, the water is sweet".

MYSTICAL HIGH RANGE

The Kerala hills run the entire length of the state, known as the Western Ghats they are home to Tigers, tea plantations and spice gardens.

The perfect place to acclimatise to the heat of the tropics as the mornings are often misty but do normally burn off by midday leaving beautiful sunny afternoons.

 Looking forward to visiting the jungle again and reading Kipling "Plain Tales from the Hills"

MONEY MATTERS

Click >> http://economictimes demonetised-notes << 

Here's the new 2000 rupee note

The Indian Prime ministers surprise announcement to make 1000 and 500 notes non legal tender has left the country in turmoil.

I haven't been able to change any money yet as the banks are restricting businesses to 25,000 rupees withdrawals weekly, this includes licensed foreign exchange bureau so shutters are down.

To make matters worse the Pound has lost 20% against the Rupee since Brexit !

WELCOME TO KERALA

 

NAMASTE AND WELCOME TO KERALA THE TROPICAL STATE OF INDIA.