January 4th: Our trip to India took off at 14.50 hrsflying Emirates EK0108

to Dubai. Slept the night in Dubai then proceeded to Kochi airport in Kerala. Thankachan was there to greet us. He lives in Kannur.

My encounter with THANKACHAN V P,

Slideshare friend and a renowned Lawyer at Kuthuparamba

Stopping to tuck in some food on our way from airport. Almost mid-night.

On an auspicious day On an auspicious day the elders of the the elders of the groom's side go to groom's side go to bless the bride and bless the bride and vice versa, by vice versa, by sprinkling husked rice sprinkling husked rice and trefoil on their and trefoil on their heads and giving heads and giving them goldthem goldornaments. ornaments. It is a kind It is a kind of of acceptance acceptance of the boy of the boy and the girl and the girl on both on both sides.sides.

Venue for the Wedding reception.

My wife and I took turns to sprinkle rice on the Bridegroom

< Gina & Suma, Thankachan’s wife.

The wedding ritual over the

wedding ceremony begins. A

banquet is held to treat the guests who

lavish gifts on the new bride.

MORE WEDDING MORE WEDDING PHOTOSPHOTOS

The Bride and the Bridegroom.

Posing with the couple.

Preparing food for the Invited.

To commemorate the International Year of Astronomy in 2009, an article in the Malayalam newspaper Mathruboomi, examined the legacy of Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler. It also brought out an important topic – Eurocentrism in history writing – due to which it delved into the work done on telescopes by Galileo, Hans Lippershey and Roger Bacon.

Thankachan and his Astronomy class.Thankachan and his Astronomy class.

Eager boys wanted to know about Malta.Ended up signing around 50 copybooks.

Teaching the natives via a big

screen.

Invited to address the crowd. Malta

was my topic.

In their propensity to solve astronomical problems, mathematicians of the Kerala school developed concepts like Gregory’s series and the Leibniz’s series. Thankachan is one of many that teach the natives of Kerala to understand further.

Open air gathering. All attentive, all digesting what Thankachan is saying.

A day out with Thankachan & SumaA day out with Thankachan & Suma

Stopping at a Coconut stall with Gina quenching her thirst and later on selecting the

fresh fish for the night’s dinner.

Gina & Suma nibbling food offered freely at the Temple.

Right on top is Kuttapu, T & S’s son.Below a visit to Paru’s (T & S’s daughter) school + teachers.

With Thankachan & Suma at the foot of anotherTemple.

A sightseeing tour of the

region proved interesting

and exhilarating, especially

driving through the

forested narrow roads.

The snake farm or rather Animal Farm

Thankachan organized for us a 2 day tour outside of

Kannur. Riding in a comfortable car with 2 of his trusted friends, we ventured

on to Ooty then on to Mysore.Ooty also known as

Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and

the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular

tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue

Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots.

Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britisher’s during the colonial

days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above

sea level. Somewhat COLD

A day’s visit A day’s visit to OOTYto OOTY

Ooty has plenty of tourist attractions. The Botanical Gardens are full of shady trees, myriad ornamental plants and flowers. Another major tourist’s spot is Ooty Lake, which is at about 1-km of distance. It is an artificial lake constructed by John Suvillian, the first Collector and virtual founder of Ooty in 1824. Ooty organizes a number of carnivals all through the year. The most popular among them are the annual Tea and Tourism Festival in January, which

we sorely missed.

Driving to Driving to OOTYOOTY

Stretching our legs amongst the Eucalyptus Trees….. and a tea plantation at our backs.

The high altitude made us wear our jackets.A stop at a tea Factory was interesting and we ended coming out with small bags of varied tea

Leaves.Along the road we encountered the odd monkey

and the odd cow wandering the roads.

 If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held

there annually. 

More photos of OOTYMore photos of OOTY

Left to right……the lush greenery, the lake and our hotel (just kidding for in India, the word hotel also refers to restaurant). With Gina at the Botanical

gardens, the open market and the vegetable stall . Another pose at the Botanical gardens and finally

with our protégés at market.

Mysore is the second Mysore is the second biggest City in the State of biggest City in the State of Karnataka. It lies 130 kms Karnataka. It lies 130 kms

from the State from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. Headquarters, Bangalore.

It is the erstwhile capital of It is the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, the Mysore Maharajas, who ruled Mysore State who ruled Mysore State

from this royal city. from this royal city. Mysore has still an old Mysore has still an old world charm which has world charm which has

not given way to modern not given way to modern amenities. In addition to amenities. In addition to its beautiful silk sarees its beautiful silk sarees

and sandalwood oil, and sandalwood oil, Mysore is also famous for Mysore is also famous for its silk. Mysore is a city of its silk. Mysore is a city of palaces, gardens, shady palaces, gardens, shady

avenues and sacred avenues and sacred temples and retains some temples and retains some

of the charm of the old of the charm of the old world with its many world with its many

institutions that propagate institutions that propagate Carnatic Classical music Carnatic Classical music

and dance…….and dance…….

Next stop Next stop MYSOREMYSORE

Here we meet up with Here we meet up with Slideshare friend NSlideshare friend Noo2…2…

The carefree Avalok SastriThe carefree Avalok Sastri

Avalok took up my invitation to join us for a Avalok took up my invitation to join us for a day in Mysore. It took him over 150mins to day in Mysore. It took him over 150mins to

travel from Bangalore his home town. travel from Bangalore his home town. Worthwhile noting that Bangalore is India’s Worthwhile noting that Bangalore is India’s

fifth largest and fastest growing city.fifth largest and fastest growing city.

With Avalok at the With Avalok at the Maharaja's PalaceMaharaja's Palace

Drowning a shot Drowning a shot of good whiskeyof good whiskey

Not trusting Avalok as he Not trusting Avalok as he gestures with his fork!gestures with his fork!

Yet another pose prior to Yet another pose prior to entering the Palaceentering the Palace

A stop at a Hindu temple at the top of Chamundi Hill

Just relaxing.Just relaxing.

Avolok managed to have lunch and a late

dinner with us all prior to him heading home.

Avolok is just fantastic, once you get to know him. A laid back

person, if ever there was one.

Having been away Having been away for 2 days to for 2 days to

OOTY & MYSORE, OOTY & MYSORE, we returned for a we returned for a final 2 day stay final 2 day stay

with Thankachan with Thankachan & family.& family.

Before proceeding to Thankachan’s house we were invited by Rajan for a family

reunion….his wife, his son and daughter. On the way we even had time to visit

Thankachan’s brother and his wife. That’s her with my wife Gina.In the meantime, back home Suma was preparing

fresh home-made noodles for us and her adorable family.

A vast number of local Hindu Indian festivals revolve around the worship of gods at the neighborhood, or village nearby. We were present during one of these Festivals. Ordinary men are dressed up in the images

of the gods. People flock to them for advice and consolation. It is also a reason for music, dance,

processions, and what have you.

Undecided whether to

take a horse ride.

On the other hand the same Astrologer

predicted I could be the next winner!

The Basilica of Bom Jesus

Sorry for the poor state of some photos, but shrinking

the size and resolution lessens their quality

profoundly.

Music supplied by Thankachan.

Song is in Hindi and it is called

chupke chupke raat dinchupke chupke raat din