Waste Recycling


This is how the Trichur Corporation is solving the problem of waste. Two
tubes are given for less than 100 INR. The real cost is 893 INR.  90% is
subsidy. 75% given by Shuchithva Mission and 15% by Corporation.


The householder gets two tubes for less than 100. He can put waste in one
tube and close it with a lid. After one week when the tube becomes full with
waste, he can fill the other tube. ( On top of that waste, buttermilk, cowdung,
curd can be put ). Meanwhile the first tube will be full of fertiser and that
fertiliser can be used as manure for farms ! Tubes have 8 inch diameter and 1.3
meter length. Initially tubes will be given to 20 K homes.
Distribution of tubes have begun. Not a great engineering idea, but maybe
it will suffice !

About Monsoon Express





The famous Thiruvathira Njattuvela or the Sun’s transit of Alpha Oriionis began today. There was a heavy downpour at 0700 AM for half an hour and then there is a sunny interlude now. Now it is sunshine , but at any moment the sky can go dark. Thiru muriyathe peythu nirayunna thiruvathira. It will rain ambrosia in Aridra !

Rains galore in the month of Gemini in Kerala

The rains have been continuing for two days and now there is a break. It rained almost for 48 hours. Unlike last year’s Makiryam Njattuvela, there were no fierce rains. In some places in Kerala, the rains took on the Dance of Destruction, destroying some homes and wells. The dams must have got enough water. Kerala was under the threat of power cut.

Despite its demerits, Rain is a beauty Goddess, evoking memories of wet experiences. She generates beauty and is responsible for the green landscaping effectuated by Nature. She gives grace to this tiny province and is the manifestation of Grace !


.


Vizhinjam – The proposed ICTT Terminal

A 5500 cr Port is proposed. Vizhinjam is a Deep Sea Port. It is on the Asia – Europe route. There is a natural depth of 18 metres here. This Port will be able to accomodate ships with displacements about 300, 000 tonnes. Other ports are hard pressed to accomodate ships of even 200,000 tonnes ! A 5 metre dredging can mean that Vizhinjam can accomodate the biggest ship in the world, with a displacement of more than 564 K tonnes !

The Vizhinjam Port can handle supertakers and the biggest container mother ships with ease.  This Port is closer to the international shipping line than any other Indian port, which makes it all the more economical for ships to call here. This opens up avenues for refueling or bunkering of ships as well as ship repair. On the crude transshipment front, a transshipment facility with a storage complex and docking piers will reduce the turn around time for ships. Crude is India’s biggest import and Vizhinjam lies very close to the Persian Gulf – Far East shipping lanes used by most supertankers.


VALLARPADAM, the Lovely Island


Vallarpadam is one of the two main islands of Kochi, the other being Willingdon Island. It is situated next to Bolgatty Island on the West and linked to the mainland by the Goshree Bridges. It is about 3.5 km in length in the north south direction and hosts a population of 10 K people. It is about one km away from the mainland.

Vallarpadam and the proximate island New Vypin holds tremendous development potential. because of its nearness to the international east west trade route between Asia and Europe. It is situated in the 200 km long Vembanad Lake, known as the Lake of Kochi.

Vallarpadam is connected via Rail with the Edappally Railway Station with a 4620 m long Rail Bridge. This rail connectivity is for transporting containers from the ICTT.
These are some of the photos of the ICTT at Vallarpadam

Vallarpadam is flanked on the east by Bolgatty Island.
and on the West by Vypin Island.

These are two beauteous islands  on the Kochi Lake, the Wembanad Lake. Tourists find these islands heavenly. Experience it for yourself !


How to make Dal Vada !

How to make Dal Vada

Grind the dal in a mixie ( not too much). Add sliced onions and chillies. Also curry leaves. Make it into balls. Flatten the balls and put it it boiling oil and lo ! you have Parippu Vada !


My trip to Thirunavaya





I reached Thirunavaya at
about 0830. The rains were there till 0730 and I could do the Sraddham without
rains. When I left Thirunavaya it was not raining. The Nila has only some
water, but the priest told me that after Makiryam Njattuvela is over, after 14
days, the water level will rise 12 steps high ! 
Below is a photo of the
Ponnani Estuary, where the Ganges of Kerala, the Bharatha Puzha, flows into the
Arabian Sea !



A Prelude to Makiryam Njattuvela !





Tomorrow Makiryam Njattuvela starts. Now it is raining heavily in
Guruvayur ! The sky was brimming with pessimistic prophecies and now the rains
are coming.

Last year’s Makiryam Njattuvela wrought havoc. For 36 hours
it rained non stop and we had a darkened atmosphere. It devastated rural Kerala
!

Tomorrow I am off to Thirunavaya for my Mother’s Sraddham. Hope rains
will not hit Thirunavaya tomorrow.

The Pagan Roots of Environmentalism




All talk about Environmentalism derived
from Paganism. Dasa putro sama druma – One tree = Ten sons, averr the Veda.

Trees are carbon storage units, they absorb Co2 and give out Oxygen.
Trees and water reservoirs enable Evapotranpiration in the Water Cycle. Trees
are very important and no wonder our ancestors, who lived in harmony with
Nature, hailed trees as sons !

Today is the World Envrionment Day.
Let us plant trees and go green !

It is said of Kerala that She is a
state clad in a green Silk Saree, Pacha Pattudutha Keralam. So magnificently has
Nature landscaped her in greenish hue. The primary cause of this phenomenon is
that she gets 3 Monsoons, the South West, The North East and the Summer
Monsoons. She gets more than 3000 mm rains per year. The definition of a desert
is a place which gets less than 250 mm rains annually. No wonder Koppen, the
German climatologist, called her Tropical Wet  and one of the best rainfall
areas in India ! The entire Malabar Belt of 825 km gets these three Monsoon and
is green !



Have you heard of Zen Singing Bowls ? Tibetan Singing Bowl ? Handicraft masterpieces from Nepal and Tibet ? The Himalayan Expanse, famous as the “Root of the World”, is characterised by mysterious Mysticism and home to instruments of Meditation and Relaxation ! We at tibet  provide some of the finest handicrafts from the Roof Top of the
World. These places have profound religious significance for both Hinduism and
Buddhism. We feature many fair trade items from Asia including Malas, Clear Quartz Singing Bowls, Tibetan Prayer Flags, Tibetan
Herbal Incense, Ceramic Singing Bowls, Tingsha Meditation Chimes, Gongs, Bells
and Dorjes, Natural Handmade Soap, Mala Prayer Beads,
Crystal Singing Bowls, Himalayan Salt Lamps, Spouting Bowls, Hand Carved Wood Masks, Himalayan Singing Bowls,  Tibetan Singing Bowls,
Yoga and Meditation Supplies, Himalayan Salt Lamps, Brass and Bronze Statues,
Japanese Singing Bowls and many other unique handicrafts at wholesale
prices.