Childhood. The freedom to just be you. No inhibitions. No validations.
Sibling love. Met this adorable brother and sister in Kuruva Island in Wayanad, channeling their inner Tarzan and swinging from trees, and enjoying nature. They were all smiles when I took their photos but were too shy to talk to me.
Standing there and watching these kids playing, I was just lost in my thoughts. Sometimes I wish I could just let go of everything and just be.
There are some travels that heal you and some that challenge you. Sometimes you need to challenge yourself, climb higher up the branches and scale new heights. But sometimes you just need to slow down, be happy where you are, heal your body and mind, and enjoy the view from the branch you are at. And each one has his or her branch to climb and to appreciate the view. Which branch of life are you at?
I posted this on my Instagram yesterday and was overwhelmed with the various responses that I got and I wanted to share the same with all of you.
I am back from a five-day trip to Kerala, my first solo travel and work trip this year and it has been a wonderful experience. Lost myself in nature, arts and crafts, rural escapades, birdwatching, delicious food, and of course meet some very inspiring people. Each experience was eclectic and I thought that I will dedicate this newsletter to Kerala. I will share my travel experiences and my first leg of the journey here.
Hello and Welcome to the 25th edition of Journeys and Jottings. My travels have always been a mixed bag of experiences. I have slowly embraced mindful travel and I have been focussing on storytelling. The pandemic has made me realize how we make the best use of the opportunities that we have. JRR Tolkien said, “ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” And with travel, the options are many but there are no right or wrong answers. I have however chosen to heal myself with my travels but also focus on mindful and meaningful experiences. And on that note, I would like to introduce Sargaalaya to you.
Sargaalaya Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Iringal
Rajesh TK, the General Manager told me that Sargaalaya is a blend of two words - Sarga and Alaya. Sarga means creative and Alaya is home of creativity. A few weeks ago, I had got a call from Rajesh, who had attended my workshop on Content Marketing and Social Media that I had conducted two years ago with IITM Noida and the Ministry of Tourism and he requested me to visit Sargaalaya Kerala Arts and Crafts Village. I was curious as I had not heard of it before. I took an early morning flight from Bangalore to Kannur and within an hour was in a hamlet called Iringal, near Vattakara.
When we entered the portals of Sargaalaya from the dusty highway, I was literally blown away. An old quarry site had been revived and it had now morphed into a beautiful, placid lake. Birds roosting in the branches of trees called out in unison inviting me.
The campus was spread around 20 acres and it was an island with the River Moorad flowing behind. They even had a small guest house and from my room, I could see the vast expanse of the waters and the remnants of the rocks from the quarry creating a vivid picture.
The campus was truly a home to over 45 women and 20 men who are artisans who were from neighbouring villages and were handpicked by Sargaalaya. Live demonstrations and workshops of several arts and crafts were performed by the artisans.
Kerala murals, terracotta sculptures, paintings, traditional weaves, pottery, basket and cane weaving, temple arts and crafts - name it and every art and craft found an artist here. There is an emporium as well.
It took me over three hours to explore the campus, meet the artists and sculptors, painters and potters and other craftsmen and women. It was indeed a home of creativity. And I was overwhelmed when I was gifted a painting done by one of their talented senior artists.
Lunch was a delicious Kerala Sadya served in the evening, we went to the banks of the river to see the sunset and then to the local beach, where you can see the estuary as well. And we ended the day with a visit to Lokanarkavu Temple, a temple complex that is dedicated to the deities Vishnu, Shiva, and Bhagavathy Amman.
I was so overwhelmed after meeting the skilled artisans and the products are available on the online shop. However for an authentic experience, I would strongly recommend that you add Sargaalaya in your Kerala itinerary. A detailed blog would be coming up soon.
100 Stories of India
To most people, Kerala only refers to the backwaters but there are many gems in this God’s own country. I wrote a post a few years ago recommending some of the destinations that are usually overlooked by tourists. I am planning to add Sargaalaya as well soon and even do a detailed post on my blog. Meanwhile, if you are planning a trip to Kerala, I suggest that you take a look at some of these lesser-known destinations as well that go beyond the backwaters and also read this story that I had written on Bekal Fort.
Bekal Fort
It was a sudden whim that took me to Bekal. Many a train journey had brought me to its shores earlier, but I had never explored it on foot. It was always the view from the window seat that had stayed with me. However this time, I decided that I will take the road from Bangalore. Driving along I passed by landscapes that changed like a paintings. An indifferent montage of sleepy villages suddenly morphed into hills carpeted by coffee and cardamom plantations and then suddenly , the world looked blue. Backwaters, rivers, oceans competed with spotless skies as my journey took me through crowded towns, silent temples and traffic logged bad roads to enter Bekal.
Standing on the shores of the Arabian Sea is Kerala’s largest fort, spread over 40 acres of land, beautified by the Kerala Tourism Board. I am early for sunset and a lone gardener is watering the plants. A goat sits at the entrance, oblivious to the beauty around it. Built in the 17th century, the fort seems to have risen from the seashore itself, as you can see the waves gently stroke the citadel. Attributed to Shivappa Nayak of Bednore, one wonders if the ramparts were built here earlier, as Bekal was probably a significant port in ancient times and some scholars identify it with the old Vekkaloth Fort. It is believed that many rulers, including the Europeans, had probably made some modifications to it, while Tipu Sultan who used it as a base to conquer the Malabar region built the Observation Tower here.
People Make Places
Think Kalaripayattu and you think of sticks and swords. Kalaripayattu or Kalari is one of the oldest martial arts, dating to over 3000 years. The Goddess Bhagavathy is the patron deity of the martial art which is practiced all over the Malabar region of Kerala and is taught in the Guru Shishya Parampara.
Kalari means battlefield and the martial art involves combat techniques with swords and other weapons and it is taught in a very ritualistic and traditional, manner. Practitioners were also well versed in Ayurveda, healing techniques and they have a thorough knowledge of the body, the pressure points as well. Kalaripayattu includes yoga and dance and is practised both in peace and war as well.
During my trip to Kerala, I was extremely honoured to meet Meenakshi Amma, the doyen of the martial arts and the only lady Kallaripayatu practitioner, nay warrior to receive the prestigious Padma Shree three years ago. She is 78 years now but for her, age is just a number. Whether she is standing and observing her wards or striking a move, she still packs a punch .
This great-grandmother can deftly parry with her son, Sanjeev Kumar, a Guru himself with a bamboo cane, or can strike any opponent with her sword. When she is in combat mode, she is formidable and fearless, agile and nimble-footed, but when she is with her little girls, who are her students, she is full of warmth and affection as she gently puts an arm around them, adjusting a fold in their costumes.” Kalaripayattu is a part of me and I am a part of it. It’s like breathing to me,” she says.
It’s 8 am and the kalari behind her home is teeming with young girls and boys getting ready to be trained. As Guru Sanjeev Kumar trains them, I manage to speak to Meenakshi Amma about how she got into Kalaripayattu. It was her father who enrolled her at the age of seven. “There were very few girls then. I started learning dance when I was five and then my family and dance teacher decided I should learn kalaripayattu. Even today, I am learning, “ she smiles as she tells me .
She learnt under her Guru PV Raghavan who she later married when she was 17. She is now the matriarch of Kadathanattu Kalari Sanghamthe school that was established by her husband.
As she speaks to me, she watches her students practise and barks a few instructions here and there. “ I am grateful for the recognition, she says, “but I wish Kalaripayattu was recognised earlier. There have been several well-deserving and renowned Gurus before me. But I am glad that Kalaripayattu is finally getting recognised and this has led to more young girls to start learning.”
We take a little break as she shows me a few moves and also teaches me as well. One of the students is combating her Guru with a sword and we all watch in absolute awe. Meenakshi Amma then adds, “Kalaripayattu makes us all become brave soldiers. For women, it’s not just about self-defense, but also about empowerment. Women become very confident and strong both physically and mentally. Every girl , woman, even house wives should learn. Even you should. “
There are four stages of Kalaripayattu. The first stage is essentially about physical fitness and there are exercises and regimes for the body. But eventually, it transcends beyond the physical state. It builds mental stamina, purifies your body and soul, and brings in a balance. It improves concentration and focus, makes you patient, teaches you fortitude and courage, gives you a sense of calm and confidence, and at the same time makes you feel strong and powerful. As she says, “ You can face anything in life. When your body and mind are connected with Kalaripayattu, your problems like your opponents vanish.”
I stand there mesmerised and inspired as she gently smiles and puts an arm around me and pats my back. Some people are special, some moments are priceless. This was one of them.
Feedback Please
I do hope that you enjoyed reading this issue. Looking forward to your feedback as always. We are going to keep the flow of conversations going and I would really appreciate it if you will share my newsletter with your friends and family. I am so grateful for the love this year and would appreciate it if you can share this newsletter in your circles.
See you soon! You can also read my travel stories on my blog and follow me on my social media.
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I tried to avoid your newsletters
Recently I read few of them I loved them
I read this today, the childhood part is pure nostalgia and the kerala part too