Gods Own Country, Kerala revisited, ronnie johnson, 2004

During the month of May, schools in India get what they refer to as 'Summer Holidays', here it was much welcome for most as this year in particular was the 'Election' drama, and lo and behold we got a new Government. It was during this month that my wife decided to go to Kerala, commonly referred as 'God's Own Country'. I had not visited the place for over 5 years and a trip together was pending for over a decade. Leaving the children, now one really cannot call them so, we left on 5th May 2004 by KPC's 5 p.m. bus from Madiwalla, trip quite confortable. The journey was not that tiring, but the long time one is made to be seated (stops were rare), my legs swelled up slightly because of poor circulation. So much for griping. Landing there, and full of expectant excitement, the darn cyclone hit the coast and we were camped on the shore of the Ashtamundi Lake, there was no let up, the alternative entertainment was to keep the throat in compassion with the weather we had outside, and the days passed. We did have a short day off , so I borrowed my brother in law Denzil's bike, and Maisy and I went to town vide ferry and road, and our destination was Quilon ( now calledKollam ) and Tangassery, to take out all the pictures that I wanted to do so years ago, but never had the opportunity to do so because namely I did not know the language and the areas. Armed and accompanied now with a 'local guide' I was more at home, and we did cover quite an area which if I had tried to do so would have needed a few trips. I will share with you this 'piece' of 'God's Own Country' and a new collection of photographs only on personal request to me by mail.

Next I did have chance to go with Denzil to visit other areas like Kovilthottam and other parts of Quilon. As he is a Civil Engineer, I had chance to visit many of the works of restoration that he is undertaking and consulting. Some of the Churches that is undergoing restoration were build as far back as the year 1600!! One church (St. Andrew's) in particular is in a critical condition having weathered storm after storm and situated about 400 meters from the sea. After skinning the layer of plaster which was lime and motar, one was affronted with the mud - brick - lime motar that is literally crumbling, but somehow is lucky to be saved. Fr. Diony is the Parish Priest of the Church, and further information can be got from him. The monsoons having come a little earlier than usual with a cyclonic storm during the first 2 weeks of May (2004) have really taken it' toll on some of old structures. I will share with you this 'piece' of God's Own Country and a new collection of photographs and sunsets, only on personal request to me by mail.

We also did have a chance to visit Alleppey (now calledAlappuzha) and I was lucky to get some of the essence of the city, the market place with it's old structures and canals, churches (the Holy Cross Forane Church, Pazhavangady, was built in 1400, and is in top class condition, strange it somehow does not figure in the Tourist list, there is a reference to St. Mary's Forane Church, which we did not get to see !) and we even had chance to visit the beach which had an old disused pier. I will share with you this 'piece' of God's Own Country and a new collection of photographs only on personal request to me by mail.

Leaving Kerala on the 17th May 2004, we did have a restful and also an eventful time, celebrated Denzil and his wife Connie (Maisy's sister) 36 Anniversary. We also got the good news from Bangalore that they had an addition of a new grandson to their son Euie and his wife Winnie. The trip back was uneventful, quite noisy as the driver kept on slapping his 'klaxon' horn as the traffic on the highways were quite indisciplined. We did reach an hour late, but in comfort of an air-conditioned Shama's 'Volvo' bus, which is the new attraction. Actually the roads are quite good and the NH47 and NH7 are a pleasure to ride on, it's the areas inbetween that are catching up and dragging the traffic to a halt like the check points, Sales Tax, RTO, and many others that seem to come in a string that one can get stuck at least for an hour, nudging with trucks, cars, vans all churning up slush in a lazy anaconda appearance slithering into the night.

Back to Bangalore, leaving the taste of prawns, fish and crabs and of course the nectar of the God's. I was unlucky not to get to taste 'Toddy', as there was abundant of dilution. This trip I have to say I did enjoy to a great extent, as I did accomplish a part of what I wanted to do, that is as usual capture the essence of the city. I was a little sad that I could not locate the old Protestant Church I used to see from the bus when the traffic was diverted in Alleppy. I just could not get to see it as I much wanted to photograph the excellent old cemetery that I could see for a fleeting glance from the bus.

This visit to Kerala is after a period of 6 years, and lots of changes have taken place. When you compare it to the earlier photos I have taken over the last 15 years, perhaps you may have some idea of the progression.!

I leave you to decide if you want to revisit ' God's Own Country'!!

Thought for the Day : " Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the false prophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26

A Trip to 'God's Own Country', Kerala Revisited, May 2004