Cochin Bazaar - Early in the morning

Have started morning walks with my friend Vimala. Actually we started walking a year ago but stopped during the rainy season which lasts here for about 3-4 months. The route we take is through the old Cochin Bazaar - it is quiet, clean and not so crowded that early in the morning. Also as it is alongside the channel you gets wafts of cool breeze from the gaps between the houses.

Cochin Bazaar was at one time a bustling, vibrant place where goods were received and dispatched by "Vallams" (country boats) so most of the buildings on the channel side have their own small private piers. This was in the days before road and rail transport became convienient and popular. Once that happened and the Ernakulam bye-pass was built, Cochin lost its importance as a Bazaar and the businesses moved to Ernakulam. Now some of the buildings house handicraft shops and cafes to attract the few tourists who might wander there from the more popular Fort Kochi.

Early morning, as we walk along we get the smell of spices - chilly, pepper, cardamom and once garlic!!! As the sky brightens, we hear the call for prayers from the many mosques in the area. The Koonan Cross has early morning visitors on Fridays who light lamps and make supplications. The Koonan Cross is at the Church of Our Lady of Life where in 1653 a group of Saint Thomas Christians took an oath never to bow down before the Portugese. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Pakalomattam/Koonan_Cross_Oath

As we walk along we get the smell of the sea and unfortunately also of the canal which is not quite so salubrious. We have to manoeuvre past trucks waiting to be unloaded or to pick up their merchandise. The cabins have multicoloured little lamps and we often get to walk a little way to the tune of the latest Rehman or Illayaraja number (in tamil!).

By the time we return, the first of the school children are on the way to the bus stop. House wives, clad in that quintessentially malayalee outfit ' the nighty' return from the milk booths carrying packets of milk. We are regulars now, and can expect a smile or a greeting from our fellow walkers.

The resolution is to walk every day, but already we have had hiccups. No matter... the determination should see us through!

She shifted the child from her left hip to the right. Torn and dirty sari tied about her thin frame, hair brown with dirt and unwashed, adorned with flowers that had long ago lost any colour or fragrance they might have had. The child was crying, a nonstop low keening sound that meant that it was unwell and hungry. It had probably cried all night and now had no strength to carry on. Beggars are an unusual sight in the Kerala landscape, the few who are here are imports from the neighboring states. I stopped to see what she wanted. She was begging for a few rupees to take the child to the hospital, or so she said. Having read stories about children being stolen by beggar gangs to help in pulling at heart strings, I was quite cynical about her. "Come to the hospital with me and I'll get you some medicines" "No, amma , give me money." When I refused to do that, and insisted that she come to the hospital , she asked me "Doctoraa?" "No, but I can get you some medicines"

By now she was curious. "Where, amma?" I gave her the location, but I feel ashamed to say I wasn't about to get her into the car and take her there.



Needless to say, she didn't come. It was a little distance away and she was probably tired out. The whole day guilt gnawed at me, I wondered what happened to the two of them. Wondered how the child was. Wondered whether the woman had got any money and whether she had used it for medicines and food. Maybe I should have just given the money anyway and not insisted that she come to the hospital.

Wrapped in our cocoon of acquisitions, we don't realise how difficult it is for some to get even the very basic of things like food, shelter , clothing and medication. We are ready to help with material things, but when it comes to inconvieniencing ourselves, we hesitate. And the saddest part is, I dont know that if it happens again, whether I will act any differently.

Hmmm........ been a long time.. Have been wondering whether to continue with this blog or not....but I decided that since I started it, I better stick with it..

A lot has happened in the last one year. Both kids have moved out, its just Rajendran Kuttenmama and me here at home now. How do we spend the evening??

1. Kuttenmama listens to religious texts on his rigged up system as he lies on his bed.. I swear he is more techno savy than Rajendran and me.
2. Rajendran puts on a channel on the downstairs TV , watches for some time. goes upstairs. puts on same channel on upstairs TV. has bath with volume so high that I can mute the Downstairs TV and still hear the dialogues. Is most upset when he comes down and sees that I have changed channels.
3. I surf the net, check mail, speak to kids , get dinner.

What exciting lives we lead!!!

Tagged -by kichu

Five Things I’d Love To Do Before I Die

(In no particular order)

1) go on a hike thru the valley of flowers

2) go on a ferris wheel

3) understand music

4) learn a foreign language

5) learn to swim

Five Things I Will Not Do Even If It Kills Me

1) Dye my hair pink

2) wear a bikini

3) watch krishi darshan

4) touch a snake/have anything to do with a snake (that might kill me, anyway)

5) cant think of one more.. am I that adventureous??

Five Things I Do When I’m Away From The Public

1) Sing

2) Sleep

3) Read

4) Watch movies

5) Fantasize

Five Fave Sentences/Quotes

I've reached Thoppumpady - Kichu

I'm in the bus - Kichu

Amma, I've lost my Credit card/cell phone/wallet/ put anything you want here

- Meera

I've only had 5 cigarettes today - Rajendran

Madamji, lift/generator/car/suction/pump/ pokku anne - Sanu

Five Things I’ll Make You Wish You Didnt Do, If You Did

Make me wear a swimsuit

Tag me

Five People To Tag

I dont know if 5 people read this blog

Its raining heavily here.. has been for the past 6 months, I think. Rain is good I know, but I am getting a little tired of damp clothes.

Mukesh Ambani is the richest man in the world - at least he was yesterday.. today he is probably at no.2 spot. I dont know... someone do the math. Is it fair that he has so much and there are people who find it difficult to have 2, not even 3, square meals? Or find the money for essential treatment? Or give their children a basic education?

Where is the justice in the world?

My Orkut fortune for today says "You will spend old age in comfort and material wealth".

Which raises many questions
1) do I want to spend old age in comfort and material wealth.
Yes, I do and also with peace of mind.
2) Why only old age, why not all my life?
3) Old age???? Whats that??

Well , Puffoos is fine and Poochoos has had three...yes, three.... more kittens. Bad girl!!!!

Its been a long time I've been away from my blog, is laziness a good enough excuse? I admire people who have something to blog EVERY DAY. They must lead such interesting lives.

In the interim (I've always wanted to say that,"In the interim") we went to Delhi.... sorry!! Gurgaon for the purists. Havent had such a holiday in years where we just slept and read and slept and read some more. My idea of bliss!!!!
My only grouse against the place is there there is no public transport, only the cycle rickshaws. The last time I travelled in one was when I was 10 years old and in Allahabad. I know the guys are trying to make an honest living , but I feel very guilty.... I will not travel in one.

Gurgaon skyline looks like something out Dubai or some place, just as long as your gaze remains on the horizon. The illusion snaps when you look lower than that.

Also went to a multiplex and saw "Chak De" (Will some Punjabi tell me just exactly what that means?) Loved it. I dont care what anyone says, I love feel good movies. I'm paying good money to enjoy myself and I do not enjoy myself when I see movies where they stare at a fly on a chappati for hours on end.

Picked up cheap books on the roadside, though really the place for that is Daryganj. Shall make another trip for that.. Now thats something to look forward to.