The following series of Maldivian Boduberu performance Videos were shot in Hulhumale, in Male, Maldives. After we landed in Malé, and moved into the hotel located in Hulhumalé, in the night me and my daughter went out for a stroll when we saw a gathering and noises a bit far… as we walked closer we realized it is a performance on the street.
Little did we knew that we are witnessing the traditional Maldivian dance and music form Boduberu (name of the drum instrument). The trip started off on a great note, with this surprise performance on the streets of Hulhumalé.
The atmosphere was indeed electric, with disco lights illuminating the streets of Hulhumalé. The troop, unfortunately I could not speak to, were part of the Dhammaanu Boduberu. I could understand a few words here and there (some words are similar in Hindi and Dhivehi, the language of Maldives), but largely unheard of lyrics and rhythm.
What surprised me was the energy and the feel I got just standing there with my 5 year old was amazing! I can definitely get some help in naming the songs, as I have little clue what the song names are…
Maldivies Traditional Music, Song and Dance
You can check out Dhammaanu’s social media pages on YouTube and Facebook.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It had been two months since my last outing to Goa, and in between then and now I have already started feeling stressed out. Due to the hectic working hours and constant travel to work and back, I needed a break. For people who live on the central lined (railways) suburbs beyond Thane, Lonavala and Igatpuri are often the quick break spot. I have been struggling to decide between the expensive Lonavala (yep, demand was higher during Diwali) and scarce Igatpuri/Bhandardara belt.
The idea was to get to a place and relax with nothing to be done actually. And if it was closer to nature, it will be a bonus. I was constantly seeing the option for Herb Farm in Igatpuri for quite a while, with no rooms available for booking on online sites. I prefer Cleartrip to book hotels more often than not, unless the place isnt listed there.
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
So when I was just scanning for hotels on Friday, suddenly the Herb Farm came up as available at I booked it immediately. I will be traveling with my family to the farm for a quite one-night outing the very next day. Look for the video review below, if you want to skip reading. 🙂
Natural Igatpuri-Bhandardara
Igatpuri has been my frequently visited place, be it for breakfast rides or office outings. And every time I had been there, I have enjoyed my time. So much so that I feel that Igatpuri as a place to travel is often not weighted in its worth. In a way, better for people like me who frequent the place.
Igatpuri is approachable via the Mumbai-Nashik highway from Mumbai, and is a hill station in itself. Surrounded by lush Western Ghats and highest peaks of Sahiyadri range, it is best visited during the monsoons. The approach can be tricky due to heavy rain the region witnesses, however it is experience that you must not miss.
Outside River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
I prefer going to Igatpuri because it close, and it is not as crowded as Lonavala, the closest Hill Station to Mumbai. Be it the lush green or the golden brown mountains as the season changes, this place has always lived up to my expectations.
The Herb Farm at Igatpuri
Situated just near the highway, Herb Farm is an eco-conscious resort / hotel. If you are traveling from Mumbai, travel about 11 kms after you cross Ghoti junction (you will need to take a U-turn and travel 500 meters towards Ghoti) and the resort is on your left side. The place is visible from far, thanks to the large board. Parking space is ample for the number of rooms available – eight.
What is really likable about this place is the it offers exclusivity, closeness to the nature and yet be remarkable at their service. The service was really spot on, something that I would expect from a niche hotel provider. The one thing that may irk a lot of you is – this place is vegetarian only. Yep, you heard that right. So all those non-veg aficionados, you may want to change your taste for the weekend.
Having said that, the food is good and tasty. Overall, the look and feel of this place is a nice fusion between old-world-charm and modern amenities. The place is thoughtfully designed, and does not show any signs of overdoing.
Swimming Pool
I really liked the swimming pool though it is only approx. 5 feet at its deepest and not very big. The quality of water was something I found to be much better than similar sized hotels I have seen around Igatpuri. It is best enjoyed with the kids!
Swimming Pool in Night at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Swimming Pool at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
The swimming pool is lit at night with lights and it is a nice setting if you want to spend the night time near the pool area. You can also lie down and go a star gaze.
River and surrounding
The other things that are close by to this place is a dry lake and a river. I know it sounds a bit odd, however the dry lake is something of a bummer that is played right in due to the changing climate. The river though, is accessible but way is through mud and grass. I did try going there, however decided to stop and come back as it was too slippery.
Weekend Getaway to the Herb Farm at Igatpuri
Outpost near River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Outside River and Lake View at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Outside View of the dry lake at The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
The hotel is situated right at the highway, so you tend to hear the typical highway noise. Truck and car tires screeching through the road day and night. Add to that, there is the Mumbai-Nashik rail route passing through right next to the highway. You need to be a deep sleeper to be sure, as the sleep quality I felt will not be that great for very light sleeping folks.
Rooms at the Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Rooms at The Herb Farm are limited to eight – yes it is a small property. However, they are tastefully designed and named after the herbs. Oregano and Cilantro are the furthest rooms and should be preferred if you are light sleeper. Other rooms are named Dill, Thyme, etc. so you get the drift.
All rooms are built on rails, and have beach sand play area beneath them. And you have hammocks for each room, if you prefer to lie down outside. You need to climb up the stairs to get to your room and greeted by the faux grass mats, couple of chairs and a tea table.
Oregano and Cilantro, Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view outside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Room view inside, The Herb Farm, Igatpuri
Inside, you have one king size bed, and a tea-coffee maker. All rooms offer air-conditioning, and are very neat and clean. The interior design is subtle and a perfectly mixed fusion of old-world-charm with modern fixtures. French windows double up as door. You can lie down and absorb in the view that you can see from your bed. It is the best view to wake up and see in the morning, right from your bed.
One thing that I might have to put out as a warning though, is mosquitoes. Given it is located near a river and a lake, dry at that, with patches of puddles across, it is bound to be mosquito prone. It is advised that you carry a mosquito repelling creme with you.
The washroom is small, however the ceiling is made of glass giving the near open-air experience. Of course, the dried leaves and dust on top do give away the glass surface. It still is a welcome change to a typical small bathroom and experience you may well like.
Experience!
The overall experience has left a positive impact on me and my family, and it is definitely a place I will consider to stay at, again. The thing is, very rarely you find a place that is neat and modern, yet has the old-world charm blend into a perfect fusion. In my view, the Herb farm at Igatpuri does this to great effect.
PS: This is not a paid/sponsored post, as it may look like with my generous praise for this place. It is purely my heart felt thoughts after I visited this place.
On my recent trip to Colva, I enjoyed the trip unlike all of my previous visits (I go there a lot). Loved the serene and calm atmosphere around, less crowded and neater roads (compared to North Goa). Arabian sea gives you ample company and so does the sea breeze.
The video is a mix of time lapses and glimpses from my travel experience. In case you love it, don’t forget to leave a like and subscribe to Indianomics.tv
Fisher folks are the son of the sea and its at the beaches where you often see them in action. On my recent trip to Colva, I had got a chance to see how the fisher folks prepare for their next adventure, and look forward to a promising future – catching more fish.
The video is a mix of time lapses and glimpses from my travel experience. In case you love it, dont forget to leave a like.
I am going to be speaking at the upcoming blogging workshop at 91 Springboard, Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on 27th of April, 2018. It was an impromptu session organized thanks to a lot questions being exchanged in our driving group from RTC (RoadTrippersClub). As I was answering questions along with Neeraj dada (Yayawar), someone suggested that we should meet once so that we all can learn. This was on Monday morning.
Divyakshi Gupta blogs at http://www.quirkywanderer.com/
Vishnu works with and manages the site https://scoutmytrip.com
Neeraj is the CTO of ScoutMyTrip.com and is a tech giant in his right
Hemal curates content on Indianomics and Indianomics.tv
Flash forward to the evening, we have the event creative ready and a place to meet arranged thanks to 91 Springboard. They were generous enough to help host the event, helping us to keep the session at zero cost! Nothing is better than lending a hand to spearhead learning and I wholeheartedly appreciate the 91 Springboard team at Bandra-Kurla Complex!
Agenda for Blogging Workshop
So here is the agenda for the workshop, where we have speakers like Divyakshi Gupta and Parampara, mights in their own right in travel and social media respectively. And then there is your’s truly, where I am going to talk about Content, Design and Video in the blogging world.
Agenda at The blogger on the run Blogging Workshop
How to register for this Workshop?
The workshop is being organized by Road Trippers Club and there is no fee! Yes, it is free of cost to attend. If you are interested, then login in to RoadTrippesClub.com and register yourself today. Hurry, we only have limited seats left.
The Trailer for the Great Indian Food Trip – Edition 2 is out! Take a look!
This interesting and mouthwatering road trip is being led by avid biker and travel expert Tanmay Pangam (The Angry Saint). Tanmay is riding to Indore on his Royal Enfield Himalayan bike. In Indore, he will be joined by popular travel and lifestyle blogger Neha Ramneek Kapoor (The LifeStyle Stew). Neha is curating the ‘Indore Food Escapade’. Neha and Tanmay together would set out to find out what’s best about Indore’ food and pitting it against cities hugely popular for food like Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
What is The Great Indian Food Trip?
Great Indian Food Trip is an initiative by ScoutMyTrip to help find the best food in India. Last year with their hugely successful ‘South Indian Biryani Trail’ which covered Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Calicut. The second edition now kicks off with the ScoutMyTrip team knocking on the doors of Indore to explore and experience the culinary delights of the city.
If you are already connected to me via Social Media, than you would have seen my posts about me and my channel partnering with ScoutMyTrip for the Great Indian Food Trip (GIFT).
What is The Great Indian Food Trip?
Great Indian Food Trip is an initiative by ScoutMyTrip to help find the best food in India. Last year with their hugely successful ‘South Indian Biryani Trail’ which covered Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Calicut. The second edition now kicks off with the ScoutMyTrip team knocking on the doors of Indore to explore and experience the culinary delights of the city.
The Story of Poha
Kick-starting the mega campaign from Mumbai, the ScoutMyTrip team will reach Indore on 29th March 2018. The distance would be covered over two days from Mumbai considering hot weather. Also exploring the changes and variations between how simple dishes like ‘Poha’ (flattened rice) change between Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh. Despite poha being one of the most popular breakfast dishes all over India, ScoutMyTrip considers the Indore variation to this simple but iconic dish very innovative. Especially when sprinkled sev on top and served with jalebi on the side. Thus, giving it a taste, a signature flavor that is considered to be uniquely Indore.
And other delicacies of Indore!
But the ScoutMyTrip team won’t stop with Poha. Tanmay together with Neha will also be indulging in two days of chaat and other street-food especially made by legendary chaatwaalas. People get in line, just to dig their fingers into a culinary bomb. Whetting the appetite further, there’s a visit to the Sarafa bazaar. Sarafa Bazaar holds the distinction of being the only Night Food Market in India, something which even Maximum City, Mumbai cannot stake claim.
Exploring the food from the heart of Indore with The Great Indian Food Trip – Second Edition with Tanmay Pangam and Neha Kapoor
The plan in Indore is to meet numerous foodies and travelers over meetups over the three days. Indulging in dishes like ‘garadu’, ‘bhutte ki kees’, non-vegetarian delights, Johnny hot dog and many more. The team would conduct food-tasting sessions, analyze ingredients and draw comparatives amongst each version.
The Great Indian Food Trip Experts
This interesting and mouthwatering road trip is being led by avid biker and travel expert Tanmay Pangam (The Angry Saint). Tanmay is riding to Indore on his Royal Enfield Himalayan bike. In Indore, he will be joined by popular travel and lifestyle blogger Neha Ramneek Kapoor (The LifeStyle Stew). Neha is curating the ‘Indore Food Escapade’. Neha and Tanmay together would set out to find out what’s best about Indore’ food and pitting it against cities hugely popular for food like Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
Speaking about the idea of the Great Indian Food Trip, Deepak Ananth, CEO, ScoutMyTrip said, “The birth of Great Indian Food Trip was a logical step. towards the fact that food is and will always be an essential component of travel exploration. With the Great Indian Food Trip, we want to take dishes from Indore to not just whole of India but the world!” added Ananth.
With the Great Indian Food Trip, we want to take dishes from Indore to not just whole of India but the world!
Deepak Anant, CEO, ScoutMyTrip
Indianomics Partnership
Indianomics is proud to parter with ScoutMyTrip for the second edition of Great Indian Food Trip. The on ground crew of Tanmay and Pooja will be sharing their experiences on camera and my channel Indianomics will be helping them put it out for all of you to see. You will be able to watch the episodes on Indianomics TravelVlogs. Be sure you are subscribed to IndianomicsTV for more updates!
We all heard about the farmer protest that is currently undergoing in Mumbai. The protest showcased events that are unprecedented. It leaves me in awe of the spirit of Mumbai and the farmers themselves. What a day it has been of twists and turns. It all started off with someone deciding to protest differently.
So why are farmers and tribals protesting?
Maharashtra farmers see successive droughts and are unable to make as much money as they should. They are in financial distress and are seeking financial relief. To save themselves from further droughts, they want to ensure that promises of river linking projects are implemented.
Tribals who joined the protest are not looking to seek any financial help though! “Their participation in the agitation in such large numbers suggests a new edge in the countryside’s despair — while successive drought years, inequitable water management and pricing policies have seen a slow impoverishment of the farmer community everywhere in Maharashtra, the circumstances for the landless are ever more exacting” (reports Indian Express).
The quintessential Maharashtra farmer is following a protest model from TN Farmers, who marched on in New Delhi last year. Tamil farmers raised slogans, shaved their half head and facial hair to protest their apathy. Mind you; the protest still did not gain the intended results. And farmers from UP got a loan waiver around the same time, based on a poll-promise by the Yogi government.
I wrote about this briefly, after a Quint video brought forth a question: UP farm loan waiver, in a way, is funded by Tamilians based on how fragmented our taxation system is. I do not want to diverge from the topic; you can read more on that post.
They decided to walk in the night, to avoid inconvenience to Mumbaikars!
That’s where things started to change. The Government, instead of walking towards them, shamelessly requested the group to delay their march to avoid inconvenience to SSC and HSC students who are appearing for their exams. This was a bid for them to delay the political inconvenience they will face!
However, the smart among them help decide that they would walk in the night, saving themselves from the scorching sun. And avoiding the fragile Mumbai infrastructure, often lamented, further trouble. This small gesture, and the smart thinking is downright awesome.
The Spirit of Mumbai invoked!
Wow! That was an incredible thought which touched Mumbaikars deeply. And Mumbaikar responded!
Sikh brothers distribute food, muslim brothers distribute snacks,dates & water, some Mumbaikars provide breakfast @ Azad Maidan with footwears 2 farmers walking barefoot. Sea of farmers 2 meet CM over non fulfillment of promises made by Mah Gov pic.twitter.com/8YtsTo4BK6
Favourite photo from #KisanLongMarch this afternoon — Farmers have no access to electricity so Lakshman Bhasre from Tryumbakeshwar Taluka has been marching for 6 days with a tiny solar panel on his head. He uses it to charge his phone and help other marchers charge theirs. pic.twitter.com/3He32abd4z
I am amazed at the thought itself, and the speed with which Mumbai realized the importance of the farmers. I have often lamented the Spirit of Mumbai as something of an adjustment they do with their helplessness of the infrastructure (during floods mostly). However, the 2007 blasts and yesterday’s event highlight the spirit and how heartfelt they are.
The farmer’s protest in huge numbers brings out Mumbaikars on the road, to be the Good Samaritan they always have been in crisis. Farmers are in crisis today, and the Spirit of Mumbai in invoked. Keep up Mumbai! The hands that feed deserve this small, but meaningful gesture.
You cannot, not love sailing, and if you do, then this perhaps your best way to change your mind. Go sailing in the vast Arabian Sea, on a Yacht in Mumbai, and come back refreshed and with a newer perspective.
Hotel Taj, Gateway of India, Mumbai
Gateway of India, Mumbai
Gateway of India right side
The Sea view of Taj and Gateway of India
Cable Ship Umm Al Anber (UAE) Off Mumbai Cost
Cable Ship Umm Al Anber (UAE) Off Mumbai Cost
Local Ferries crossing each other
Local Ferry – The people carrier on the seas
Yacht aganist Mumbai Skyline
A good friend and fellow blogger, Ethel Da Costa sent in an exclusive invite to experience sailing, herself a hydrophobic. The event, named CEO Regatta, immediately put my online searching skills to test. I need to know more, and it was clear that this is something else than what I have experienced to date. If you are in a hurry, let me help you with a visual trailer. Take a look.
Aquasail has established into this new niche of the experiential game of travel and entertainment. I have been talking about the experiential tripping for a while, and sailing is one of the latest trends in the travel and tourism industry.
Visiting Royal Bombay Yacht Club
On the D-day, I ride my RE Himalayan all the way to Royal Bombay Yacht Club, near Gateway of India in the southern tip of Mumbai. The architecture from the 18th century has been tediously maintained to give the rusty but sophisticated at the same time. A perfect way to transfix the nature of Yachting in India.
The Goodie Stall
Vistara co-sponsored sailing event, and had the Vistara girls giving out check-in + boarding passes
Axis Bank sponsored CEO Regatta Yacht sailing event poster
Vistara co-sponsored sailing event, and had the Vistara girls giving out check-in + boarding passes
The who’s who of corporate India was in presence, part taking in the sail yacht racing called CEO Regatta. Sponsored by Axis Bank and Air Vistara, it perhaps is one of the most high-powered meets I have visited, ever. The leaders from the industry sorted into teams and then proceeded towards the vast open sea.
Upon arrival at the jetty (2 minutes walk from the Yacht Club), all the competitors got on a transporting boat which will take them to their Sail Yacht. Watch the part one video, if you are in a hurry to skim through. Make sure to subscribe to Indianomics.tv on YouTube.
Watching the racing yachts in Arabian Sea
I got on the boats with photographers, as I wanted to watch the race from as close as possible, even though I had an option to go on top the luxury yacht, as some others did. The sky was brilliant for a change, and it helped in the video and photographs I took. I am sure you will agree. I could not stop myself looking into the display of my phone (a Lumia 950XL and iPhone 6S)
The Yacht Eesha, preferred vantage point for a few to watch the race
The Luxury Yacht Eesha, floating around Mumbai Jetty
The Luxury Yacht Eesha
Sailing Yacht in Mumbai
Speedboat with Photographers
Watching the Yachts race was fun, and something new for me. It brought back memories of the year 2007. I was working for ABN AMRO Bank back then, and our bank had two sail yachts participating in Volvo Ocean Race. It was the first time I heard about racing Yachts. A decade later, I could fulfill my wish to do a race myself, although much smaller in comparison, of course.
After the first set of teams finished their race, a winning team emerged and sent back to the Luxury Yacht Eesha. Time for some action, then! I got on to the event winning Yacht at the first instant, mid-sea.
Racing the Yacht in Mumbai!
Racing the Yachts is difficult unless you know tons of things. Wind speed, changing direction, and which ropes to pull. If you get a thing wrong, the boat can turn turtle any time. During the race itself, everyone was sitting on the edge. The adrenaline rush was at its peak, and we all were trying our best to stay afloat and race to the victory line.
Thanks to the instructor Moksh, who made it look pretty easy-peasy. He knew precisely what and when to talk to us novices. I was sitting in the corner, close to the water than everyone else taking videos and pictures of our race.
It was fun and an experience that will stick with me for a long time to come. Going back to the Royal Bombay Yacht Club for the high-tea after party, I was memorizing lessons. Being on a boat on a day when the sky was perhaps its best, what more could I have asked!
Kithna kharcha bhai? (How much will it cost brother?)
Before I left the venue, I had a 45-minute conversation with Zia Hajeeboy, Director of Aquasail, talking about various topics. While speaking, I realized that having your boat party is not so much expensive as one would believe. At ₹9000 for 4 hours (for six people), the cost per head worked out to be just ₹1,500! You not only are a passenger, but the sailor too. Now that is affordable for sure!
It helps to break free from the chaotic Mumbai life and visit the seas to take a breath of fresh air and be relaxed while doing it. Not only the cost incurred is lower, but it also is refreshing, and you do not have to travel a lot far. Plus, the only time you get to see Gateway of India and Taj Hotel in a frame is from the sea! And what a lovely sight it is!
Alright, I was not shortlisted at first for the IndiMeet with Sterling Holidays, and my entry was only confirmed three hours before the start of the event. Before I knew of the shortlist, I was already looking forward to attending this IndiBlogger meet (one after a long time for me). I am glad I made it! A call out to Nihal from IndiBlogger, who patiently listened on to my rant.
IndiBloggers and Team from Sterling Holidays
When I saw the event invite, it did intrigue me – I had never attended an IndiMeet with a hospitality brand. This sure had to be big, since only select 20 individuals would get to go!
Here is a video I made on this IndiMeet, if you want to save the pain of reading through the post.
Why am I talking about Sterling Holiday Resorts?
IndiBlogger invited me to attend an event hosted by Sterling Holiday Resorts. The chain hosted a high tea session to share with us their plans for a renewed Sterling. The event also was accompanied by the launch of the new brand identity for Sterling Holiday Resorts. There is a new flavor of colors that represent a new beginning. I will let the pictures do the talking.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post – more of what I learned from the event, gaining a deeper understanding of the current market situation and what is the next avenue for resorts in India.
A Sterling holiday experience from the past!
The first time I remember hearing the name Sterling Holiday Resorts was during my visit to Lonavala. Hostel roommate Dipen and his family were members of this holiday chain. It helped as we booked the room for four of us paying a nominal fee. It was a huge deal, given that we boys staying in hostel back then had very little money to spend on luxury.
Our experience at Sterling Holiday Resort in Lonavala was one of a kind. Four guys, an empty hotel during weekdays, an open swimming pool, and crazy rain. Ah, the memories are still fresh. Today though the chain of resorts has changed hands. Thomas Cook India now owns Sterling Holiday Resorts, and they are looking to expand rapidly.
How is Sterling helping Holiday Differently?
Every time a brand relaunches itself, I am excited! Changes in consumer dynamics and advent of the digital age have pushed many businesses to be creative. A relaunch is a thorough overhaul of the way the company works at various levels. The change is not only in the logo and colors of the brand, but the change is happening on the ground.
Investing more than Rs. 250 Crores into its existing property, to re-build and not refurbish, it is a strong commitment. The staff at all levels have been or are being trained to be customer-obsessed, and imbibe in the service culture.
Sterling Holiday Differently
Holidays with fixed itineraries, basic rooms, and limited menus are a thing of the past. Today’s travelers enjoy finding one-of-a-kind experiences with their loved ones. And that’s what the new philosophy is all about. Fueling the joy of discovery.
Not only upgrading existing resorts, but Sterling is also coming up with brand new ones at some of the places even my fellow travel bloggers at the event did not know!
Now you are talking…
The new focus is to create a curated experience, helping in the discovery of oneself or self-satisfaction. And this means, taking you, the patron, on a journey that you are yet to explore. Okay, let me rephrase it.
And this means, taking you, the patron on a journey that you did not know it exists! If that does not excite you, what else will, huh?
Sterling knows that only experiential holidays cannot do. So they are coming up with interesting mixes, which I am sure will appeal to a lot of their target audience (it does to me). It is called “Sterling Discoveries.”
Sterling Discoveries – a new ball game
The rural-urban divide in India is vast. But what is non-existent today is the tribal-rural-urban connection. Most of us have heard the term aboriginals or natives in places like Australia and Micronesia. It is easy to forget, but important not to, there are many tribal aboriginals in India as well.
Take for example the Todas of Udagamandalam. Okay, now that I have put a spin on your tongue, Todas of Ooty. They are pastoral tribe living on the isolated Nilgiri Plateau. It is not every day that you get to visit and live their way of life for a brief moment.
Sterling Dindi – Food & Culture TrailImmerse yourself in the Konaseema culture – visit a weavers village, experience local cuisine and learn how the famous “Paper Sweet”(Pootharekulu) is made. Includes popular sight-seeing points along the way and paddy field cycling experience
Sterling Ooty – Heritage TrailJourney to experience the lifestyle of Todas. Demonstration of traditional dress making. Toda hairstyle making. Cooking dishes inside a Toda Hut Explanation about the culture of Toda Tribals and visit to a Toda temple. End with an authentic Toda meal.
Sterling Corbett – Star GazingSit out and gaze at the stars on a clear night. Identify planets and popular constellations. Club it with a dinner under the stars.
Tea Trails at Sterling DarjeelingGo on a trip to a tea estate and learn all about the journey of tea. End it with a tea tasting experience in the tea lounge of our resort and compliment the experience with some local dishes
Or tea trailing in Darjeeling? A trail of food and culture? What about watching the stars lit sky at night in Corbet Park? I mean which other resort has thought of star gazing and seeing tigers at the same place? Clearly, others’ did not. That is a huge change. They had me at Dindi, a weavers village on the banks of the Godavari and an off-beat backwater destination, akin to my hometown in Kerala.
And now it is time for a mascot!
Kids love mascots. It is proven the fact. Adults selectively like mascots, and that is a proven fact alright. But when kids of these adults get attracted, the former’s choice wins! Sterling revealed a mascot for the first time in its existence. And it is a cutie-pie named the Raja Rex!
Meet Raja Rex, the official Mascot of Sterling Holidays.
Named after the Rajasaurus Narmadensis (dinosaur found to have lived in the land that is today India), Raja Rex is cute, naughty, inquisitive and willing to help you discover different activities and experiences.
Unexpected Surprises and a Holiday Insurance?
You did not expect to hear this, did you? Holiday Insurance – a domestic industry first! All customers of Sterling will get a comprehensive Holiday Insurance cover (home-travel-holiday-home). For FREE! You read it right, the holiday insurance covers travel, stay, return and does not cost you a premium.
Sterling also came up with a calendar of 100 days in the whole year (almost every 3rd or 4th day) to have various surprise activities. From cooking to sports, love to patriotism, the themes vary. They have also considered international day celebrations like World Yellow day.
So check with your destination hotel and prepare your kids for a surprise! Let them discover themselves.
Transformation in making
Thomas Cook India is looking to reinvent Sterling Holiday Resorts in a big way. Started off as a time-share membership program, their properties did attract non-member bookings, most of the times for their brilliant locations. To say that Sterling is like Club Mahindra, a rival, ain’t true. Because about 50% of Sterling’s booking comes from non-members.
Transformation of existing resorts
Experiential holidays is the in thing. Sterling is intending to do more with their emphasis on personal discoveries an individual can make. More on it a bit later, first why change?
Changing consumer and market dynamics
The holiday trend in India has changed (and improved) a lot over past few years. Still, our country is ranked 5th on the list of world’s most vacation-deprived nation! And time and money have their own value systems. People spend more money to save time!
It gets tricky when it comes to vacation. Longer weekends are now spent as getaway vacations. Thanks to the 5-day-a-week work culture sweeping the nation. Traditionally, short getaways are planned with office colleagues or with friends and family. With the advent of social media, that is changed too!
Now, members of the online groups on WhatsApp, Facebook, reunions, Interest groups and other popular mediums are planning vacations, and the priority is to holiday differently!
Curious Case of Bragging Rights
Today you go out to places that are Instagrammable. Holidaying these days is more about the experience than relaxing
Mr. Peshwa Acharya, CMO for Sterling Holidays
The travel and tourism industry call it “Experiential Holidays.” I have written an entire blog post on experiential holidays, explaining the various ways the industry in exploring to create a more immersive, fulfilling experience for their patrons.
In the digitally connected lives that we all live, it is important to Facebook and Instagram! I can see some of you are nodding your heads right now. Checking in at locations, pictures and selfies galore, the Gen X and Millennials are increasingly looking for exotic places to visit and get experiences to click pictures!
Being brag-worthy is a skill these days, due to an invisible social pressure, just like the infamous Sharmaji’s son that we grew up hearing about.
With the change in market dynamics, customer experience is the next big thing. Well, it has been for past three years and is growing. Experiential holidays is the new agenda for travel and tourism industry. I am a travel buff and stick to semi-luxury whenever possible. I prefer to holiday, not on a budget.
Of course, there are a whole lot of you who are interested in backpacking. Yes, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. For those who love to see places and not look for a comfortable stay, there are tons of options. However, some of the most exclusive areas are in the hands of 5-star chains. Which, in a way, is sad, but exclusivity sometimes comes at a price.
That is not to say that I do book 5-star hotels – far from it. I prefer decent, clean rooms because there are times when I would rather sit inside the room than be outside. To relax, to just lie down in a place that is not your own, and the environment is different – a beach, a hill or a river by the side. It all boils down to preference, of the traveler.
What are Experiential Holidays?
Due to changing holiday patterns (especially among the youth), many start-up resorts and hotels have come up that offer experiential holidays. The domestic market is growing thanks to the growing middle-class population. Experiential holidays are typically off-beat, unique and #bragworthy, focused on creating a fulfilling experience! In other words, creating a product out of a set of services. More than just the basic hygienic rooms, great food with local flavors or the natural environment.
An exotic holiday by Sea
To say it in a layman’s words, having a summer camp experience in three days. The focus on long weekends is now catching on like a wildfire, especially with an influx of 5-day a week working culture in many of the metros.
Pleasure or Social Pressure / #bragworthy
Holidaying in this digital world has made people go online and share their experience! The subconscious mind is always looking for places to travel that sound exciting and exotic, for sharing it on the social networks.
Everyone sees it as a challenge to manage their online presences. Pressurizing themselves to show-off their latest adventure to become brag-worthy among their network (not everyone). The phones are replacing expensive camera equipment to take brilliant photos, and there also is the self-immersive selfie culture. The breed of work-hard-party-harder needs to look for something unique, and that is where experiential holidays come to rescue.
As the world markets are looking for more customers, they need to follow the crowd. And the crowd is at the bottom end of the pyramid. Which means, the hotel and resort chains need to start producing experiences for the budget traveler.
Why is experience in focus now?
Well said, or asked, if I may. India is ranked 5th among the most vacation-deprived countries in the world. We are closer to the top of the list, no thanks to the hardcore-workaholic culture and nature of Indian Youth. And the vacation customs of India, focusing on festivals more than individuals.
Mixing experience with pleasure in this industry is an age-old phenomenon but largely restricted to 5-star hotel chains. If you ask anyone who has booked rooms in Taj or Palaces run by Oberoi’s, they will speak to you about their enriching experience.
A Fulfilling Experience
Industries in various segments are going after experience in the past three to five years. Experiential holidays have been the mainstay of big brand hotels and resorts, limited to a few wealthy. With a growing middle-class section, these experiences are still not affordable (upwards to Rs. 12,000 per room night).
Filling the void that did not exist
In today’s world, things move fast. While the start-up resorts placed themselves firmly in the experiential holiday’s agenda, the absence of mainstay hotel chains would not be in for a long time either. In keeping with the times, time and money are of an essence. New travelers are focusing on getting multiple short getaways in a single trip, or an experience in a long weekend.
Family holidays are still the largest group. However, a new set of travelers are creating groups based on interests thanks to social media and networks – School reunions, WhatsApp groups and what not!
The hotel chains and resorts had to come back to this new competition and forced to innovate. There are two avenues here that I may try and help explain.
Experienced in managing hotel and resorts
The grassroots hotels and resorts that are mushrooming across the country lack experience in customer service. Their reliance is majorly on the experience that may not be in their true control – like a nature trail or a trek. In most cases, they cannot provide for curated experiences.
Such hotels or resorts focus heavily on the cost, and would assume “it na paise main itna-ich mile ga” (you will only get what you paid for). The lack of experience would push them off on other crucial areas of creating a wholesome experience.
Might of hotel and resort chains
An established hotel chain will know what needs to be done, and how! Managed by experienced leaders, they hold an advantage of the knowledge of service much more than grassroots (not necessarily all of them) can ever provide. They are aware of their customers and are now increasingly focusing on creating more than just a wholesome experience.
In comes immersive holidays. The word will sound familiar to you, though we are not talking about the Television Channel. Discovery experience adds a bit of surprise element.
What is this Immersive Holiday?
It is precisely an experiential holiday, however with a surprise built-in. If you had ever been to a Pizza-Hut outlet 4-5 years ago (I have not seen them doing it off-late), you have already experienced it, perhaps as an outing. Here is how I can try differentiating “discovery from experience” for anyone with the help of Pizza-Hut example.
After every customer has a happy time at Pizza-Hut, they ring the customary bell at the exit door to show their happiness. “Thank you!” immediately sounds off from almost all of the Pizza-Hut employees in the store. It helps the customer feel good, while the staff knows they did a good job as well. This is an experience!
However, while you are still eating your delicious pizza, out of nowhere, the waiters join together to perform a dance. Like a flash mob. You are surprised, and the chances are that you will enjoy it. This is the discovery!
Many hotels and chains are now focusing on creating individual discovery experiences for their customers, and one of them I came close to know is Sterling. Now a Thomas-Cook company, Sterling is focusing on creating this discovery and experiential holidays for their would-be customers. I happened to attend their recent conference and brand relaunch on the invitation of IndiBlogger. You can read more about Sterling and how they are revamping themselves.
I always wanted to go to Kerala on a bike and never thought I will ever do it, though I still wished I could. I had created many plans for a ride but was always quick enough to drop it. It always seemed like a distant dream that I felt I lacked enough guts to achieve. The last year has been challenging one for me in many ways, and my current situation only accentuates the impossibility of me undertaking such a ride.
My friend and a fellow wolf from Throttle Gun Wolves, Tyjo decided to go on a solo trip to Kerala on his Dominar. It was a quick decision on his part, and he was leaving on the third day, from the day he informed me. I decided to join him in his plan and make a lemonade of the lemons life threw at me. More the merrier!
Is there a video of this ride?
Yes, there is one you can watch. Head over to Indianomics TV channel on YouTube. Also, do not forget to subscribe to the channel so that YouTube can inform you of my next video.
There is another video of our pictures from the ride, which I had compiled and posted on the Indianomics YouTube channel if you would like to see some of these photos.
Preparing for the ride to Kerala
The next day both Himalayan and Dominar visited the service center and the day after I pimped up my Yeti. The typical, aux lights, a rear strobe light, and a phone holder with UBS charging port. I also got an SMK Twister helmet, replacing my aging LS2, and included a Bluetooth headset so that I can be in touch with my 3-year-old daughter and listen to the maps aunty barking directions.
Route from Mumbai to Kerala
Both Tyjo Thomas and I had different destinations – I wanted to go to Alleppey, my hometown and Tyjo wanted to go up to Kanyakumari. However, we always doubted if his family in Chalakudy will let him go there. Tyjo ended up touring places around Chalakudy, including the famous Athirapally waterfalls.
Our rides – motor bikes
Tyjo Thomas owns a Bajaj Dominar 400 that he got some months ago. Dominar 400, based on the KTM390, heavily modified for cursing comfort and mild on-road manners by Bajaj. It is a bike that has potential to challenge Royal Enfield’s rule in this 350+ CC segment.
I own a Royal Enfield Himalayan. If you are regular here, then I am sure you will know about it. I call the Himalayan as Yeti, and there are tons of things I have already spoken about my bike.
Riding rules
We were clear on a few things before the ride started.
We will not be riding in the night, though start as early as possible in the mornings.
Do approximately 600 to 650 kilometers a day at the max, which ensured we are not too tired and have enough flexibility to take longer breaks.
Ride consistent speeds averaging around 80-90 KMPH
Spend money on only absolute necessity.
PS: We did break one law though, by riding on the Mumbai Pune expressway.
Capturing the beauty
We met another wolf Nikhil Deshmukh who helped arrange for two SJCAMs on loan, for us to record our trip, which was a huge favor that he did for us – for you can see in the video, we managed to capture a few clips that left us in awe. After the ride, my daughter has seen these videos again and again, and I love it every time it throws a smile on her face.
Two SJCAMs – thanks to Nikhil
One Sunco Cam – thanks to Shiv, though I could not use it as a backup camera throughout my trip due to a faulty memory card
My beloved iPhone 6s, Lumia 950XL
Prepping our bikes
Given that this is the longest ride I have done, it was imperative that I take Yeti to the service center for a thorough check-up. I was close to my 4th service anyways, so decided to go ahead and do it as well. Royal Enfield’s Pooja Motors service center immediately prioritized my servicing request, since the ride was just two days away.
Likewise, Tyjo also got his Dominar serviced the previous day. Given his tight work schedule, he did not have the liberty to get things done as I did.
After the servicing was done, armed with a new magneto coil replaced voluntarily by the SC, I took the bike to pimp it up a bit the next day. I needed fog lamps installed on Yeti, just in case we need to ride in the dark. My focus was to ensure that I am not distracting the drivers/riders from the opposite side, but make sure I am visible enough.
Thankfully, I got a fog lamp and led white light combination (which I had secretly wished) because the store did not have two fog lamp units readily available. I also upgraded my helmet to an SMK Twister (with a Bluetooth headset) from my existing LS2 (I lost my brand new SOL Infiniti a few months ago in an impossible way) and got a knee guard, something I never had before. I will shortly write up a review of my brand new helmet and how much it helped me during this ride.
Bluetooth headset served two purposes; one, since we relied on maps massively, it was easy to ignore looking into the screen all the time to check if we need to change direction. And two, it helped me be in touch with my daughter without removing my helmet.
What we packed?
Tyjo had got a tail bag, and I got my Wildcraft trekking bag, and a backpack. Both of us carried sleeping bags as we had anticipated sleeping in places that would cost us almost nothing. Even though, we never used them as we managed to find places to stay within our affordable reach.
We carried underwears for seven days and enough tee-shirts, jeans, and shorts to last us three days. We knew we had the opportunity to wash them once we reach our respective destinations.
Both bikes did not have saddle stays, and hence no saddle bags. I packed my backpack with essentials I would need, including my laptop and a backup phone. Based on Tyjo’s experience, we also picked up two dozen of Snikkers for quick bite if required (ended up sharing and eating it with families)
And for the bikes?
For the bikes, I had carried an entire set of Allen key, screwdrivers, and spanners. Tyjo did likewise, though he got his set of Allen keys from Nikhil. We also got a breakdown rope in bright orange from Nikhil, just in case we face some difficulty.
Tyjo also carried a chain spray, and both of us used it. I inadvertently forgot to take RE Chain spray can I had at home. They say at every 500 kms, we should spray the chain and clean it, which we did. I did face issues with the Himalayan, but that will be an individual article, the link you will find here in future.
Day one – Mumbai to Hubbali (Hubli)
We set to ride early in the morning from our respective places at 5.30 am. The bad patches towards Panvel, and the traffic + chaos it caused delayed us a lot. We also did something spectacular though, something we should not have done. We took the Mumbai Pune Expressway after Lonavala. I know, we should not have. Primarily due to map directions (forgot to switch off tolls) and then neither of us ever rode to Pune on a bike before.
Breakfast
We stopped at Pune for a healthy Puneri meal. TGW Wolf Nikhil Deshmukh rode down to meet us and hand over two SJCAMs. Very crucial for our trip, we guessed. As the video shows, it sure was a brilliant idea.
I did carry cam from my friend Shiv, a Sunoco. However, it was my backup in case the SJCAM lost steam or if Nikhil could not manage it for me. After having our breakfast and a quick camera set on Yeti, we were ready to ride. Tyjo forgot to get 3M tape for his helmet mount (again, something that Nikhil got for him), and hence we decided to proceed hoping to buy one at Hubbali.
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
Kerala Ride to the god’s own country
We rode towards Hubli via Kolhapur. After the initial hiccup in the traffic at Pune, we were soon riding the empty roads. The best section this side of our route was the Satara Ghats. The three-lane ghat roads were super comfortable with traffic, and I could almost corner my Yeti with my knees almost touching the tarmac.
Unfortunately, for a reason unknown, the SJCAM stopped working after I took the first corner – and hence, could not see how I took the rest of them.
Lunch at Jai Hind
We were on time as per our route plan and reached Kolhapur around 1.30 pm and stopped for lunch. And here is where we encountered one of our exceptional hospitality experience in this whole trip at the hotel named Jai Hind, which is off the highway.
Honestly, we were tired. And, yes I forgot to do a lot of things – like asking the guy his name or taking a picture. We were too focused on riding and getting to our destination for the day in time.
As soon as we entered the hotel, this guy (must be around 45, sports an orange beard) escorts us to a place where we can keep all our unmounted luggage. He directs us to the washroom, then to the handwashing area and then asks us to take a breath and think of what we want to eat.
This guy goes about suggesting what is the best that he can offer considering we are riders. He hints on little rice and more of vegetables and egg. We stick to the later, as rice tends to make us sleepy in our routine lives.
Food was nothing to write home about and was average at best. However, the best was yet to come. Tyjo candidly asked if we can rest on our backs on the chairs – and immediately the answer; sleep till evening if you so wish.
The masala tea story
With our backs on the chair and looking up at the ceiling, Tyjo wonders if we should drink tea. I inquire about it. This guy (I seriously am feeling sad not to have asked his name) is quick to say that you will not get the tea as we get in Mumbai.
I prod him for masala tea, instead. Or ginger tea. Of course, they do not serve it there. Not one of the regular requests in this part of the country. After a while of resting when we were about to make our move (oh yes, we forgot about the tea) is when the tea comes in.
And yes, it is masala tea with ginger! We could not believe it, and that brew was fantastic. From expecting a plain tea to forgetting all about it, and then to have this guy deliver what we hoped for – that never was available at first place. The bill was a total of Rs. 260/- for a service that was close to a 7-star treatment for us in pure Hindi!
Do not have words to explain. I will leave it at that.
Stay at Hubbali
We moved ahead towards Hubli. The roads were pretty neat, and we could make it to Hubli in time as per our schedule. 6.30 pm, touch the city. Looking for the place turned out to be tricky, as Maps kept redirecting us. And finally, we made it to Kutchi Bhavan.
Thanks to my friend Jiggu whom I met after 13 long years, we had room to put our heads down. Jignesh also helped us get 3M tapes from Hubli market, and played host to an excellent dinner along with his wife, Darshana. It was my first time meeting her, perhaps not the best impression I could cast!
Day two – Hubbali to Wayanad
Next day, we left early in the morning at 6.00 am, instead of planned 4.30 am! Here on, unfortunately, we did stick to this routine and made it worse. More about that in the text about coming days. The exit was easy from Hubli, and soon we were doing 120 kmph on the empty stretches of highway. Around 8.30 am, we stopped to fill our bellies.
The breakfast cheat
On this ride to Kerala, we forgot we were in Karnataka till we asked for the bill for our meal. Breakfast at a roadside shop next to the second toll booth on our way ended up paying Rs. 280. A meal that should not have cost us more than 100 rupees at a premium. We paid less for an excellent service plus lunch at Kolhapur the previous day. The shopkeeper realized that we weren’t from here, and may have thought that we were riding expensive bikes (well, in a way) so why not ask for the money he wished?
Our mistake? Yes, a big one at that. We did not ask for the price of what we were ordering – so the shopkeeper was free to quote whatever he felt (80 rupees for two liters of bottled water). This place is not a proper hotel, and I am talking about just a roadside shanty shop.
When in Karnataka, always ask for the price first. We decided not to engage in a war of words in a place we did not know the local language to speak. It was not that much worth a risk, given that the area was mostly empty.
Lunch at a Sisidi!
We stopped for lunch at Cafe Coffee Day outlet near a petrol bunk, and that is when I checked my WhatsApp which left a jolt. We need to make it to the entrance of Bandipur National Park before 6 pm. The entry time was not part of our plan – and something that we should not have missed! Darn, if we knew, we would have been a bit less relaxed.
Again, thanks to Nikhil who was informed by Rahil, as he had passed through the area couple of days ago – else we will not be let through the forest area. Suddenly, there was a panic, and we were drifting through plans of what to do in case we don’t make it.
The best option to consider, was to divert to Ooty, though this will mean we will be riding through the mountain in pitch dark. Also, an expensive proposition.
However, soon I realized that we can still make the entrance and we were calculating the estimated time to reach Wayanad as beyond 7 pm, and hence confusing it with entry time at Bandipur which we can approach one and half hour prior.
Bandipur National Park
We gunned the bikes given that the roads and highways were smooth in Karnataka, and were relatively empty. Hardly we faced any traffic on N.H. 48 or other diversions we undertook. We made it to the entry gate to Bandipur National Park by 5.30 pm!!! Hallelujah.
A sigh of relief, both of us stopped to switch on our cameras so we can capture the ride through the jungle. It is in the evenings that elephant herds move across the roads. In the night, the numbers shoot up like crazy, and it is practically impossible to drive or ride through. Let alone; you encounter their wilder side.
It is fascinating to ride through the jungle, with smooth roads. Speed breakers help you slow down. No, not for animals to make you their easy dinner (or play toy if its an elephant), but to stop you from killing them.
As we progressed through, I was lucky enough to miss an elephant crossing by a whisker. I mean like if there was a 2-3 seconds delay and I would have hit an elephant or vice versa. You can see in the video, how close I was! That was perhaps my first encounter with wild animals in the jungle. Of course, I have seen and touched and ridden atop an elephant, all of them were domesticated. So this did send chills down my spine for a few minutes.
Entering the lustfully green Wayanad
In a little while, we knew we were in Kerala – as it started raining heavily (pun intended). From then on, it is a drenched ride! While in the middle of the forest, it started raining. We stopped at the end of the woods, completely drenched, to get our hands on a hot glass of Kerala tea and wait for the storm to pass. It also played its part in delaying us further, as we could not speed up in the twitchy roads (ghats) of Wayand. With no luck on our hopes, we started riding towards my friend Dijosh’s house in Wayanad.
By the time we reached our destination, it was already 7.30 in the evening. It took us another 30-40 mins to unload the bags and remove our safety jackets and knee guards. A hot bath helped refresh us a lot, and the steamy dinner just added to our delight.
Day three – ride to our final destinations in Kerala
I cannot thank Dijosh and his family enough for taking care of us like we are kids. Dijosh and I have been good friends since 2005, and our families know each other well. Tyjo and I ate to our heart’s content the homemade delicacies that both of us always yearned!
The dinner and the early morning breakfast were a feast. The morning meal reveals a ritual unknown to both of us (I am brought up in Kerala, Tyjo is a born Malayali) of eating Puttum Kadalayum with the fabulous Kerala Papadom. I never imagined it before and will ensure I do it every time I am eating Puttum Kadalayum. Loved it that much!
Dijosh and his father escorted us through Wayanad in his brand new Skoda Rapid and visited the Pookode lake. Since we left at 7.30 am, the access gate to the lake was not open yet. We roamed around the roads on the lake bank and turned around to move from Wayanad. Got our luggage from the car, and off we went, saying our goodbyes to our wonderful hosts!
Thamarasherry Churam, Wayanad Dist., Kerala
The moment of madness was to ride via the Thamarasherry Choram – the nine hairpin scenic beauty. During the plan for this ride, Tyjo made it clear that we travel through Wayanad to enter Kerala. Unaware of the extravaganza, our experience at the Churam was wholly impressive. Tyjo had his fill of the beauty of Wayanad, and it is pretty evident from his expression captured with the camera. Hear it in the video posted above. It was perhaps our best ride experience in Kerala.
Wayanad is beautiful, and if you ever get a chance, do visit. Ride from Wayanad to Alleppey was about 300 kms; however, the dangerous condition of roads and the disobedient traffic made it difficult for us to travel. We struggled through Mallapuram and the outskirts of Calicut (Kozhikode) to ride through.
60KMPH Limits
Kerala has the stricter speed limit implementation with speed cameras installed across many of the highway spots. They take a picture of you speeding and courier you a ticket at home. I would not know it anytime soon if the authorities decided to send me one as well, as this takes typically anywhere between one to four months.
We did exceed limits, however not by much. With 5th gear engaged at 60kmph on my RE Himalayan, I could not continuously ride at that speed. It caused unwanted (because I was exhausted) vibrations, which are standard.
Especially after Tyjo and I parted ways, I tried to keep it between 65 and 70 kmph. And at times when I overtake vehicles (many cars too are driven at 60-70 most of the times), I touch 80 kmph. I saw a couple of manned speed guns while doing those speeds but no one stopped me (well, through our entire ride no one stopped us!).
Here is hoping that the guys behind the screens have ignored my peevishly exceeded speed limits.
The traditional Kerala Sadhya for lunch
By noon, we stopped for lunch somewhere in the Thrissur district. It is hard to spot a restaurant that was operating in this area – which did surprise us. The rare one’s we was too crowded for us. Also, the fact that we had to decide whether or not to unload our bags from the bikes mattered in the decision. So hungry as hell, we decided to chance upon the next available place that sold food.
Thus we reached a small, roadside hotel. Eating excellent food, both I and Tyjo were having a blast enjoying the traditional recipes. Tyjo preferred to gorge on the beef dishes, which he missed since the beef ban in Maharashtra. I stuck to my vegetarian stuff – the famous Kerala Sadhya.
The food was delicious, and cheap, as we only spent Rs. 120 for a fulfilling lunch.
The ruined surprise!
My parents and family back in Kerala did not know I was coming! Yes, I did successfully hide that fact. Up until Thrissur, that is. I called up my aunt (dad’s younger sister) to let her know that I was coming and asked her to reach home as well. While I did tell her that it was a surprise, but I guess she didn’t get the right memo. My short-tempered father received me with his anger later!!!
Riding ahead and parting ways
Tyjo and I parted our ways at Thrissur bypass for our respective destinations. We stopped, bid adieu to each other with the promise that we will be in touch soon. Tyjo had already gulped the fact that his family in Chalakuddy is not going to let him ride further south to Varkala and Kanyakumari given the limited time he will be spending with them.
Solo ride to Alleppey
There on, I was riding solo, perhaps the longest solo ride I ever did. Riding through Ernakulam and Aluva was a nightmare due to traffic. The metro seems to have made the traffic situation worse, though I saw little traffic aggression at the lights. Almost everyone was halting before the white line. No cramming of cars and bikes into any space available – it is a departure from what we see in Mumbai-Thane belt. Roads in this part of Kerala are clean and pothole free and enjoyable otherwise.
Soon, I was in familiar territory. I was riding through Aroor and Chertala, the roads that I have seen growing up. I did not need a map through this route, but the continued rain had drained me a lot. Exhausted, I took a break after Pathirapally to tank up and make a few calls.
Reaching my hometown!
As I approach my home, which is just five kms away, I face one of the worst traffic on this route. Cars and trucks hardly moved, and this when I decided to use my Himalayan’s off-road abilities. Riding through knee-deep, filled-with-mud potholes on the side of the road to get rid of the traffic and rush home.
Finally, I reached the place where I grew up, the place that is still living in the 20th century. I passed by my alma mater, Leo XIII H.S.S. and suddenly the fond memories of childhood flashed through, occasionally interrupted by the speed bumps and potholes.
Sure enough, my father was waiting for me – wondering where I was and why I decided to ride a bike all the way to Alleppey. Of course, for family, safety and security of their kids are paramount. Of course, the most substantial portion of the older generation will never understand this stupidity (for them, at least).
Finally, I was home!
Further reading
The write up to the return leg is in the works, so is the ride experience on Himalayan and Dominar. Be sure to visit again in a week’s time to see more of our adventurous ride to Kerala.
Karnataka announced farm loan waivers amounting to Rs. 50,000 per farmer for loans from Cooperative Banks. Earlier, Punjab government announced waivers up to Rs. 2,00,000. Maharashtra Government waived off loans completely for small and marginal farmers. It all started with Tamil farmers protesting for waiver of loans, but they were in for a rude surprise when UP CM Yogi Adityanath announced waiver up to Rs. 1,00,000 for his state.
Alright, let me clear out few things here before you read further:
I am not against farmers getting financial assistance to help with their plight, caused by bad monsoon and drought.
My analysis is based on what I have read in news, my own sources who know a few things in this matter and data available in public on our country’s finances.
So why I am writing about it?
You know, many of you who are reading this, pay taxes. Heavily at that. Income Tax at various slabs, and many more via indirect taxes on things that we consume. I pay a heavy amount as well, and it pinches me. It pinches me to think if I lose my job tomorrow, can my home loans be waived off? Or my personal loans?
I can see many of you laughing. But ponder on it, and you will realize that things are not right with how India manages its own finances. These farmers likewise pay barely any taxes and whatever they pay is minuscule. Fair to them, they do not make hell a lot of money themselves. But their income taxation is not what is should be ideally. In this post, I am also talking about how much they themselves make for the hard work they put together.
Idealists would have me plastered into wall for asking farmers to pay – but truly, anyone who makes money should pay taxes.
It is true that farmers do not make enough, and you know it. You have heard it all around. So if a farmer, who puts his blood and sweat out to make food for us does not earn enough, who does?
Farmer’s don’t fetch enough for their produce
The middle men make the most of a farmer’s produce, and that is what is hurting farmers. They buy the produce at cut-throat prices, and sell it at almost 60% margin. You will hardly hear noise in media or elsewhere from these middle men on any major economic impact in this country. Should that not surprise anyone of us?
Our economy being predominantly agrarian, it should not be difficult for a farmer to make more than enough money to survive his family with decent level of life. But truth is far from that. Very few farmers, who have do harvest a lot of crops and have diversified their farm bases make good amount of money. Small farmers do not. Wafer thin margins on their hard work ofter leave them poor.
What should be done?
To ensure the root of the evil is managed, government should review the process of farm produce being sold. Today we have government collection centers where produce is sold at market prices, however those centers are far off, centrally located.This prompts small farmers to approach middlemen.
Monitor middlemen. It is easier said that done. Since majority of transaction happen with cash, there is no trace of purchase v/s selling price for farmer. Introducing a singular, digital mode of payment can ensure this is tracked and appropriate taxation can also be recovered that gets lost due to unrecorded transaction.
And you, can try to procure more locally or from big malls that do buy produce direct from farmers.
