Wandering in wilderness.

by Kingsley Shabbazz (Ghana)

Making a local connection Ghana

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KERELA is situated in the southwest of India on the Malabar coast with its capital city as Thiruvanaputram, the state has about 34,000,0000 population and is christened (Gods own country), Kerela is green with numerous flowering plant species of which many are medicinal. The eastern region of Kerela consists of high mountains, gorges and deep cut valleys, the state has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southeast summer monsoon and the northeast winter monsoon. Sitting in front of a houseboat with a local breakfast of (Doosa and Porii) Doosa, a local porridge made of wheat flour like Quaker oat and Porii, a cream cracker kind of chips made of cereal, coupled with the morning breeze of a small village of Vellayani with a sound and whispering of birds and frog brings a feel of camping in the Savannah. It is very stunning to notice that the sun hardly shows up very early morning therefore the weather remains cold and fresh, the movement of crows and peacocks makes one feel like living in the tropics and the smooth sounds of the morning temple music is capable of sending one back to bed, the adventure is so refreshing and makes the village of Vellayani in Kerela a home away from home and will leave a newly wedded couple on honeymoon asking for nothing else short of the Vellayani adventure. There are different means of transportations, buses are always filled to capacity with rough drive and unpleasant smells emanating from the engine. There is also a motor cycled rigshaw which is an alternative transport to the normal buses, is convenient and fast but costly, rigshaw is cool to ride it put one in a moment of a royal statues, sitting behind and peeping makes an exceptional drive to a rowdy and sunny city of Trivandrum one of the busiest city in Kerela. In the scorch sun stands different varieties of cold shakes, mango, pineapple, orange, strawberry, chocolate, guava and water melon which cost between 50 cents to $1 (U.S). The cost of lunch depends on which joint, however, the normal price of a plate of egg, chicken or beef ‘Biryani’ cost between $3 to $5, Biryani is a simple rice, fried together with the slices of any of the top up one prefers whether meat, egg or beef. In the middle of Trivandrum stand a gigantic shopping mall called big bazar, a world class shopping center of every need from fruits , candies , clothes, perfumes, cosmetics, toiletries as well as home and kitchen appliances and they accepts visa card and every electronic payment system. Kerelites as they are dotingly called are generally welcoming but shy people, however, a first move from you will never be turned down, children are the stars of the state they are curios and most friendly, I never missed home and at a point I felt like a Kerelite myself. The culture of the Keralites is composite and cosmopolitan in nature and is integral part of the Indian culture, it has been elaborated through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas culture, however, the geological insularity of Kerela from the rest of the country has resulted in development of a distinctive lifestyle, art, architecture, language, literature and social institution. There are many gift shops, however, the most notable place to shop ancient Indian antics is Fab India, in stocks are the famous Sari, Kaftan, Dopattas, Salwars and Churiders dresses for women not cheap though but every item worth’s its price given the quality and classic nature of it. Culturally, there are numerous festivals celebrated among the people and Kerela is a home of arts performance some of which includes Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattom, Thullal and Krishnanattam, these performances are originated and developed in temple theatres under the patronage of royal houses. Elephants have been an integral part of the culture the Kerelites, Kerela is a home to the largest domesticated elephants in India owned by temples as well as individuals these elephants are mainly employed for the processions and displays associated with festivals. Elephant is a state animal and features on the state emblem of the government of Kerela.