Poonamsagar.com :: Travel, Technology and More

Cape Town, South Africa – a visual feast

Posted on 03/03/2012 by Poonam Sagar

This gallery contains 33 photos.

Why What and Who of Websites

Posted on 12/01/2012 by Poonam Sagar

I started my career in web design and development in 2000, the year when the dot com bubble burst, and I am still learning every day. I have had my share of success and failures (which I hate to admit). With my team of graphic designers, developers and programmers, we have built dozens of online stores, hundreds of websites and blogs for all kinds of businesses and organizations, from artists to major corporations and international organizations.

If your website is over 2 years old, then it’s time for makeover to keep up and leverage with changing online landscape. The growth of social networking, gamification of the user interface to engage the visitor and mobile access have lead to new perspectives on website design. Google tools, search engine optimization and analytics are other aspects that impact website development.

Create a working document for all the features desired, to clarify your thinking and provide direction at various stages of the project. If you decide to outsource the project, share a copy of your marked-up copy of this document with your website designer. Print it out!

Your Website’s WHY
Start your website with clarity on its purpose. List down all the features that it’s expected to have, and decide on ONE main purpose. From the organization’s perspective, what must the site do in order to be successful?
Some common website purposes can be:
• Online branding. These are usually brochureware sites to help potential clients, customers, and partners learn about your company. You want people to know who you are, what you do, where to find you, and how to contact you.
• Product Information and store locator to provide information on products and services at dealer locations.
• Ecommerce sites are online stores to sell products and services.
• Customer Service and Online Helpdesk is a great place for troubleshooting guides, FAQs and more. A 24×7 channel to connect with your customers and their support need.

WHO will build?
Once the chief purpose of the site is clear, it is best to outsource the design and development of the website to the experts. It’s faster and better. Just concentrate on the sites content, after all you know your organization best. Develop your site around Content Management Systems (CMS) so that updates can be managed in-house with minimal training.
Website design done right is complex and requires a number of different skill sets. Some of these skills include:
• Website layout and architecture.
• User Interface design
• Content navigation design.
• Cross browser accessibility
• Mobile friendly site design
• Data management and reports.
• Application programming.
• Integration with social media etc.

WHAT Features?
Start with a clean, uncluttered design, and incorporate features to fulfill the website’s purpose. ‘Content is definitely KING’ and as visitor attention online is so short, simple and crisp content with relevant images is the key.
• Content. Plan and organize the content into clear section and subsections.
• Search locates content, product or services based on keyword.
• Contact details Post complete contact details and numbers to increase trust, not merely an anonymous contact form.
• Mobile sites have seen tremendous growth in Smartphone usage.
• Helpdesk for customers to communicate with you and at the same time develop a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
• Blog is an interactive place holder for news, opinions and showcase expertise. Not only does this keep fresh content on the site but it increase search engine rankings.
• Call to action is a clear, simple and compelling offer that persuades them to take the action you want.
• Social Media Integration with a uniform design and message strategy for social media networks and set up Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.
• Google analytics to monitor and measure performance of your site.
• SEO or Search Engine Optimization to help the search engines recognize and index appropriately the actual content of your webpage.

The internet is a treasure trove of information on website design, usability, trends and more. Check out websites of well known companies to get a feel of layout and features that you would like for your site. Some research and reading online will go a long way in clarifying thoughts and requirements. Discuss the same with your team and your website developer for an effective website.

Posted in Technology | Tagged Redesign, website, Why | 2 Comments

Tech Trends 2012

Posted on 09/01/2012 by Poonam Sagar

Confused over what technologies to embrace this year? The buzz on tech trends for the coming year point at cloud computing, mobility, virtualization, and a slew of other technologies. Tech business priorities focus on improving productivity, followed by reducing operational costs, and improving customer service.

The top ‘10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2012’, according to Gartner, the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company covered everything from increased use of media tablets, to the explosion of mobile-centric applications (predicting 70 billion available apps by 2014), through to ‘Big Data’ challenges, next-generation analytics capabilities and social networking.

The Mobile Age. With the Smartphone now ubiquitous–and the tablet gaining ground–SMEs will begin mobilizing their core business applications en masse in 2012. While email and other collaboration tools might already be second-nature for mobile users, areas such as mobile payments, time tracking, and field service apps should see increased adoption. The possibilities of what we use our Smartphone’s for now are endless and very naturally at the forefront of all trends. While iOS dominates the tablet market today, Gartner says it expects iOS/Android will dominate the market with 80% of tablets shipped by 2015.

Mobile Interfaces. The user interface (IU) paradigm is changing to adapt to mobile-centric interfaces emphasizing touch, gesture, search, voice and video. HTML5 – the fifth iteration of the HTML standard lets developers create richer, more interactive applications than ever.
Mobile Apps. Apple and Android provide hundreds of thousands of mobile apps to mobile users. This is expected to grow from consumer-only phenomena to an enterprise focus.
Location marketing. Listing on Foursquare or Google Places, location marketing is becoming an increasingly important part of doing business.

Internet of Things. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that describes how increasingly consumer devices will connect to the Internet with the technologies for identifying, sensing and communicating. Key elements of the IoT include:

Embedded sensors: Sensors that detect and communicate changes are being embedded, not just in mobile devices, but in an increasing number of places and objects.
Image Recognition: Image recognition technologies strive to identify objects, people, buildings, places logos, and anything else that has value to consumers and enterprises. Smartphones and tablets equipped with cameras have pushed this technology from mainly industrial applications to broad consumer and enterprise applications.
Near Field Communication (NFC) payment: NFC allows users to make payments by waving their mobile phone in front of a compatible reader. Once NFC is embedded in a critical mass of phones for payment, industries such as public transportation, airlines, retail and healthcare can explore other areas in which NFC technology can improve efficiency and customer service.

Mobil Cloud Services

Move to Cloud Computing. It’s the best fit for SMEs. Basically, cloud computing means that applications, files and documents reside in an offsite data centre, not on your computer’s hard drive, and you and your employees can access them via the Internet, anytime and anywhere. Advantages include:

Cost savings. You eliminate the need for a costly infrastructure and, depending on your budget and needs, can pick and choose the services you want to outsource. You can increase or decrease the amount of storage required to match your stage of business and you aren’t purchasing servers that are under-used when you install them, then overburdened as your business expands.

Security. Contrary to concerns of data security with cloud computing, good providers offer better security and privacy than most SMEs have internally because they have 24/7 monitoring, management and reporting features that many companies might not otherwise be able to afford. In addition, data stored in a cloud does not suffer fire damage or theft.

Social Enterprise. Enterprises will be driven by social media with increasing ease of access, allowing businesses to produce, find and convey information more effectively. However, businesses must ensure their social media campaigns are tailored to suit not merely the clients’ needs, but also the platforms. The seamless integration of social media with Smartphone’s further adds urgency to adapt all corporate communications to this platform.

Gamification. Broadly speaking, gamification aims to integrate game dynamics to a website, online content or campaign in a bid to drive participation and, ultimately, awareness of your brand. The idea is to add gaming elements to tasks and processes that are ordinarily tedious to consumers. Technology research company Gartner predicts gamified services will become as important to companies’ marketing departments as Facebook or Twitter.

Rather than becoming overwhelmed with all that technology offers – and is likely to offer – take a good look at the services that will benefit your small business the most. The trick is to use technology to your advantage.

Posted in Technology | Leave a comment

QR Codes: link physical world to mobile for an interactive experience.

Posted on 08/01/2012 by Poonam Sagar

You might wonder what that fancy digital looking box pictured left is and what it’s used for. This two-dimensional bar code, called quick response codes (QR codes) are mobile phone readable bar code – a bar code on steroids.

Quick take your smartphone and scan this code. If you do not have the app to read it, just download a free app and test it out.

A QR code is a type of matrix bar code first designed by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of any kind of data (e.g., binary, alphanumeric, or Kanji symbols).

QR codes can also be described as encoded hyperlinks that can be printed on promotional material and also be used digitally—you can append a QR code to a Tweet, or displayed on a web page. When you scan or read a QR code with your camera-enabled Smartphone, you can link to digital content on the web; activate a number of phone functions including email, IM and SMS; and connect the mobile device to a web browser. These codes are a mobile friendly way to point potential customers who aren’t in front of their computers to online resources.

This technology blurs the distinction between smart phones, digital destination and content, and paper-based communication mediums. The information encoded could be:

Personal or company contact information.
An embedded phone number which the phone can dial, or a company home page URL or a specific destination on a social network (i.e. company fan page).
An RSS feed, SMS or an arbitrary text message.
An email address or a calendar event with location, title, start and end time, alarm and zone.
A physical address with location coordinates information.

The technical specifications for a QR Code are set down in the ISO-18004 standard so they are the same all over the world. To make things a bit more robust, the QR Code also contains its own error correction data, internal orientation calibration and self-alignment markers. In this way it doesn’t matter whether the QR code is upside down or wrapped around a curved surface, the message will still get through.

QR Codes are not in widespread use yet, but all the technology parts are in place and ready to be exploited. The platform is mature, it’s an ISO standard, and can be effectively used in Indonesia which has a growing smart phone user base by companies and consumers. The ease of use and versatility provides instant value in mobile strategies for product sales, information access and promotional programs.

The key is to be ready on the other end of the code with some content that actually intrigues the user, and makes them get out their phone and scan.

It is just a 3-step process to link the physical world to mobile for an interactive experience:

STEP 1
Create your own QR code of the information with any online QR code generator. Include a shortened url (sign up with www.bit.ly) for website link, contact information, map or directions and even instant payment through PayPal for products or services. Some online generators are:

– www.qrstuff.com

– www.icandy.com

– www.stickybits.com

STEP 2
Manage campaign and publish your codes wherever you like. Print the code on marketing materials, stickers or even behind business cards.

STEP 3
Track with Real-Time Analytics by tracking the url statistics. This is especially important when you want to measure the results of a marketing campaign using QR codes. Just log in to your bit.ly account and get statistics. So when a user scans your QR code and reviews the linked information, that scan will be included in the data the next time you run your report.

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South Korea: endless possibilities

Posted on 19/12/2011 by Poonam Sagar

My first introduction to South Korea was through my son’s taekwondo class many years ago, where the instructions were taught in Korean. The other cultural export was kimchi, the pickled cabbage and chilli dish known for its fierce pungent spiciness. Now it is all about K-pop artists riding the ‘hallyu’ (Korean wave) in Indonesia, where Korean pop culture is gaining popularity through TV series, movies, pop music concerts, food and fashion.

Over the past decade, South Korea has reinvented itself into an Asian miracle. It has become an innovator, an economy that doesn’t just make stuff, but designs and develops products, infuses them with the latest technology, and then brands and markets them worldwide, with style and smarts.

South Korea has lots to offer in a fine blend of the old and the new. Visitors can choose from the many attractions, the entertainment buzz, handicrafts, fashion and the yummy food. The main themes can be found in Hangeul (alphabet), Hansik (food), Hanbok (clothing), Hanok (traditional housing), Hanji (paper), and Hanguk-Eumak (music). No wonder that over six million tourists visit this vibrant and colorful country every year.

Korean Cuisine: Hansik, meaning Korean food, contains less meat and features a wide variety of fermented foods, assorted vegetable dishes, and rice. Traditionally, the staple rice and kimchi are served with a number of side dishes. In addition to kimchi, bibimbap (boiled rice mixed with vegetables), galbi (seasoned ribs), bulgogi (marinated, barbecued beef), and hanjeongsik(a full-course Korean meal) have made their way out into the world.

Kimchi

Wandering around the streets of South Korea, you can choose from a wide variety of venues and dishes, everything from little old ladies roasting chestnuts on the street corners to pojang macha (covered tents), where you can get a beer or soju (rice or sweet potato ‘vodka’), too.

Traditional Attire: The French call it ‘color of mystique’ and ‘fantasy’. The Hanbok, Korea’s traditional outfit, has rich and vibrant colors. It is a two-piece outfit without pockets and buttons that is closed with strings, belts or cords. The men wear jackets with loose trousers and the women pair the jacket with a long flowing skirt and boat shaped shoes. Hanbok adjusts to modern lifestyle and Korean people love to wear their traditional clothing not only on the special occasions but everyday life.

Korean Hanbok

Arts & Crafts: Hangeul, the Korean alphabet was invented by King Sejong in the 15^th century. The fact that all Koreans speak and write the same language has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity.

Hanji Paper Dolls

Hanji, traditional handmade paper from Korea, is made from the inner bark of Paper Mulberry, a native tree that grows well on Korea’s rocky mountainsides. The paper is admired for its unique texture and beauty. It is used to make the famous Hanji paper dolls, other handicrafts, and also for a variety of household goods.

Hanguk-Eumak, traditional Korean music, is unique and has evolved over the millennia. Of the two categories in Korean music, one is meditative and calm, and the other one has upbeat music with quicker rhythms, reminiscent of songs chanted while working. However, the most popular traditional music, such as the very famous Arirang, is sentimental and has a slow rhythm, symbolic of Korea’s sad, traumatic history.

The ideal hanok(traditional Korean house) is designed and built in harmony with the natural environment. An ideal site had appropriate views of the mountains and water and aligned with traditional principles of geomancy.

Korean Flag

Religion: Though Buddhism has dominated the ideology over the ages, people have also been influenced by other major religions such as Confucianism, Christianity, and Shamanism. The Korean ideal is to reach a fundamental a sense of harmony and balance in everything. The national flag also represents this ideology, with a central symbol of the ‘ying and yang’.

Ch’usok, or Harvest Moon Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the Eighth Moon according to the lunar calendar is the most important Korean holiday. This is usually in September or October and marked by the rising of a full ‘Harvest Moon’. Ch’usok is an ancient holiday dedicated to the ancestors. Families gather from all over the country and overseas for the holiday.

The South Korean culture is fascinating and the people are very gracious and warm. Centuries-old Confucian principles of dedication to hard work and a devotion to family and society still govern the daily lives of Korean people. From casual greetings, to visits, to table manners they do have a list of do’s and don’ts for people to follow. Respecting elders is an important part of the etiquette in South Korea.

South Korean culture revolves around its traditional clothing, dance and of course Korean music, be it traditional or the modern day K-pop. While the country is modernizing at a runaway speed, its traditions and customs are still rooted in the past. Social relations may be grounded in ancient Confucianism but South Korea is most decidedly a forward-thinking country thanks to its insatiable appetite for technological advancement and an indomitable can-do attitude. That’s what makes South Korea so exciting; a country of endless possibilities.

Posted in Travel | 2 Comments

Givers and Takers: Yin and Yang

Posted on 14/12/2011 by Poonam Sagar

“Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody’s power, that is not easy,” famously said Aristotle almost 2400 years ago.

I believe that if the word ‘anger’ in the quote above were to be replaced by ‘giving,’ it would be equally true and valid:
“Anybody can become a Giver, that is easy; but to be a Giver with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody’s power, that is not easy.”

Its the age of giving with every person trying to out do the other in being a ‘giver’ and ‘making a difference’ to the world, so much so that the term ‘taker’ has almost become an insult. We forget that giving and taking is always in harmony. One cannot be a giver if there are no takers.

Imagine a world where there were only givers and NO takers, like a tree laden with fruit and no one to eat the same. The fruit would slowly but surely rot as there is no purpose for the tree to produce fruit. Taking or recieving is as important, as the giving. Infact the recieving is a gift to the giver, an acknowledgement and appreciation of the giver which encourages this to continue and spiral higher and higher. However, it is not giving blindly, but a matching the givers gifts to the taker’s needs, and the degree of giving is important.

It is merely demand and supply and its continuum in an eternal cycle.

Posted in Thinking Aloud | Leave a comment

South Korea, the Land of Morning Calm

Posted on 14/12/2011 by Poonam Sagar

South Korea has been called ‘Chaohsien‘ or morning freshness since the Han dynasty for its spellbinding natural beauty of picturesque high mountains, clear waters and its splendid tranquility, particularly in the morning.

A beguiling mix of the ancient and the futuristic, the commercial and the spiritual, warp-speed urban action and serene rural isolation, South Korea is a nation on the rise. January and February 2012 is time for the Grand Korea Sale with over21, 000 shops participating.

If you are planning a trip to South Korea, the top ten places to visit and things to do are:

1. Seoul, gateway to Korea

Dizzying Seoul

A dizzying metropolis with a population over 10 million, Seoul is one of the 21st Century’s undisputed urban powerhouses. Few capitals match Seoul’s dynamic blend of the ancient and the modern, ‘Yin, Yang’. Skyscrapers tower over historic palaces and temples, whilst Seoul N Tower stands imperious atop Mount Namsan and is the first visible landmark welcoming you to the city, and offers stunning panoramic views across the city. Seoul is also home to four UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Retail therapy is best at the massive Dongdaemun Market, made up of 26 shopping malls stretching over ten blocks. And delve into Seoul’s nightlife at the Hongdae district, South Korea’s party central – take your pick from literally hundreds of bars, restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs.

2. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

Gyeongbokgung is the royal home of the Joseon dynasty, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Seoul and features distinctive curved roofs, pillars and colorful tiling. Ceremoniously attended by uniformed guards in unflinching solemnity, the palace is a perfect example of traditional Korean architecture. Located at the heart of Seoul’s government district, it retains an air of regal pomp even centuries after the downfall of its original inhabitants.

3. Sing out at a noraebang

Noraebang which translates as ‘song room’ or karaoke is a national obsession. Noraebangs can be found all over South Korea, and is a must visit to enjoy and even develop your own repertoire of favorite songs.

4. Jeju-do Island

Waterfalls on Jeju Island

Jeju-do is a combination of waterfalls; unspoilt beaches and dramatic volcanic landscape. Highlights include the impressive Geomunoreum lava-tube cave; Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong) is a dramatic volcanic crater which rises majestically from the ocean and watching the famous ‘Haenyeo’ women dive to the ocean floor without any breathing equipment to gather sea food.

5. Gyeongju: the museum without walls

Gyeongju, capital of ancient kingdom of Silla is beautifully well-preserved, and has many architectural and historical treasures, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, and Gyeongju Historic Areas. The Gyeongju National Museum houses over 16,000 artifacts.

6. Get Spiritual

Escape modern life and cleanse both body and soul at a Korean temple, in blissfully secluded mountainous retreats populated by Buddhist monks. It is a unique opportunity to learn and experience Korean Buddhist culture. Visitors live exactly as the monks do, taking part in spiritual training methods such as Zen meditation and Buddhist rites. A temple stay will be an experience that will stay with you for life – and you never know, it may even change the way you look at the world.

7. Seoraksan National Park

Named after Seoraksan Mountain, this must-visit national park is a dramatic wilderness. This UNESCO biosphere reserve features the spectacular peaks of the Taebaek mountain range and a rich variety of flora and fauna, and is one of Korea’s most popular tourist attractions. With many stunning hiking and walking trails, Seoraksan offers a perfect chance to experience Korea’s unspoilt natural beauty and is a photographer’s paradise.

8. Authentic Korea: Busan

A busy port city known for its distinctive local dialect and rugged character, Busan is the place to go to get to know a more authentic side of Korea. It is the country’s second most populous city and is full of hidden charms: the famously fresh local seafood (live squid is a local delicacy!), a buzzing nightlife, historic temples, and an idyllic surrounding coastline.

9. Dadohae Haesang National Marine Park

Korea’s southern coastline is sprinkled with around 1,700 islands which form the Dadohae Haesang National Marine Park. Hongdo and Heuksando are popular islands to explore. Cruise around the remote rocky outcrops that make up the rest of the area’s dizzying cluster of islands.

10. Try the Cuisine

Kimchi

It’s not just Kimchi, the fermented spicy cabbage conceived in Korea around the 7th century and the national dish. Be it Bulgogi, Korean barbecue or rice cakes, Korea’s appetizing and healthy cuisine has gained praise and admiration from foodies across the globe.

Korea is safe, spectacular and one of the most dynamic and colorful countries in the world, with something for everybody, an all-inclusive getaway of shopping, touring and entertainment.

Posted in Travel | Tagged Kimchi, Korea | Leave a comment

Be thrilled this New Year’s Eve in Singapore

Posted on 30/11/2011 by Poonam Sagar

Fireworks at Marina Bay, Singapore

Are you ready for the biggest party of the year? If you haven’t yet made plans for New Year’s Eve, head to Singapore for the hottest parties in the region that guarantee to usher in the New Year with a big bang.

Singapore is a hive of celebration on New Year’s Eve, with laser lighting, music performances and fireworks illuminating the sky. You are spoilt for choice with foam beach parties, rocking discotheques, night clubs, and public areas such as Orchard Road, Clarke Quay and even malls such as Ion. The Jewel Box on Mount Faber, the IndoChine Waterfront and Chinatown, are some of the many other options available. The biggest parties in town are…

Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2011

Marina Sands Bay area, with up to 250,000 people attending is the biggest celebration and also the main focal point of all New Year’s Eve celebrations in Singapore and is broadcast live online. People soak in the atmosphere from nearby hotels and from atop the world’s tallest Ferris wheel – The Singapore Flyer. The view of the skyline from this vantage point is breathtaking.

Floating Wishes

The Marina Bay located at the mouth of Singapore River overlooks the waterfront, where families gather to write New Year wishes on 20,000 inflatable white paper spheres before floating them on the water. This forms a visual display of brilliant colors beamed from the spotlights along the Esplanade promenade. Other entertainment consists of a number of live shows and concerts organized with local as well as internationally eminent artists that create a magical atmosphere in every corner of Marina Bay.

The large crowd becomes a part of the countdown to welcome the New Year with an extravagant display of fireworks to create a magical picture of the Singapore sky and skyline.

Date: Saturday, 31 December 2012 at 7pm
Venue: Esplanade Waterfront & Marina Bay
Ticket: Free
Information: www.marinabaycountdown.sg

Sentosa Siloso Beach Party

This is Asia’s largest beach countdown and is a hydro party, which promises to be wetter and wilder than ever. The action will unfold across the 1.2 km beach stretch which transforms into a party arena, with 5 distinctive party zones, including a gigantic foam pool, and loads of aquatic attractions.

Date: Saturday, 31 December 2011 at 6pm
Venue: Sentosa Siloso Beach
Tickets: www.sentosa.com.sg/silosobeachparty/

The tiny island country of Singapore is not only the perfect party destination but also a great holiday destination if you love eating, drinking and shopping. It has bold splashes of art, culture, heritage and the stage for many International performances. Easy and plentiful transport options through its clean roads and soaring sky-scrapers and fascinating ethnic enclaves form the backdrop. Singapore with its excellent infrastructure is the logical destination, not only for business and leisure, but also for world-class, affordable and safe healthcare. It is also environmentally friendly, and maintains natural and heritage conservation programs. Along with this, it also has one of the world’s lowest crime rates.

As it is the main travel hub for Indonesia, it is the perfect place for an exciting stopover. It has something for every age group and charms the visitor with its blend of tradition and modern. Soak in the colors, flavors and sounds of Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street, or spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the Garden City’s famous zoos or nature reserves. Shopping centers galore invite you to shop till you drop. Among the famous shopping centers are Ion Mall, Tanglin Shopping Center, The Heeren, Far East Plaza, Centerpoint and more.

Visit popular attractions such as Jurong BirdPark and the Singapore Zoological Gardens. You will find more than 3,000 animals from over 250 species. The Night Safari here allows you to glimpse rare animals such as the one-horned rhinoceros. The Science center, Underwater world and Universal studios are very interactive, entertaining, and educational, and very popular with families.

Welcome the New Year in Singapore

It’s less than a month to 2012! Some are starting the New Year’s Eve countdown already with year-end holidays. If you like welcome the New Year while partying the night away under a tropical sky then look no further than Singapore. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Indonesia for a short holiday or to party, and you will be spoilt for choice. In Singapore, this year-end tradition will brings together thousands of people from around the world, in counting down the final seconds of the 2011 year to celebrate the beginning of a new year 2012 with new hopes and dreams.

As published in The Jakarta Post on Friday, 1st Dec 2011

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Kerala, a tropical Venice

Posted on 23/11/2011 by Poonam Sagar

If rowing through the canals of Venice is an architectural feast, gliding through the waterways of Kerala is a banquet of nature.

What makes Venice so enchanting and impressive is the fact that the sights are all man-made, and it comes to us in a mold we call culture — in a quintessentially European way. The waterways of Kerala are the opposite. It is nature itself that unfolds before our eyes and greets our senses. By nature, it is not an Amazon-like nature, where in every shady glide you are watchful in case a snake, spider or even a spear-wielding Amazon warrior appears. Kerala’s waterways are all about peaceful palm trees, rice fields, birds, forests, small villages, sunshine that glitters through the leaves, serenity and quietness; in short, a kind of tropical Venice.

: Incredible India Poster – Kerala

The boats, called Kettuvallam, are a wonder in themselves. Built with earthy materials such as bamboo poles, coconut fibre, ropes, and bamboo mats, these solar-powered houseboats are traditionally used for transporting goods; but have now morphed into floating villas, exquisitely designed and furnished with modern amenities. As a tourist vehicle, it has all the conveniences of a hotel: bedrooms with toilets, a living space, and kitchen.

Comfortably snuggled within this Kettuvallam, we then glide through a world of serenity and wonderment, a network of waterways, inlets from the sea, and estuaries of over 40 rivers, lakes and natural canals connecting coastal towns. Some of the magnificent places of tourist interest and the picture perfect waterways of Kerala are Kumarakom, Alleppey, Kochi, Kollam, Kuttanad and Kasargod.

Yet, though the waterways are the chief thing that sets Kerala apart, it is still one among Kerala’s many dream lists of attractions. What makes Kerala truly unique as one of India’s most beautiful states is its rich historical and cultural past.

This is seen best in the journey to discover Kerala itself, which begins in Kochi, where you find giant fishing nets from China, ancient mosques and Portuguese houses. The serene Fort Cochin pays homage to its colonial past, each building whispering a tale of Chinese visitors, Portuguese traders, Jewish settlers, Syrian Christians and Muslim merchants. Yet even with its colonial distractions, Kerala manages to cling to its vibrant traditions: Kathakali — a blend of religious play and dance; kalarippayattu — a gravity-defying martial art; and theyyam — a trance-induced ritual. Combine this with some of the most taste bud-tingling cuisine in India, and you can imagine how hard it will be to leave before you even get here.

Munnar with rolling tea gardens produces the world famous Nilgiri tea. This is also the land of cardamom, pepper and cinnamon spice plantations. Follow the scenic waterfalls and exotic flora and fauna to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and spice and coffee plantations in Thekkady.

Further on to Kumarakom, a small scenic village with cluster of little islands is situated on the banks of the crystal clear blue Vembanad Lake. Visit the exotic Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, regarded as ornithologist’s paradise.

Then to Trivandrum, the capital city, resting on low hills in Southern Kerala. A must-see event is the snake boat races or Vallamkali which is something of a cult, just as bull fighting is in Spain. From Aug. 15, every year, 100 feet long boats with up to a 100 trained men participate in this amazing race in these southern waterways. The boats go like arrows, with the rowers moving in unison to the sound of rhythmic chanting and music. Truly a photographer’s dream destination.

Still in Southern Kerala, visit the Napier Museum, Kuthiramalika Museum, and Sri Padmanadbha Temple. And, finally to the beach of Kovalam, the beautiful beach paradise, which consists of three picture perfect crescent beaches adjacent to one another, considered to be one of the finest beach resorts in the world.

: Shirodhara, Ayurvedic Oil Therapy

Kerala is also popular for Ayurveda, ‘the science of life’ which is an ancient treatment method based on diet, massage, herbs, meditation and yoga. This wholesome approach maintains the balance between body and mind. Numerous Ayurvedic hospitals treat serious ailments, diseases and disorders based on the ancient knowledge, while the Ayurvedic spas are more suited to rejuvenating massage and spa treatments. Sirodhara the trademark symbol of most Ayurvedic health spas is a special form of oil therapy, characterized by the steady pouring of Ayurvedic medicated oil over the forehead. This therapeutic process provides mental relief, increased blood circulation in the brain and better hair growth.

From its palm-fringed waterways, magnificent hill stations to its mesmerizing beaches and fascinating wildlife parks and sanctuaries, South India’s Kerala is the ideal gateway for a fun filled holiday; anyone will second National Geographic Travel when it calls Kerala “one of the 10 paradises of the world” and among the “Fifty must see tourist destinations of a Lifetime”.

Tips:
Best time to visit: is between December and March when temperatures are a pleasant 30°C. In February, March and April, festivals take place in Kochi, Kottayam and Kollam, featuring traditional Kathakali dancing. June and July are monsoon months in Kerala and interestingly, this happens to the best time for therapeutic Ayurvedic treatment, which is said to be most effective in these months.

What to buy: Kerala is a shopper’s delight, especially for its ivory carvings, gold and silver brocaded fabrics and pottery and ceramic products. Bring home souvenirs of carved rosewood, masks, and a wide range of attractive and unique handmade items.

as published in The Jakarta PostSaturday, 11/19/2011

as published in The Jakarta Post Saturday, 11/19/2011

Posted in Travel | Tagged God’s Own Country – Kerala | 1 Comment