MARRIAGE!!!!

                    "Orimuzhi"  this movie made me write this blog on marriage. From childhood i was really scared of the word marriage, especially because people said in the village at mahe , that we will loose our full freedom. This Malayalam movie "Orimuzhi"shows how clearly, the parent's relationship influences our style ,of relating to our spouses too.


         

                                       Many times fear is a major factor, that spoils a relation in marriage, especially of loosing the partner. And to be honest people say its difficult after marriage i wonder still why!!!!!. Personally i have many fights in my marriage but i love my life partner, a love beyond the necessity of the WORD MARRIAGE. I love the climax of the movie "Ozhimuri" where the heroine divorces for her dignity, individuality, freedom and respect in life, but still she takes care of her husband as his best friend in the old age!!!! .The way the director has directed the matured dignified love in the end is beautiful. You require genuine love to love beyond the words and the reasons!!!

                    Marriage is a beautiful relationship if there is mutual respect, love,transparency and dignity between the partners. With the creative growth of the two individuals with time the relationship become wonderful every moment  , for every moment there is a creative positive change in both the partners. Most of the time a relationship is carried for just to be secured, there starts the boredom of marriage!!!!!.

                    With the decision to have children comes the climax of the marriage, for we are inspiring our own creations to be enlightened in life. I feel being the  the mother a woman, gets the real power to be the godess. Any relationship there should be love in it ,i mean genuine love. The moment a marriage is over there is a cold relation between the spouses!!!!. See your life partners new face every moment  and every day !!!Inspire each other to live beautifully and creatively!!!Let marriage be not just a word but a magical relation for your mysterious side to evolve and enlighten!!!"If your love is true and genuine, magics do happen in any relations  I MEAN  IN GENUINE RELATIONS BEYOND THE WORD MARRIAGE!!!!

THE KANYAKUMARI-Vivekananda and the mysterious People

                                         


                  At a conscious level when i got a call for the Kanyakumari programme i said no, for to get Permission from my husband for this wandering would be a little difficult i guessed. But at a deeper level i wanted to go for i had never seen the place and read some experiences of Swami Vivekananda and also intuitively felt i had to be there i wanted to the sense the mysterious nature there!!!. I remembered the quote in the alchemist book " When you love something genuinely with your heat love it and then set it free, if its yours it will come to you, and the trip came to me!!!"

                                                     I get a message from the organizer the morning of the trip to keep the mind open or free for the magics of the retreat. Though we are aware of all positive things around us and within us a small reminder is always helps. As my husband slept of we had to catch a moving train at 4am in the morning and the adventure began from the journey--Jumping the platforms and the trains!!!! And unusually my husband placed his hand over my head and blessed me with a smile and he said "As usual ,Priya with your unusual doubts please inspire the world and people!!!" I knew he was pulling my leg!!!  I had a small nap in the train , I was woken by a confusion in the train that some fellow passenger lost a costly mobile. The tea boys and some cops were creating a  loud sound around. One of the fellow passenger who was a engine driver by profession told me " Priya, its a joint effort by the robbers and the police men." This is the world "Maya management is important" , i followed my mothers advice of looking poor while traveling not to expose gold , laptop or mobiles, and to look poor.
          I enjoyed the traveling, the AC saved me from the humidity and heat outside. Reached Kanyakumari and my friends came to pick me, to the Vivekananda retreat centre.I saw Veda my friend walking towards the platform,its nice to have a friend receive you at a new place. Rajmohan sir also send the car, the retreat center was close to the the station, on the way saw the shells a lots , which always reminded of -"THE KANYAKUMARI----THE SHELLS ,THE ROCK AND THE HERO SWAMIVIVEKANANDAJI!!"

                              As i entered the retreat center was happy to find swami vivekananda's picture and positive notes every where, what is this place waiting for me i wondered and i enjoyed the drive with driver nair chettan and friend veda.Had a warm welcome by Rajmohan, his sister Meenachechi and Shailaja. Felt nice with a little chit chat i was asked to take rest and freshen up from my room. Soon all of us met for the lunch and ther i found the remaining of the friends too. The presence of mini with her smile and care made me more comfortable for i knew she was my room mate, how mind tries to find comfort with familiarity and warmth i wondered. As i looked around i felt it was a long time that i travel led to a strange place alone. By 3pm all of us met for a talk by a guru from the Vivekanada Kendra, he spoke lots about --Rajayoga, Jnana yoga, Karmayoga and ???. He spoke about his personal experience to the spiritual path too. Then i gave my gift to Rajmohan sir which i had painted for inspiring me to be a part of this global forum and to be an entrepreneur!!. Evening we were supposed to go for a long walk to see the Kanyakumari sunset. Walked to the  bus stand where a small bus arrived to drop us near the sunset point, i tried to find my comfort zone by sitting next to my friend and room mate mini. All of us were getting introduced to each other, the bus reached the place in five minutes and there we began walking towards the sunset point. Mini  went with a friend , and i was left alone , wondering i looked around and smiled to my new friends. Barbra(Our Yoga trainer's), mother gave me a good company and her description of the swiss chocolates took me to a different world. To manage the taste buds i ate the cashew nuts gifted to us in the bag. After a long walk we reached the sunset point, gazing at the sun i went to a different world. All my friends were busy clicking the photographs and playing in the water. I was lost in the tuning of the nature when i looked at the son, i felt sad suddenly i wondered why,later i realized that it was my sensitive intuition that understood there was a debate waiting for me late night. The people with shell chains called me from my dreamy world with nature. And all of us walked back . It was inspiring to see meenachechi (Rajmohan's sister) ,walking with us though she was tired (I mean her body!!).All of us walked back , and then somebody reminded me that i had to speak that day evening. I was prepared to give a talk on Karma, but i was sure i will talk something else for my mind was tuned to something else. And i was a person who went by the" tuning of the moment"!!!. We reached back the training center, the  sadness i sensed at the sunset point still did not leave me!!!,  all of us had dinner and we went to the retreat room. I spoke, i don't remember even now what i spoke, for i spoke on my original experiences with life and karma. The next day's schedule was told, as i walked towards my room in the other corner of the retreat room, still my sadness did not leave me. I reached my room and my friend mini had some solid questions for me , and then i sensed why i was sad (unknowingly from the sunset point walk),my entity had sensed ,these questions of my friend. We had a long talk and discussion still the debate was not over, at one-thirty pm midnight. Then i told mini" When i have a issue end of the day, i sleep well and after my prayer and yoga in the morning, i do what comes to my mind first and i shall solve the debate thus." Went to sleep ,i usually  try to sleep with a positive mind setting, but that day it was disturbing.Then  i realized it was because i was going against my intent of the retreat "To sense the magic  of nature Vivekandaji sensed here", to normal logical thought process  . I was too tired to take a decision just slept of.The first day of the retreat ended thus.

                         Early morning we had to attend a homam also near the the ganapathy temple.On the 12th morning we had a great yoga  by Barbra at the sunrise point i really enjoyed that and realised that as Raj mohan sir told" My dancing muscles were finding it tough to adjust to the yoga stretching!!!" And my logical thoughts that disturbed me last night during a discussion with my roommate i decided to sort it today for it was against my intent of the retreat. We will have a great trip to the Vivekananda rock , wow!I was waiting for this moment. All of us took a vehicle and went to the point. On the way had some discussions with a friend Karthik on thought management. As we reached the centre for the boating to the vivekananda rock my sadness in the mind increased, i wondered why!!!. Had a great time in the boat the dust of the place was so much with the speed of the boat . Finally reached the vivekananda rock.Enjoyed and sensed the nature there it was  so BEAUTIFUL!!!I tried to visualize the entity of swami Vivekananda to swim towards this rock.As Karthik, one of my friend said Swami "Vivekananda rocks!!"   The thoughts in my logical mind was disturbing , took a decision to throw the unwanted thoughts out. On the return journey i had a long chat with Rajmohan sir .He told " Priya every moment life is teaching you something new, learn to manage thoughts,people and events." oops, i still wanted somebody to remind  me that, with my logical unwanted thoughts out of my system i felt more tuned to the place. FINALLY!!!.
                              We went to Kanyakumari devi temple, i really felt after seeing the god's face that she looks so pretty and happy she has met lord Shiva secretly for sure, my perception!!. (The story is that shiva waits for her due to some trap that lord narada maharishi created, hence this goddess is a kanyaka, --without marriage life long). The goddess looked so pretty in the nose ring, i just stared myself to see my nose ring, thank god i am married , i thought!!!What all thoughts come to the mind like the waves. I listened to the shell sound in my ears and also got gifts for people at home and friends. Returned back to the retreat center, had a long chat and drive with a friend Fayaz and chated about life and business. I got small shells  with the name carved of all who came for the retreat, for i slowly realsied , that each individual here was teaching me something more about myself too!!.
        Returned to the retreat center there were talks and after that i did not feel like doing yoga. It is so difficult for me to do things when i don't feel like doing them.I asked the permission of the yoga teacher Barbra, she said Rajmohan  sir has to agree. Went and spoke to him, he said fine but do breathing exercise when  we do yoga. I did some breathing exercise, then when i saw all were engrossed i yoga i, went for my long wandering walks. Sensed the place felt close to the entity and listening to the music of the leaves ,the dances of the birds and  sensing my entity and the bliss-full climax experience at the retreat i slept on the floor,great was this experience!!! I was so close to my intent of coming to this place i enjoyed the enlightening nature forces to the maximum, this day. Night we had bag-ans and  spiritual discussions which invoked my positive thought processes  and the next day was the arrival of Dr.Prakashan Gurikal the magical man!!!The yoga classes by Shailaja and Barbra was magical, i practice them still every day, at-least weekly five days now!!!

                            Next day early morning on the 13th we had yoga by Barbra madame in one of the parks, inside the retreat center .Soon after the yoga and wandering with Bala and his photographs and peacocks, we rushed to our rooms. Then we had a group photo session. And all of us rushed to the auditorium for the inaugural function by the mayor and Kalari master Dr. Prakashan gurikal. We had a bhagan team and we enjoyed the bhagan team lead by Veda and Meenachechi. Myself, Ram and Shailaja used to hum the lyrics when we could not follow them. After the bhagans we had a great speech by Dr. Prakashan gurikkal and kalari performance by his team. The amount of cashew nuts i ate that day i was sure i will have etc punishments at  dance classes by my dance teacher, back home. But my taste buds enjoyed them. Then we all had a good lunch and a small nap. Evening we had sessions which were so enlightening by Dr.Prakashan Gurikal. More than his kalari magic i was inspired by his humbleness and simplicity. He and his wife left early for a nap.As usual we had our spiritual discussions and bhagans for the day. I was tired i wanted sleep. Got 20 minutes to personally chat with Dr.Prakashan gurikkal, after that went for a good sleep in a new room.I just had to see the bed to sleep. I  loved this Kalri guru the magical man.My room mate Mini was busy taking care of the special guests, i went and the bed just welcomed me for the sleep!!!.

                                   Next day i was woken in the morning by Rajeev's valentine wish to thank that i was lucky to have him in my life was his love message!!! Of-course he taught me lots about love!!!. Though a joke i enjoyed the wish . I had a valentine wish from Veda also to be sensitive to my spiritual growth. All of us enjoyed the valentine wishes, and the journey started with bhagans and antakshari to the hanuman temple. The way was beautiful to the temple , Rajmohan sir reminded me to chant bhagnas and pray but i was lost in the beauty of the nature. We arrived the hanuman temple and we had good friends waiting for the temple who took us around and explained the stories behind the temple architecture and history.Then  we had lots of vada and prasadam from the temple and went to another place of historical importance.
                  It was a mountain ad top of the mountain was a beautiful temple, i had a problem of fainting and feeling light when i reached real heights, still i climbed, everything was fine and suddenly i felt my body very light, i looked down, and that was the end of my climbing i sat there alone ,closing my eyes. Then Rajmohan sir requested his friend venu sir to help me down the mountains. Jokingly i said to myself "Climbing down the hill also we might require help though we might climb up alone!!!",on a lighter note. I felt very close to nature too at that point and the return journey was a quiet one for me. We reached the retreat center by afternoon, by then Dr.Prakashan gurikal and some of the participants left. Dr. Prkashan Gurikal blessed me saying "Priya you have a unique intuitive power inside you develop that with practice, it will be useful to mankind, be careful also with this powerful weapon" Took his blessings and bid him farewell and left to the room. Evening we had yoga by Shailaja madame and some discussions and also all shared their experience of the retreat.

                         Next day morning it was raining heavily as unusually and i wanted to sleep, after a great journey, left a note to Rajmohan sir and enjoyed a great sleep.After  that rushed to the retreat point all were doing yoga, quietly joined them for yoga. Then some discussions in group and had personal discussions too with some . Packed the bag, and bid goodbye to all, the leaving  the retreat after lunch was sudden. In the station i thought about Swami Vivekananda, and his teachings. Brought lots of books too from the library, but wanted to read the "Wasted death",By Rajmohan Pillai.As the train arrived i asked the TTR for a AC compartment for i wanted to read the book the wasted death. With the vadas and the cashews and the book the journey was wonderful returning back home. As i arrived Cochin i completed the book and took a strong decision not to waiste my life and to have a beautiful death, which can happen any moment. Rajeev my husband and my son came to pick me in the station, i reached home ,i  felt i missed the moments and friends at  Kanyakumari. I said "Priya its over, tomorrow back to work" .I loved the kanyakumari but the moment is over and this is the moment i had to write it forget it and live the next moment!!! A different journey is always a shift of experience of a mysterious selves of our entity and life! Thankyou Y2S, for this spiritual journey of five days at kanyakumari!!!

 

GIFT THE WAY YOU LIVE-Back to Nature!!!!

                                                The life is the best gift, we get from nature or god or whatever force or yourself which you believe in. My gift back to this nature is the way i live with what life gives me naturally. From childhood lucky enough to be brought up in a family which gifts often to each other. Today i completed a painting which i wanted to gift to a friend who sensitized me  in the concept "Maya Management". This blog on gifting came then in my mind and decided to pen .

       It's very easy to buy a gift and to give a person. The gifts carry a personal touch when you make them!!!!. And the feeling of giving and receiving is beautiful in life. Even a smile genuine one oops,  is a gift. The way the father and mother love and lives beautifully is the greatest gift to the child. The way you take care of your parents is the greatest gift to them. The love, trust, respect and and honesty to the partner is the greatest gift to the life partner. Still to gift something to these loving people occasionally around us is a beautiful act.

          We have a  custom to buy dresses for the elders when we get a new job , or any occasion in the family. I remember one painful incident in the gifting process, when i got my first job, though the salary was not that big, i some how manged dress for all the family elders. One of my aunt and uncle who was personally angry with me, returned the gift, o i felt really sad then. I don't think we should ever insult people who gift us!!!

                      My mother always says when we do relative visits " Hai there is children in that house get something when you go there"it's a small act but ads charm to my life!!!!Initially after my wedding my husband did not believe much in gifting, though funny on my birhtday i wanted a greeting card---- And i finally bought one and gave him and asked him to gift that to me!!!!! Sometimes i buy beautiful flowers and gifts even now for myself when i feel i am really living so beautifully!!!!!!!!!!!. Hence  friends give gift  to others the best and even to yourself, the best will come to you .it's nature's law. Felt good today painting this gift for my friend.

                There is magic in the gifting process, keep gifting and u keep getting. More than all add your love and best wishes it really shows in the gift!!

THE TEMPLE SADYA- " Annadanam"

 The festival season started in Kerala and with every festival keralites have the "Annadanam " too. On the process of my research and dance break, i try to attend most of the annadanams in the temples with family, friends and the neighbors, this year.Its a pleasure even to serve these sadyas at the temples. I saw many rich people also serving as nercha!!!

                        Now its at valanambalam the temple near the south railway station. While standing there for the Que in the temple waiting for the sadya in the hot sun, i was watching the different types of people in the que. There were auto drivers, celebrities, family people , office people, children, College students all the groups were there. And the temple was also decorated beautifully. The ritual is that the food is dedicated to god and hence it is prasadam for the people.  There is also a large vessel were you can donate Food items and money. My mother gave me lots of coconuts today and i kept them there. I was seeing that generally all looked very happy and at-least eighty percent of the people were dressed for the festival. And atleast compared to nowadays wedding food reception there were more warmth in the people who were distributing the food and arranging the sadya. Had a good sadya and carried some payasam home too.

               While driving back home i remembered long back when i was in St. teresas college with my neighbours and friends especially Kavitha Nair -(A very special friend),we used to go to temples and have these sadya. One day it so happened we were standing with a group of beggars in the que for the food. My uncle saw this and went back home and said  " The way Priya stands in the que with her friends and beggars it looks like there is no food at home!" Actually there is real fun in standing with unknown people in que talking to strangers and having food in temples.Honestly speaking we owe nothing in this world. And many times to have food from temples and to even donate food as annadanam, its a nice feeling to see the way people really enjoy the food !!! Some times to feel you have nothing is a great feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

       Still stands in que once in a while Kavitha nair and enjoys the annadanam, strangely now a days rarely i find poor people come for food to temples, in cochin!!!!!!!!! Actually every day is a sadya, for every moment is a unique spiritual moment for our entity in this temple called earth. Once in a while a shift of experience only sensitize us to understand the depth of this ritual called -"Annadanam"

YOGAM-This beautiful house reminded me

Our family in the process of designing a new home called "Vrindhavanam", on the process i started researching on homes, interiors etc...We had done 75 interior projects in Bangalore so the interior aspects were not new to us! But constructing a new home is! Now on the process of this wandering i came across this beautiful home which reminded me the word "YOGAM" In malayalam "thalayileruthu" enum paraym. So let me come to the incident directly. This home i loved small, beautiful,greenery around, tharavadu style. I saw it once from far.Wanting to see it once again one  day i dropped there with my husband,Rajeev Krishna.

                               I saw the gate was locked.Suddenly an old gentleman came out , he smiled at me. That's all i was inside his home with Rajeev for a cup of tea.My intention was to get inside and see the next door home."That home is beautiful ",I told him, he replied "Yes but nobody stays there" I was wondering why in such a beautiful home nobody stays!.Then this man's brother too joined in our conversation.They were two brothers un-married staying together. He told me that this home was a  beautiful tharavadu of ancient times, they redesigned the tharavadu.But only for pujas people come here,other wise nobody stays here, its locked. He smiled and told me " Vededuthal pora  thamasikan yogam venam" (In english it means " There is no point in taking a home u should have the luck and destiny to stay there!)  This dialoge struck my mind. He said that i could call and go someother day to see the interiors he will buy and keep the keys .We smiled and i took some pictures from the exterior angles.As i said good bye to him, he told me "Old tharavad na there are temples snakes and powers around , we need to be careful" I smiled and came of.On the way back i thought about the  word-"Yogam,destiny luck" .Many times however confident and intelligent we are with life and ourselves,some things happen JUST LIKE THAT!!!!! There are some  other forces that controls that right!!! We human beings are a unit of natures creation.But our arrogance to go against nature many times will come back to us in different style!!!! Jokingly one friend told me " Whats a point to be just married, you need destiny to have a loving life partner and a beautiful family life! "  Certain things in life happens if we are destined for them to happen!  But we have one thing in our control to be calm and happy and to manage anything with total surrender and acceptance.But the coincidence is that the MOMENT YOU SURRENDER TO THE NATURE COMPLETLY NATURE TAKES CARE OF YOU!!!!! I remember the quote of Paulo Colo, in the book Alchemist" If you mind is pure and you focus on your entity, you love something purely and sincerely, destiny will give that to you" I have got lots of things in life with this attitude!!!I love this design of the home completely, now let's see! At least the year did not end , so there is hope, for my beautiful home design with the name  "Vrindavanam"! Nature  is smarter, so never use your smartness to hurt another human-being or living being. And never think that being cunning and trying to posses other people's things will reach you any where in life!!Go with the tune of nature, listening to your inner-voice,take life slow and beautiful, THERE IS A GREATER FORCE THERE WHATEVER NAME YOU CALL THAT!!!!

WHAT!A girl raped in december, all are disturbed ! I am hurt but trying to remain emotionless!! emotionless,do u know why

 
                          During my childhood i was brought up with beautiful joint family system and temple bag round which is the foundation of my character and personality even today!!!! But as i grew i sensed the sensitivity of being a girl and felt a little in secured about that.Especially when i saw that i used to see my mother aunts discuss about the sexual approaches of other  negative men  happening within the known circles secretly, they would never talk about it openly to the person directly or to the higher authorities of the family. This actually even to some extent created a fear of being married in my small mind!!!!!

                My grandmother was a great lady and spiritually very strong, she taught me what it was to be spiritually competent as a woman and this still inspired me to be positive and face life strongly. Once in my high school days i spoke openly about my fears in the family, i saw a shock in the family members face, as though i spoke something wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I even gave examples of known circles of my friends and relatives and why i fear men and marriage,it was a silent movie expression of shock in everybody's face!!! What was worse that the people whom i spoke with trust used it as a gossip tool against me and i got a beautiful name Arrogance and outspoken . To the extent that i saw tears in my mothers eyes, i decided i will handle these issues on my own. Probably i will study lots and create money and power and react against these issues.I need to be strategic i decided.Luckily i got a genuine childhood friend who is my current husband with whom i used to share truths, not to my parents or family.

                       Finally worked hard and became a manager for the  Learning and Development, branch of a well known MNC in bangalore.On the process of working there i realized people discussing in my team how some girls use their attraction and extramarital relations for promotions, i asked them why dont you all react if you have proof  !All of them gave me a weird look the reason which i realized later. Once personally i came across a incident where i saw a girl kiss the HR manager in open, i spoke about that to the IT manager and to the HR assistant manager.The IT head asked me to raise a complaint, though i did not reveal the name.Due to my i maturity i revealed the name and the incident to the assistant HR manager( Who was a fox in disguise).He went and told it to the HR manager and the girl and THEY RAISED A COMPLAINT AGAINST ME, THAT I WAS SPOILING THEIR NAME. Friends i was shocked!!!!!!!! I thought there were people around who saw the incident i thought and trusted they will support me.My CEO a good friend asked me "Priya you need to know positive politics when you work in companies to climb up the ladder.,some things please close your eyes." With all intentions he meant goodness for me for he knew my innocent mind.He asked me what i will do,i said my karmas will protect me. But theHR  VP had work rivalry against me and used the incident against me. I scolded the VP, I was angry, i reacted.(Today the VP is down with some major disease is not working there anymore.) I was angry  the VP HR asked me to apologize to the assistant hr and the girl and though CEO advised me to wait for a compromise, i put my papers,out of my emotional outburst of honesty not being valued(It could be imaturity,i dont know, but this incident changed my life positively. I realized i can handle being alone for truth).Some of my good friends and trainees felt very sad. I was emotional for genuinely you stand for a good purpose this too happens to you.My mothers eyes were again in tears, she was so innocent that she went to astrologers asking "Why is my daughter so outspoken and innocent? ,why cant she think about her future and life" I was married then and my husband too thought i was interfering in unwanted issues of the society.It took one to two years to get out of this pain of being a innocent victim of a unknown incident.But i came out stronger, for i believed in karma. I am sure the karmas will protect me, and all have to be answerable for their karmas before death. BUT FOR ME IT WAS TOUGH PHASE IN MY LIFE, I WAS SHOCKED, TO SEE THE REALITIES BEHIND THE CORPORATE POLISHED LIVES!!!
               Today i am more calm and don't get that angry at things around me. Thinking why should i make my parents, husband ,child and well wishers sad in my pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you react this too happen to us  in our country, for small issues at family, companies, then let the small negative people increase in no and create a hell of life around !!!!!!!!Still i am angry but i create my world of dance music,small time jobs and beautiful world around, still with the fear that my son has to go back to this world ,this society.Still searching the vedas ,the yogas and the autobiographies of wonderful leaders to lead a beautiful life and not to harm other  human-beings .I am leading a beautiful life the way i understand it every second , but  what happens when you react for issues around , ask to genuine people who has reacted. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE BIG ONLY DO WE SEE THEM?????Does a woman have to be treated this badly to understand something wrong is happening around us, have you tried reacting to small issues around you, you will then learn what it is to stand alone and be enlightened!!!!

          One of the commissioner of cochin a  good friend of mine told me "Priya ,before you speak truth, against people with POWER create power ,money and position, OR ELSE be prepared to be harmed and killed"!!!!!! I too don't want to live still in fear want to speak openly still want to be protected as a female!!!! But can understand what mothers mean when they say please be careful be strategic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-COOK -PUSHPAN-The houseboat ride at Allepey -Hero

                        Though my husband Rajeev Krishna runs the Tourism company "Tour 2 Kerala" ,for the past 9 years, after going for Jayaram's Rainbow cruise house inauguration 9 years back,its on december 22nd that i went for a house boat cruise.I wanted to share my experience in the house boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    As we reached the alleppey backwaters the house boat team- The engine controller,the driver and the cook came to pick us. We had to walk inside one house boat to get into ours.All the house boats were parked side by side.


            As we entered the house boat the team of houseboat people became conscious that we are guests and started talking broken English to make us feel at home . My husband manged with a smile and i allowed them to speak to their heart content and then asked in Malayalam " apam ride thudangum?"  There was a beautiful smile in their face and they asked "Apam malayalianaleeeeeeeeee?"  Then with the welcome drink i went and saw the interiors of the house boat-The  kitchen, the bed room, the office room, the bathroom and the verandhe!!!!!!!!!!Beautiful and the ride began!!!!!!!!!!

               There are 1000 house boats in alleppey and the rates differ during season and off-season times. The driver told me, "After the president came to Kumarakom and went , the world knows kumarakom, but not alleppey much" I chatted with the driver the team was very happy  with the owner,they continue  there and the whole team members from the day they joined.We enjoyed the nature.Then at  pm came the lunch, our hero of the story pushpan was the cook! Delicious is not the word that i will use for the food there was genuine love in the preparations!!!!!!!!!

                   I chatted with pushpan, asked about his history. He told me in one of the conversations "Madame i was a fisherman before i joined here, i used to go to the sea for  catching fish before cooking ,some day i don't get any catch,but next day again happily i go to face the mysterious sea,compared to that job this job of a cook is wonderful! Compared to that job this cook designation is so easy, i just have to cook and keep the clients happy".I am paid a salary of 5000 rupees a moth, food,stay and i get money from the clients too!" He spoke about his wife his 2 daughters.On the process of his interaction i found him very positive,happy and innovative. He tried to find innovative means to keeps my son happy by teaching him cooking,fishing and telling him stories. Finally he gave me some tips for cooking too.

           In the evening the boat gets market near the land of the house boat owner, after 6pm, no house boats are allowed for cruise. They said we could go for a village walk if we wanted.We bought some fish also i said night dinner all of us could have together. They pulled the cable and they looked at us if we were happy about that to watch the television. I told them lets have dinner early, they looked very happy, the reason i found out later. The dinner was served and pushpan chatted again with me. And we all parted with a goodnight.Out of my curiosity i peeped the veranda and i found the driver and the engine man was fully drunk they could not even stand properly!!!!!!!!.Now i realized why they were happy that we had to have dinner early.I asked Rajeev my husband " Will these people drive us back safely tomorrow? " He just smiled.I did not see pushpan with them!!!

            I was awaken in the morning by pushpan with hot water for the shower! I asked him  why he was not there with the gang for the drinks last night. He replied "Madame one of us need to be in the senses ,and mostly they give that  chance to me and i prefer seeing them happy, for there is duty next day and i need to clean and get ready for the cooking next day too!!! I heard the ring tone from his phone "Apoopa nan anu"(In english it means grandfather its me) .His ring tone he had kept his grandson's tone!!!!!!!!I was feeling wonderful seeing the way pushpan loved his life,work and nature!!!!!!!!!!Attitude it does matter were ever u are. We had the breakfast and once it was time to get down i saw all the clients carrying the bags and walking towards the car.All the  our  bags were carried by the 3 team members of the houseboat! It was a nice houseboat journey,natural people and nature around. Alleppey i loved  ur  ambience and pushpan you taught me something!!!