A BEND IN THE RIVER

If you thought these pictures are from a remote getaway somewhere in North East India, think again! These are actual pictures from my in laws' backyard in Kottayam District Kerala.

The river is Meenachil, which takes a breathtaking but lazy turn at the back

yard of my grand mother in law's house. They have two sets of access ways to the river.

A curiosly monster like look in pic 3 is actually wild ginger, which grows prodigiously in my in laws' backyard in Ettumanur, again in Kottayam district. The range of trees and plants they have are amazing- rubber ( of course!), jackfruits of 4 different varities- some of which are cooked raw and other eaten the old fashioned way after they are ripe, palms, drumsticks, bay leaf it is just endless. It was heartening to see that the food chain as we knew it continues to exist and flourish in this part of the world. Ettumanur is home to one of the best known siva temples in south India. Hence there are some serious bulls out there who roam the backya

rds of the houses in the vicinity. And why not? There is enough food to go around, and there is enough place to leave your bullshit out! So next time the bull comes around, he has fresh vegetation to eat from, completely nourished by its own dung! Can't think of doing things more organically.

I am blessed to be a mallu in that I can go home and be in the midst of nature! Don't have to spend nervous moments figuring out hotels, food, things to do, what about the kids, blah, blah, blah! I go to my wife's place, I have Thekkady, Vagamon, Kumarakom, Alleppy Beach, the backwaters of Kuttanad all within 4 hours. If I am still lazy to go to any of these places, I can just step out through the kitchen door, or quitely go down Grandma's backyard and sit watching the river come by the bend!