THE SIGNATURE OF KERALA - GOD'S OWN COUNTRY

a Night to remember on House Boat

You Know Kerala?. Yes, as a personal – I don’t know before (truly), but if someone say about India, of course –  everybody known that.  Kerala, better known as God’s Own Country – enjoy unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destination in Asia. Kerala is located on the Southwestern of India with the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east.  I’d  got  my first impression when arrive on Kerala. So that’s why I need to told you about how signature of Kerala.

nature landscape from Phantom Mountain

 

SIGNATURE ART & CULTURE

Since I was child – in my hometown Lampung – Sumatera Island – Indonesia,  India’s music so much familiar on my mind. Till Now if anyone asking me about another music without Dangdut – Indonesian Music, of course all kind of India’s music on my head.   The music of India includes multiple varieties of Indian classical music, folk music, India film musical and tradition. Including Hindustani music. 

Khodiyattam and Kathakali

  

 It’s seem when I and the bloggers came to Kerala, first kind of music and something cultural.

Kathakali is the most popular dance – drama in Kerala. It is mime show, dancing with mudras and specialized dancing step following the song rendered in the background. Kathakali has a literature of it its own, which explicates ideas and stories from the Indian Epics and Puranas.  I seen Kathakali on Grenix Village on the evening, lucky me – beside seen the art performance of Kathakali, I can see how the make up process the Kathakali dancer on stage before show begin.   

one of facial expression of Khatakali - photo by Jinson Abraham

  

the dancer. signature of Kerala

on other name is - Koodiyattam is the earliest classical dramatic art from Kerala. Koodiyattam literally means 'acting together' - so that's why, Koodiyattam perform with Kathakali.  After Kathakali, I seen the traditional dance movement such as story telling of life and the Kalaripayattu – movement taught followed by the lessons in the use of weapons such as daggers and swords.  About art, not only Kathakali but had another name of art that you need to see, such as, Kalaripayattu, Thullal, Mohiniyattam, Theyyam, etc. – I will tell the complete stories on the next chapter. 

the performance of Kalaripayattu

 

SIGNATURE LANDSCAPE OF NATURE

Based on physical features, the State is divided into three regions ; the costal lowlands, the fertile midlands and the highlands. The lowlands of Kerala are networked by endless back waters, coconut groves, paddy fields and the deltas of numerous rivers. The midlands are rich with cashew, coconut, areca nut, tapioca, banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and variant vegetable plantations.  The forested highlands abound in tea plantations in Munnar, coffee, rubber and spice plantations and wildlife reserves that blogger went on Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary – Thekkady. 

Periyar Lake

 

The something  Signature that tourism must try is Backwater Holiday.

I call this my wonderful trip. Cause I can enjoy the air and great atmosphere with the beautiful landscape when I and friends of bloggers stay on House boat in Kollam with the comfortable house boat.

Amazing experience here.....

 The backwaters mainly cover four districts in Kerala ; Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kochi. The backwater body is the Vembanad Lake which flows through Alappuzha and Kottayam district and opens out into the sea at Kochi districts and opens out into the sea at Kochi port.

Its our boat. Staycation on boathouse a Night - so wonderful experiance oN #keralablogexpress . Model oN PIct @claudiamary . Photo taken by @thelifeofjord . . WE Made Lot of fun LastNight . . . #happymoment #happyface #kerala #tripoflifetime #godsowncountry #incredibleindia #keralablogexpress #blogger #travelblogger #great #experience #loveindia #duniaindra

A post shared by Indra Pradya (@duniaindra) on Mar 21, 2017 at 6:45pm PDT

Imagine, the kindly wind on roof top of house boat with green naturally landscape and create atmospheres by us as team -  six person on one House Boat.  Extremely Amazing!!!. 

i love the shape of this House Boat

SIGNATURE CUISINE

Kerala has its own distinctive cuisine using ingredients locally available. Rice is the staple food and coconut is the main ingredient of all dishes. Coconut trees on mostly area on Kerala.

Kerala is also famous for its spices and black pepper, cardamom, ginger and cinnamon play a big part on food.

Variety of Spices

 

Fish and Seafood play a major role in Kerala Cuisine, as Kerala is a coastal state. An Everyday Kerala meal in most households consists of rice with fish curry made of sardines, any kind of vegetable curry and stir-fried vegetable with or without coconut traditionally known as Thoran or mizhukkupirrati.  

Sadya - originality of Kerala

 

Traditional Kerala sadya is a vegetarian meal served in plantain leaf during festival with payasam. I found this kind when stay on Central of Harmonies Living.  The taste so delicious because we use our hand to finished the food.  Beside that, I really enjoy the Indian cuisine on Kerala, such as Gobi Paratha,  Idhly, Chana Masala, Sambar and all the variant of chutney. 

enjoy Sadya together

Never ending to explain about Kerala. Not the only 3 part of signature that I told but need to more explain in another story. Even my trip on Kerala Blog Express has running,  but at least the signature Kerala always made my day.   Meet you on another stories.