Mulaku

Cactus in the rock side

Cactus flowers -Wild beauty (Shots from Coimbatore)

Cactus from Thookkupalam, Idukki

A wide variety of cactus available in Kerala. The wild beauty and easy nursing make it more acceptable in interior decoration.

Kamuku and Adakka (Pakku)

Small Arecanut tree

Arecanut tree
Upper part of Arecanut tree

Adakka(Arecanut) is an essential part of our culture. To start anything we start with a dakshina(offering) to the Guru(teacher). That contains vettila(betel leaves) Adakka(Arecanut) and a coin. This ritual is intended to receive the blessings of elders.

High range crops

Pepper (Kurumulaku) is a main crop of Highrange. It has a major rule in the life of farmers of Highrange. Rooms have the smell of dried pepper(mulaku unangiyathu). The fluctuations in the prize of the pepper influence the way of their life. Most of the families have kurumulaku. 'Murikku' is the backup tree for the pepper.

Coco

Cardamom
Vanilla
Pepper

Cardamom plantation

Coffee

Kappichedi from Kerala, we can see the flower' kappipoo' also.
Kappi chedi, kappikkuru, kappi poo and kappi thottam are a common sight in Highrange. In highrange, kattan kappi is a must in cool mornings, they are calling it as 'kattan'. kattan kappi(black coffee) is kappi without milk. In highrange they prepare coffee powder as their own. Its different from the powder we buy from the shop. For the tastiest kattan kappi we must add some coffee powder to the boiling water, add some sugar and sip it in cool mornings....
Chukku kappi is another variety of kapi. To prepare this we must add some chukku, chakkara, thulasi leaves and pepper powder with coffee powder to the boiling water. Its a medicine for cold, cough and fever. Now chukku kappi powder is available in supermarkets.
Chakkara kappi is also a variety. In this we add karippeetti or chakkara(palm sugar) instead of sugar.

Coffee culture in Kerala is changing. Nadan chayakkada's to modern coffee pubs.

Coffee at MG Road

Coffee at Kochi

High range views

Kanikkonna remembers Vishu and Unnikkannan. A legend exists about this yellow flower. Guruvyurappan throw his Aranjanam(waist band) these flowers are sprouted from that oranament. It is an essential flower for the Vishu festival. It is a medicinal plant also.

Kanakambaram-flowers without fragrance. It is a flower crop in south India. It is used with Jasmine to decorate hair or making garlands. These flowers are tied with Jasmine flowers(mulla) to wear in the hair. Another variety has a dark orange colour. A very common and beautiful flower from South India.

Chembarathi poove chollu devane nee kando ....

Kongini-mixing of colours by nature in a pretty way. These can be found in white, pink and violet.

Shavamnari. The flowers have a bad smell so the name Shavam nari(the smell of corpse). The flower is used in Ayurvedic medicines. Its stem leaves and roots are used to prepare medicine. Its an effective medicine for leukemia, breast cancer and skin cancer.

chethi mandaram thulasi pichaka malakal charthi guruvayoorappa ninne kani kanenam....

Chembarathi -White hibiscus.

A white flower without smell-views from Thookkupalam, Idukki

Bandi poo- Orange and yellow mixtures with an ugly smell. This flower has great demand during Onam days to make Onapookkalam(Flower arrangement in front of the house to welcome Mahabali).

Rose(pani neer rose)

Kalavandi

Kalavandi(Bullock cart). These pictures are from my friend, taken his recent visit to Bellari. It may be the town of 'Bellari Raja' in the film Rajamanikyam.

The green colour and the oxen, I liked it. Its not an easy task to find a bullock cart in our high ways. I had not travelled in Kalavandi. After seeing 'Thenmavin Kombathu' an entertaining film by Priyadarshan I wished to travel on its back along with the rhythm of nature and with the cool breeze. In our childhood stories we can hear the bell sound of Kalavandi and the tired 'Vandikkaran'.

An interesting story about bullock cart owned by his family on Maddy's ramblings

Another type of transporting of goods was 'Unthuvandi' a cart pulled by men. These carts are now availble in markets.

Chola vayal images from Bellari

Images of Cholam from Bellari