Tranquil, Wayanad.

I was going through some old photographs from a few years ago and was hit by a huge wave of nostalgia.

We had gone to Wayanad, Kerala for a holiday during the monsoons and stayed at a beautiful home-stay called Tranquil nestled in a private coffee plantation. The lush green surroundings with meticulously maintained garden, the hospitality of the family, homemade jams & jellies, the friendly dogs and those chilly evening conversations with amazing company left us feeling completely warm and fuzzy inside.

What I wanted to share with all of you is the fantastic variety of flora & fauna (eeks, sounds too technical;-) and how the indoor and outdoor spaces blend so beautifully into each other.

Raindrops drenching the bright red petals...

There was a gurgling stream inside the plantation!

A treehouse where we spent hours reading...

Peperomia(?) Plant lovers, help me here:-)

Flowers floating in traditional Kerala Urlis and stone mortar & pestle..

Floating cabbage varieties...

Lovely stand with natural garden accessories...

The open dining area surrounded by lush greenery.

Table set for breakfast, with home-made preserves and jams:-)

Plants curling themselves around pillars & pipes...

Magical chimes on display...

Anthoriums and other exotic plants line the outer wall...

Sigh* Hope all of you liked this Monsoon getaway!

Enjoy the rains.

( Images by Arch)

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Jew Town, Cochin.

Jew Town in Cochin has a lovely old world charm, brightly painted walls with interesting Hebrew inscriptions, narrow lanes leading to one of the oldest Synagogues and streets dotted with spice and antique shops.
It is one of the oldest Jewish settlements in the world dating back to 700 B.C. when Jewish traders came to the shores of Cochin seeking spices. Now only a handful Jews remain. You can read more about their history here.
Intricately carved spice boxes over-flowing with aromatic spices displayed on the streets.
The antique shops got us excited, but we were also a bit wary considering it is one of the prime tourist spots.
It was wonderful walking and exploring the lanes of Jew Town. An old shop selling hand embroidery and textiles.Some of the pieces we picked up from Jew Town, Wooden Padukas ( slippers)Seasoned wooden kitchen utensil.

Useful tip: Look around many shops and bargain hard;-)

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The Old Courtyard Hotel

On our recent vacation to Fort Kochi, Kerala, we stayed at an old Portuguese heritage hotel called The Old Courtyard Hotel on Princess Street.
As we entered the huge wooden door, we were immediately transported to the elegance and beauty of a by-gone era.
This restored heritage building now offers 8 rooms, that overlook a charming courtyard.
You can enjoy a cup of cardamom tea sitting under a huge mango tree in the center of the courtyard, or dig into their wide variety of desserts that are so very popular!
The white-washed walls, the arches, antique furniture, the old switchboards and the attention to details makes this quaint place very special.The dining area faces the courtyard. We were torn between enjoying the view and devouring their delicious breakfast:-)
View from the first floor balcony.
The terracotta tiled roof and the fresh green leaves of the mango tree make a lovely combination.
Top view of the Old Courtyard Hotel
Magical light filtering in through the window as we were shown our room.The patina of the seasoned wooden floor with my cup of tea:-)
The owners have retained the original floor and I am so glad they did, the feel of the smooth wood against the feet is something else.The rain-gods decided to shower their blessings on us that evening and the Old Courtyard took on a magical feel.We just stood there watching the rain beat down while sipping our Masala Chai this time;-)
If we traveled to Fort Cochin again, we would surely return to this charming 17th century abode.

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Two for joy, immense joy...

...wondering what I am talking about?

Today I am sharing with you not one but two great spaces which have got imprinted on my mind ever since I saw them a couple of days ago. The first on, is designer Jivi Sethi's ultra-stylish residence in Assagao in Goa.Jivi Sethi's home which is featured in Vogue Magazine, this month is an eclectic blend of antique objets d'art with contemporary furniture. He has styled his home with loads of glass, mirrors & chandeliers. I love the way he had brought in the old goan charm by using antique chandeliers, old wine bottles & loads of floral arrangements:-)Look at the fusion of antique goan wooden cupboard with contemporary glass & lacquer coffee table designed by him:-)
Flowers everywhere...*sigh* Love the way he floats the 'Parijat' flowers with the orange stalk upwards adding colour & texture to the arrangementAnother thing striking is the use of vibrant colours, his home is filled with art from his friends blending in with his own pieces of heirloom from his family home in Amritsar & Delhi.There is something fun, colourful, vibrant & eclectic in this space which reflects the personality of this very creative & stylish designer.

From the a vibrant home to the placid backwaters of Kerala....

Join me in gliding along the backwaters in a 'Kettuvallam' or the traditional Houseboat. Earlier these boats with coir and bamboo roofs were used as cargo boats but nowadays they are used as 2-3 room houseboats cruising along the Malabar coast. A passage along the side of the boat. The boat is lit by oil lamps in the night. You can see a traditional brass lock on the door.
A small deck at the tail of the boat from where one can watch the magical sunsets in the backwaters.The arches of the boat have been constructed with palm-leaf matting, woven into a bamboo frame and tied together with coir ropes (very eco-friendly, I must add)
Imagine sleeping under this romantic canopy and waking up to the gentle sound of the oars splashing the water.....now that's a thought!

On that note, I take your leave for a couple of weeks. I am taking a 'Winter Break' and will be doing some travelling and practicing loads of photography:-)

Meanwhile do check out Neece Clark's Shop Online. She has some amazing paintings up for sale for the holidays.
Will also be keeping my eyes open for fellow blogger An Indian Summer's Bazaar which is opening in January 2008.

So do visit her too where she will be bringing to you '...an eclectic mix of select Asian and Indian crafts and products of exquisite design and high quality.'

Happy Holidays to all you lovely people!

( Images from Vogue India, Dec 2007 & Indian Interiors, Taschen)

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