We took a local ferry from Aleppy to Kottayam, on Lake Vembanad. It was absolutely breathtaking.

The ferry would stop at these villages, every few minutes or so – just like bus stops – and people would get on and off. To tourists like me who’d never been to Kerala it was really new.

We passed hundreds of houseboats, and here is Anirudh telling us to read an article about Kerala later on –

And there were tons of birds – and I kept drawing and drawing trying to capture their motion

And amid all this beauty, someone was snoozing away

sketchbook

Calm in the air, part 3, Silent Valley and Alapuzzha

Part 1, Calm in the air

Part 2, Kochi and Silent Valley

So, on to part 3 of the now-long forgotten Kerala holiday.

We didn’t do much more in Silent valley, except go on a safari. Here’s a place which reminded me of Spirited Away.

We also saw a couple of animals (I drew these from memory, so they may not be true to life).

Then we went on to Alaphuzzha, or Aleppy as it was called in English, a few hours away by car. It was all about the backwaters, tapioca chips and coconuts.

Yes, the retreating monsoons, my sketchbook. Happy Kerala-ing.

Part4 tomorrow.

sketchbook

Calm in the air, part 2, Kochi and Silent Valley

Part 1

Part 2
From Bangalore we went on to Kochi.

We met up with my uncle and aunt, who had traveled there from Calcutta.

In Kochi we stayed in a lovely homestay run by Basil and Annie Mylanthra. They were so hospitable it was like staying with family!

After a day or so in Kochi, gatecrashing funerals and school band practices, we went on to Silent Valley.
Despite my grumbles, it was rather exciting. Here’s the stream at the foot of the forest inspection bungalow.

So you can see, we were surrounded by a lot of atmosphere.
Part 3 coming next.

Life, People

Calm in the air, part 1

We recently went for a holiday down south. On the way we stopped by in Bangalore, at our friends’ Anirudh and Mishta’s lovely home.

I packed in a rush and ended up looking like a mule.

This is Mishta (almost)

and this is Anirudh from the back.

A good time was had by all.

And between all this we also managed to visit Malleswaram where I fell in love with all the pumpkins.

Part 2 coming next.

Life

Mini break

Some sketches from our weekend trip to Kesroli. We stayed in a real 14th century fort that is now a hotel.

(The brown boy is reading The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.)

This is the view around the fort, which was on a hill in the middle of a valley surrounded by other hills. Just like Mordor.
I’m reading This is not the end of the book.

travels

A book’s tours

Paris Cafe: The Select Crowd, by Noel Riley Fitch
The artist Rick Tulka
Le Select
{Drawings used from the book p/35 and p/67}

Life, travels

Paris Café, Part 1

This post was updated and republished.
The book’s tour

travels

“Don’t you ever feel like going somewhere?”

sketchbook

Daytripper

sketchbook

On the Metro, hairdos and some

Most of the women that I see on the metro have long hair, but these ladies really stood out.

Sometimes there are women who spend their commute doing something else other than on the phone. Here’s a girl who was reading a religious text and chanting throughout her journey.

This girl spent the journey staring at her reflection on the window behind me. I forgave her, she had just lost a gold ring.

inktales

Life, in drawings

Tag Archives: travel

Calm in the air, part 4, Lake Vembanad

Calm in the air, part 3, Silent Valley and Alapuzzha

Calm in the air, part 2, Kochi and Silent Valley

Calm in the air, part 1

Mini break

A book’s tours

Paris Café, Part 1

“Don’t you ever feel like going somewhere?”

Daytripper

On the Metro, hairdos and some