Wild Thomankuttu - Nov 2008

One can trek uphill along the cascades of Thombankuttu up to about 6 to 7 kilometers through this jungle although some part of this wild walkway is dangerously slippery and steep.

Photo ID: TMKH_028 "It’s truly a natural rain forest"

Fallen Leaf on the Rock, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

An oil painting by mother nature. Fallen dried leaf on a rock covered with mosses.

Photo ID: TMKH_037 "Picture of the leaf with larger area of the rock included"

Photo ID: TMKH_038 "Tight shot of the leaf with a micro lens revels the detailed texture and veins of the dry leaf"

Sunlight filtering through the forest canopy gives a grid light (a type of studio spot light) effect.

Six legged Spider, Thomankuttu - Nov 2008

This Giant Wood Spider ( Nephila Maculata ) I spotted at Thombankuttu had only six legs. Their webs can be found hanging from branches of trees throughout the Thommankuthu jungle.

Photo ID: TMKH_045 "On a mission to build a new home"

Why only six legs ???
This spider is reported to be harmless to humans. This species of spider spins one of the largest web.

Snake in the wild, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Pictures of a snake in the forests of Thommankuth I photographed while on my trek.

Photo ID: TMKH_041 "That's a huge one - measuring about 8 feet. Saw this creature near a water hole"

The Evergreen Thommankuth - Nov 2008

The tropical rain forests of Thommankuth is a forest of tall trees, shrubs and clinging plants.

Photo ID: TMKH_030 "Thommankuttu forest - feel the sound of falling leaves and the brittle popping of dry leaves under your feet"

Waterfalls of Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Thommankuth in Idukki district of Kerala is declared as an ecotourism destination. Shown below are panoramic pictures.

Photo ID: TMKH_001 "Tree hut with rungs inside Thommankuth forest"

Assorted Panorama Images of Kovalam - Sep 2008

The famous beach resort of south India located about 16 kilometers from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. Literally speaking Kovalam means garden of coconut trees.
There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam extending up to Poovar village which is the boundary of Kerala state with Tamil Nadu.

KVLM 044 Original Panorama size : 9076 x 3545 pixels	KVLM 045 Original Panorama size : 4154 x 2715 pixels
KVLM 046 Original Panorama size : 4313 x 3374 pixels	KVLM 047 Original Panorama size : 4081 x 2570 pixels
KVLM 048 Original Panorama size : 5614 x 3587 pixels	KVLM 049 Original Panorama size : 4182 x 2402 pixels

The Proposed International Transshipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is just 3 kilometers south of Kovalam.
A colossal rock headland on the beach has made a bay of tranquil waters ideal for swimming and bathing in shallow waters. Hawa Beach is the popular of the three beaches of Kovalam.

Kovalam and Vizhinjam - Various - Sep 2008

Areal views of the Kovalam coast reveals the verdant beauty of Kerala mainly because of the abundance of coconut trees in the region. it' a stupendous sight from the air to see the deep blue colors of Arabian sea in contrast with the coconut coast of Kovalam that look like a green carpet covering the earth.
One can see the Vizhinjam Mosque at the tip of coastal line.

KVLM 019

KVLM 020

KVLM 021

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Athachamayam day pageantry in Thripunithura, Ernakulam - Sep 2008

ATM 173	ATM 174	ATM 175	ATM 176
ATM 177	ATM 178	ATM 179	ATM 180
ATM 181	ATM 182	ATM 183	ATM 184
ATM 185	ATM 186	ATM 187	ATM 188
ATM 189	ATM 190	ATM 191	ATM 192
ATM 193	ATM 194	ATM 195	ATM 196
ATM 197	ATM 198	ATM 199	ATM 200

The Atham pageantry in Thripunithura announce the ten-day Onam festival with a colorful start. Thripunithura town was swarming with people from various places to see the procession that went around the town.
The procession, that started from the Government Boys High School ground at around 11 a.m.
Puiikali, Mayilattam, vanchipattu group, Velichappadu were among those on foot in the procession that was inter spaced by Kavadi, Theyyam, omong others.
Children from various schools of Thripunithura, dressed up in traditional attire, participated in this cultural festival.
Atham procession was arranged by the Thripunithura Municipality had a number of cultural programmes like classical concerts, ganamela, plays, mimicry and other traditional events.

Maritheyyam - Sep 2008

‘Mari’ and ‘Mamaya’ characters of Mariyattam or Maritheyyam have a similar appearance to the much popular ritual art of North Kerala, Theyyam which I had featured in the previous post.

ATM 161	ATM 162	ATM 163
ATM 164	ATM 165	ATM 166
ATM 167	ATM 168	ATM 169
ATM 170	ATM 171	ATM 172

The mask of Kaliyans - another character of Maritheyyam resembles the masks of some African tribes.
The head gear and the costumes of Kaliyans are created of tender coconut leaves.
It's being performed by the members of the ‘Pulaya’ community of Kannur district of Kerala during the festival of ‘Mariyattom’.
you can also find more of these folk art images that I photographed in posts from 2007.