Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Panama
Bird of the Day: Ocellated Antbird
Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Panama
India’s Magic Masala
When I walked into Jacob’s Trade in Thekkady to get myself a bottle of cold water, I couldn’t help but notice the stack of potato chips that contained pretty much all the colors of the rainbow!
Here in Southern India, you can find many unique flavors of potato chips that you wouldn’t find in the States: “India’s Magic Masala,” “West Indies’ Hot ‘n’ Sweet Chilli,” “Spanish Tomato Tango,” “Chile Limon,” and even “Mastana Mango”! It is interesting to see how even regular Lay’s chips are all spiced up with the seasonings that are loved in India. Continue reading
Todd Bretl, Come To Kerala!
We have been linking photographers with wildlife since the inception of Raxa Collective. We believe that the more amazing photographs of nature people are exposed to, the more they will care about the need for conservation of wildlife habitat. From organizing nature photography workshops, to sharing the photographs of friends and members of our team in our outreach, we embrace the medium’s power to motivate.
While most of his photographs are underwater, and most photography we have promoted so far is not, Todd Bretl is definitely worthy of the same kind of invitation we have extended to other masters of their domain (whatever form it might take, whether the person is famous or not as famous as they should be, even surprising ones). It is not just his obvious talent, but his sense of purpose. According to the bio on his website:
Raised on a boat in Bermuda, Todd grew up with the ocean as his playground and constant companion. Continue reading
Community Based Ecotourism: Periyar Model
Bamboo Rafting
Community based Ecotourism programs are the hallmark of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. These programs are conducted by the local people responsible for the surveillance of the vulnerable parts of the reserve. Taking tourists along, valuable revenue is generated for community welfare at the same time forest conservation is taking place. Continue reading
Valuing Monarch Butterflies
Image © Doug Lemke | Shutterstock
Thanks to the University of Washington’s Conservation magazine website for this discussion of the key question facing La Paz Group and other conservation-focused entrepreneurial firms (here focused on a particular kind of butterfly but our interest is in how people participate in conservation through travel experiences):
How much would people pay to save the iconic monarch butterfly? A lot, according to a new study in Conservation Letters. Based on survey data, the authors estimate that American households are willing to spend about $4 to 6 billion to support monarch conservation.
Even people who aren’t butterfly-lovers are likely to have heard about the monarchs’ spectacular migrations from the northern U.S. and Canada to Mexico and California. “People’s interest in monarchs and their fascinating, visible biology is obvious,” the researchers write. They note that seven states have adopted the monarch as their official insect or butterfly, and the U.S., Canada, and Mexico hold festivals in the monarch’s honor. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Painted Spurfowl – male
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Karnataka
Orb Weaver Spiders (Araneidae)
Photo Courtesy: http://www.Outlandishobservations.blogspot.com
Spiders are not the favorites of many people, and most people tend to avoid them at all costs or exterminate them on sight. However, closer examination finds that spiders are amazingly adapted to their lifestyle, and beyond proficient engineers — a prime example of which are the Araneidae family, or orb weaving spiders.
Good Idea, So Go Out And Make Him Do It
After meeting with Obama, one activist felt challenged to make the case “why this pipeline is not in our country’s best interest.” Illustration by Paul Rogers.
Ryan Lizza, the New Yorker‘s Washington correspondent, published an article last month that explained the defining environmental of the current generation of US citizens, according to one of our heroes. The article is mostly about a wealthy, possibly powerful financier who our hero has influenced on this issue. But it is also a good primer on the issue itself. If you do not have time for the whole article, an even more efficient primer is this podcast interview with Lizza, late in which the activist’s challenge becomes mantra; but read the article if possible. Then, if you are a citizen of the USA, go make Obama do it:
On the day of his second Inauguration, in January, Barack Obama delivered an address of unabashed liberal ambition and promise. As recently as early April, before the realities of the world and the House of Representatives made themselves painfully evident, the President retained the confidence of a leader on the brink of enormous achievements. It seemed possible, even Continue reading
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala
Photo credits: Kannan
Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest and largest protected area of Kerala. Spread over 925 sq. km. The predominantly evergreen region is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. Continue reading
If You Happen To Be In London
Stephen White. Dayanita Singh with her ‘Museum of Chance, 2013: Go Away Closer’ exhibition at Hayward Gallery in London, United Kingdom.
It looks like our kind of exhibition (thanks to India Ink for the reference):
During a recent visit to the Hayward Gallery in London, two vendors’ carts were parked against a wall, and a row of visitors stood with their backs to them as they read the introduction to “Go Away Closer,” unaware that the carts were part of the exhibition featuring the works of the photographer Dayanita Singh. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Brown Thrasher (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Cool Season Is Upon Us In Kerala
The cool season vegetable nursery of the Seed Processing Plant, Alathur, Palakkad under VFPCK.
Raxa Collective has been on a mission to increase and improve the transparency of our food sourcing since 2010. Already, Cardamom County had established an organic garden and River Escapes had been engaged in local sourcing from fishermen in the backwaters. Milo was the first to suggest we add culinary quality oyster mushrooms to our organic gardens, and he set up the cultivation system there. The next leap forward was the development of Kayal Villa as a quiet retreat set on 6.5 acres of aquaculture and agriculture estate.
Next? Coolness.
‘Tis the season to plant veggies (thanks to The Hindu’s coverage of agricultural issues in Kerala):
The cool season vegetable cultivation in the plains of the district will start next week and end in February.
During the period, the Seed Processing Plant at Alathur, under the Vegetable and Fruit promotion Council, Keralam (VFPCK) will supply 10 lakh seedlings of cabbage and cauliflower to popularise cool-season cultivation using safe methods. Continue reading
Wild Flowers: “Touch-Me -Not” (Mimosa pudica)
Mimosa pudica
“Touch-me-not” is a low growing prickly shrub with very sensitive compound leaves that close together and droop down when touched. The genus name is derived from Greek mimos, which means mimic and pudica, which means shy, referring to the sensitive leaves. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Green Violetear Hummingbird
Los Quetzales, Panama
Sign Of The Times
The only time(s) we link to commercials is when there is some point of interest related to our main themes, and/or if the amusement value is too good to resist. In this case, while we strongly prefer the hand made roti that many of Raxa Collective’s team members make and serve up at various properties, this appliance could be a signal that the economic progress of India has made such actions quaint history for the average local household:
Rotimatic is world’s first fully automatic roti making appliance. Continue reading
Photography Tips: Posers
Although luck is always a factor, Kabini is well-known for leopards lounging in trees almost seeming to pose for the camera.
The Crested Serpent Eagle is another photographer friendly species to be found there. You see so many of them that you can pick and choose which one to photograph and which to leave. The best part is that since Kabini Forest Reserve only allows vehicle safaris, the Mahindra Jeeps put you at eye level, making it easy to compose good images. The greens of the forest provide an excellent complementary background as well. Continue reading
Periyar Sightings – Nature Walk
Photo credits Mr. Shyam
Mr. Shyam, naturalist and tour escort from Wild Kerala Tour Company, went for the Periyar Tiger Reserve Nature Walk last week and has shared some of his photos with Raxacollective. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Grey Headed Fish Eagle (Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka)
The Universe is a Circle; Except When It Isn’t
Collaboration is dear to our hearts, whether it be interpersonal, international or intercollegiate, not to mention intercorporate to coin a phrase. I couldn’t help but recall our posts on Elif Bilgin and Sush Krishnamoorthy when I came upon this video and read the bio of Shixie (Xiangjun Shi), the creative force behind it. Kudos to Brown University and RISD for having such an impactful program!
When I left home for college in the US, I was fortunate to be selected for the very first class of a new Dual Degree program, presented by Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. WIthout predecessors, and in trusting embrace of Brown’s open curriculum, I was pretty much able to design my own education. Continue reading
Wild Flowers: Feather-leaved Cassia
Cassia mimosoides
Native to India and Sri Lanka, Feather-leaved Cassias are seen on the forest floor of scrub and degraded forest, prefering hills up to 1600 metres. The plant flowering from October to February, attracting many species of butterfly. Continue reading
Organikos 