Bullock Cart Discoveries

/ Salim.E.I / 2 Comments

This activity is being sponsored by the Kerala Forest Department and, similar to the Tiger Trail, is conducted by a group of men who had previously engaged in illegal forest activities.  They surrendered before the forest department, receiving immunity from imprisonment in exchange for a life devoted to the protection of the forest. They are currently engaged in the Bullock Cart excursion, a “zero carbon activity” in the Cumbum Valley, an area famous for vegetable farms and wine yards. Continue reading →

Malay Rose Apple

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Malay Rose Apple tree is a tropical evergreen tree which grows up to 40-50 ft height. Native to Malaysia, these trees are cultivated and naturalized in the Western Ghats of India.The rose apple blooms throughout the year and the ripe fruit can be eaten raw. The fruits are also used for making wine, jams, jellies and stews. In medicine the tonic of the fruit is used for ailments of the brain and liver . Continue reading →

Activist Art Collective

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Click the image above for more information on the group’s current activities, but their founding mission and recent past actions seem promising:

…We aim to free art from the grips of the oil industry primarily focusing on Tate, the UK’s leading art museum, and its sponsorship deal with BP. Continue reading →

Eine Kleine Teslacoilmusik

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Thanks to the Boston Museum of Science’s Theater of Electricity for this application of Tesla genius.  We should not be surprised if, by now it may have been patented and commercialized elsewhere by some outpost of the Edisonian tradition. So what. The Tesla tribe moves in mysterious ways, and eventually prevails.

Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)

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Native to Mexico and Central America, Tithonia flowers are commonly found in the High Ranges of Kerala as an ornamental flower. The range of colors of these flowers comprises a fiery orange, yellow, and strong red. The flowers are used for floral decorations and are a real magnet for butterflies and other pollinators.

Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd & The Rogue’s Gallery Of Nations After Him

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A woman with a Sea Shepherd tattoo, the organisation of marine conservationist Paul Watson (not pictured). Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Quite a few of us contributing to this site have called Costa Rica home at one point or another and it is probably fair to say all of us admire and respect that country’s pioneering role in modern conservation schemes.  For some of us, it was literally the country that inspired us to do what we do.  But no country is perfect, and at least in one current affair Costa Rica seems to be playing the stooge.  Shame on Germany and especially Japan for their leading roles in this farce. Costa Rica’s official abandonment of its core values should not be winked at, even by those of us who otherwise love the country and its people.  Paul Watson deserves our attention and support (click the image above for his editorial in today’s Guardian, which has played its fourth estate role well in this affair):

I must serve my clients, the whales

I can do that far better commanding the Sea Shepherd fleet than I can defending myself from bogus charges by Japan

Largest Marine Park

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Click the image above to go to the story:

Two of the world’s smallest countries are to place nearly 2.5 million square kilometres of south Pacific Ocean in newly created marine protected areas.

The Cook Islands, nation of 20,000 people on 15 islands, formally announced on Tuesday the creation of the world’s largest marine park covering nearly 1.1m sq km, an area bigger than France and Germany.

“This is our contribution not only to our own wellbeing but also to humanity’s wellbeing,” said the prime minister, Henry Puna.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part of the high ranges of Kerala’s Western Ghats. It is regarded as one of the unique protected areas in the whole of the mountainous region due to its ecological, floral, geomorphological and cultural significance. The habitat types range from high altitude shola-grassland to dry thorny scrub. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is near to Munnar situated in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, getting rains mostly during the North-East monsoons of October-December. This important watershed area feeds two perennial rivers; the Pambar and the Chinnar, from which the sanctuary takes its name.  Continue reading →

Ideas Shopping

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It is a snappy idea: selling ideas in the market place.  If they are worth something, how will we know?  They will be sold out (hopefully in a good way).

Bibliotherapy?   Never heard of it until now.  Snappy, again.

We do not normally pass along commercial messages, but on occasion we make an exception, as we do now; here is what the School of Life says about itself:

The School of Life is a new enterprise offering good ideas for everyday life. We are based in a small shop in Central London where we offer a variety of programmes and services concerned with how to live wisely and well.  Continue reading →

Elephants Adrift

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“In African mythology the elephant reincarnates carrying the soul of a murdered God. It is thus the embodiment of the transmigration of souls. It is also the metaphor for the world’s preoccupation with Africa as an exotic location. The elephant thus embodies the world’s romanticism with Africa…” Andries Botha

South African artist Andries Botha has been paying homage to the strength, majesty and perseverance of elephants throughout his career.  Blending Western and African elements he has created numerous life size pieces, both as individuals and in groups, that portray a sense of mysticism in their unexpected settings. Continue reading →

Field Guides?

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Click the image at left to go to the source.

We have a strong connection on this site to the world of birds, birding, birders and the guides who intersect on each of those.  Salim took the lead in helping us decide to put more attention on birds.  We were convinced it was a good idea with the following Vijaykumar established among serious birders visiting this site.

Our efforts picked up steam when Martin joined in the fun and Seth started reporting from Ecuador; after Ben saw his thousandth bird while in Kerala we were hooked.

Now that we are, we seem to notice more and more interesting resources related to the world of birding.  Interpretive guiding has been important to several of us for our entire adult careers and this article tells a great story about the books that help one subset of all that field guiding.

Blue Fountain Bush

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Native to India and Sri Lanka Blue Fountain Bush is widely growing in the Western Ghats especially in the high ranges of Kerala up to 2000 meters. These large shrubs can be found in hilly forested areas. Its flowers attract butterflies and the leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine. Continue reading →

Our Gang, Thevara (Wait!)

/ Crist Inman / 5 Comments

Since our last such update on our smaller neighbors six months ago, the photo opportunities have not diminished.  Our strolls through Thevara, rather, have become impromptu portraiture composition parties.  The call rings out in one small but loud voice: “PHOTO!” and it would be impossible not to oblige with a snapshot because they are already assembling themselves.  Here, they are assembled and the photo is snapping but they see more smalls across the way. Continue reading →

Diving with Scuba Iguana

/ Seth Inman / 1 Comment

Scuba Iguana trips start from the office on Charles Darwin Ave. either going north in a taxi to Itabaca Canal or taking a boat at the Scuba Iguana dock behind the office. All boat rides ranged from 35 to 120 minutes, and were generally pretty smooth. On the way, we could see Common Noddies, Blue-footed Boobies, Elliot’s Storm Petrels, Galápagos Shearwaters, and on North Seymour I saw a Red-billed Tropicbird twice! If I remember correctly, some Nazca Boobies were sitting on the coast of Floreana as well.

Continue reading →

Onam The Festival Of Kerala

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The most spectacular event of all Kerala festivals, Onam epitomises a new found vigour and enthusiasm about everything. The festival celebrates the return of King Mahabali, who is said to visit his subjects each year. To convince their beloved King that Kerala continues to be prosperous land of milk and honey people decorate their homes and celebrate to the fullest sometimes even faking prosperity to present a happy and flourishing facade to their King. Continue reading →