One World

 I have been somewhat out of touch with my ‘other’ life these past few weeks. Paul and I have been moving around a bit. After choosing our destination, we seek out small intentional communities wherever we land. We are realizing that, throughout India (as it is I’m sure throughout the world), groups of like-minded people are gathering together to establish life style that supports sustainability and co-operative living. We have been spending days at a time with communities of other people, cooking food, hiking, playing, and working around the area doing whatever needs to be done.

After leaving Fort Cochin, where we spent 5 weeks with our Yoga teacher, our first stop was Kodaikanal. We lived there for 5 days at Karuna Farm, a self-sustaining agricultural community that encourages organic farming and welcomes families and individuals to help on the land. 

Travellers mostly, come to Karuna. Many, many Israelis know about it, since part of the impetus for its existence is inspired by an Israeli man. Getting there happens strictly by word of mouth. There is no advertising...no promotion. You just need to be aware of the place! We were told about the farm by our friend on Gabriola. It stands nestled in the beauty of the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu. Our experience in Kodai motivated us to explore Tamil Nadu further.

After Kodai, we took an overnight bus to Thiruvannamalai. There we found a family of spiritually minded people who have established a life style at the foot of the sacred mountain, Arunachala. They also, don’t publicize their place. Our Yoga teacher sent us to them and we just hit it off together instantly. The land sits at the bottom of an awesome mountain that is said to be where Shiva was manifested. A Guru, Ramana Maharshi, lived on the mountain for 7 years, meditating, receiving students and just absorbing the energies left by Shiva’s presence. Thiru offers a very powerful experience for me. Being with the mountain reminded me of the security I felt during my time in Guatemala  surrounded by volcanoes. There’s a sense of protection, like receiving an ongoing hug from Nature. We plan to return to Thiru and spend a month or so, settling into land there, and being with others who also choose to be there. Practising yoga with Nature! Who could ask for more?

Our last retreat was in a Gurukala in Bangalore. It was (for me) a familiar place, a place I have been coming for years. I love being there with my friend Margaret and anyone else who happens to be around. This year we planned our trip to Bangalore to coincide with the Guru Puja that happens every year. It is a festival of learning and meditation and cooking and eating food, and just gathering together with people. Lots of singing and dancing happens over the weekend, along with great socializing with great people. The land we live on is green and rich. Cohabiting with 5 cows, many rabbits, dogs cats and wild monkeys, all running free. It has been a sort of refuge for me over the years. This year it was great to introduce Paul to the ‘scene’.

 Gurukula means ‘a family joined together by a teacher’. The teaching is that of Narayan Guru whose message is continued by other Gurus even after his death. The current Guru, Muni Narayan Prasad writes volumes about creating a world where human relationships are based on collaboration and compassion and love, and where all of us live by one single authority. It is a world of concord and harmony where the basic human instincts to fight are used to deal with the suffering and miseries of self and for others. Instead, the needs of the spirit and the concern for progress become more important than the satisfaction of desires and material enjoyment. He teaches about building individual capacity before seeking changes in the outside world, about mutual respect and the pursuit of equal opportunities for safety and health for everyone, everywhere. He stresses that no one need be downtrodden, that we are all God’s people and we need to be there for each other with compassion and love. I like it!

These particular Gurus promote a ‘One World’ focus, where economy, politics, religion, all exist to promote a thriving existence for everyone. I’m not much of a “Guru follower” but I definitely believe in many of these ideas. I am finding, more and more, that there are many individuals seeking out other like-minded people, forming communities that model lifestyle that will change our world. These communities, practising life in similar manners... just differently, will begin to find each other, and our world will become stronger and more compassionate. I want to be a part of that! As I travel in the world I strive to live that dream!

Blissed

Arunachala

I am a little bit in a state of bliss! I’m riding down the main road in Thiruvanammali. It’s early morning. The sun is settling in for the day. There is a rumble in the streets. People are gathering for chai at the popular chai dhabba. Devotees stream in and out of the Sri Ramana Ashram. Chanting is taking place now and it is very popular time of day to attend. I am feeling absolutely wonderful. As I ride, I acknowledge how good I feel. I don’t know why. I just feel great! 

Thiru presents as somewhat of a magical place, although it doesn’t necessarily come easily. Arunachala Mountain is awesome and when I tune in to its presence I am able to tune into my own strength. The mountain affects the spiritual energy of the entire town of Thiru. It’s a bit like, Rishikesh in its’ intensity. However the mountain creates a more stable solid presence than the flowing movement of the Ganges which is the source of spiritual energy there.

Most of today we spend with Anand at his place, just talking. Beginning with early morning Yoga led by Krika, a visitor from Italy, the powerful connection with the mountain Arunachala ensues. I am reminded of my intense relationship with San Pedro in Guatemala. Again I feel the warm, embracing energy of the mountain’s message.

Waiting for the milking session

We arrive on bicycle, peddling through the small village off the main road. Cows, just waking from their night time sleep, line the small pathway waiting to be milked. Each household has at least one member of the family perched on a stool, releasing the milk for each cow. The roosters walk helter skelter on the dirt surface. Old men squat on the side of the pathway, brushing their teeth and scrubbing the sleep from their bodies. It is morning, and the quiet is loud. 

We met Anand through our friend, Sajee. He lives at the foot of Arunachala Mountain on a few acres of land with his wife, Giathri and their two sons. Their intention is to sustain independent living by growing food on the land, keeping dairy cows, growing native fruit trees and providing a beautiful space for creative expression. Small bamboo huts around the compound provide place to welcome visitors who chose to stay. Many do! Solid floors with a mattress placed on the ground and a mosquito net for protection keep the accommodations simple and adequate. Many people seeking peaceful existence come for long periods of time. Everyone who stays contributes to the everyday responsibilities of the household. Anand makes it clear, “There are those that are just meant to be here. That’s when they appear.” It is, for me, an ideal existence. Paul and I are already starting to plan an extended stay with Anand and Arunachala.

After a breakfast of black coffee and fresh fruit (papaya from his trees), Anand talks about life, about being here and now, about releasing ego, and about allowing ourselves to just ‘be’. He refers to his transition from trying to change the world to ‘trying to change his world. Those are not his words, actually. They’re mine! I, too work at that transition. Anand seems to know that about me too. I revel in our conversation. His intuitive acuity is mind-blowing, as his comments to each of us are so precise and so right on.

playful morning

We find a guitar so Paul is able to play. His beautiful song ‘We’ll Know’ is received with joyful appreciation. “You wrote that song just to sing it here”, say Anand. I think he’s right. I’ve sung that song hundreds of times with Paul, and the experience of singing it here, in the presence of Arunachala and embraced by our new friends in Thiru is profound. 

Meeting Anand and Giathri has enriched my visit to Thiru. I do get the vibe of spiritual energy and grounding by having the opportunity to sit quietly in Nature and absorb the Mountain’s presence. I leave the city today with purpose and intention to return and a pure feeling of bliss!

Cleaning up from yesterday

Just Pedaling

This morning, Tamara and I decide to ride our bicycles around the foot of Arunachala Mountain. Along the way I took many pictures. The sights I see often inspire me. I thought a pictorial post of our 14 kilometre ride is in order today.

One of the things I love the most about India is that prayer is everywhere. Even the tuk tuk drivers have some form of divinity on the dashboard of their vehicle. Pooja structures are visible often, from very simple monuments to most elaborate and intricate architecture. People stop to make offering regularly during the course of a day. Struggling for spiritual wholeness happens every minute!    

The 14-kilometre bicycle ride circles around Arunachala Mountain. It is said to be the place of manifestation of Shiva and where Sri Ramana Maharshi spent his adult years in meditation. He was a wise and quiet teacher, who led through modelling, not through oration. I appreciate the manner in which he shared his wisdom. His book, Who Am I? is his way of verbally sharing his lessons. It is full of profundities, especially for those open to hear it. The mountain, in its awesome presence, is always in sight throughout the morning ride.

Thiruvanammalai is inhabited by hundreds of thousands of Hindus and Ramana Maharshi followers. The fields are rich in agriculture. Rice, bananas, coffee, and various fruits and vegetables grow here. Most of Southern India’s vegetation comes from Tamil Nadu. It’s really unfortunate that pesticides and chemical additions are used so abundantly. There is a beginning of a consciousness recently to become more mindful of organic growing methods. India’s greatest commodity…. her people, gather all day, every day to sow, reap and harvest the growth. Scarecrows are meant to scare away pests. I think they’re funny!

 

It’s a country with many people, and people die! Cemeteries line the streets in specific areas. The stones are colourful and bright. We have seen several burial processions in various states. The rituals practised in Hindu burial are, in many ways similar to those of Jewish practise, at least in terms of the regimentation of scheduling for burial. With the numbers of people living in India it is not unusual to see funeral processions in the streets.

During our bike ride, Tamara and I stop at a neighbourhood store that reminds me of the thrift shops I visit whenever I travel in Canada and the United States. Same-same but different! These women sit here all day waiting for people to buy. (For that matter so does everyone who owns any kind of shop in India). I just love spending time talking with the people here...especially the women!

Dhabas are the fast food standard in India. Delicious street food. I never know exactly what I’m eating, but it is always good! Spices make the foods unique tasting. Usually deep fried in fresh coconut oil, I am always satisfied….and you can’t get cheaper than this!!! Mmmmmm…breakfast!

Annamalaiyar Temple is definitely a sacred place. Everyone takes off his or her shoes to acknowledge the sanctity of the place. In a way it neutralizes all of us. We are all in bare feet, regardless of gender, colour, or social position. I like that! Prayer is evident everywhere in India but especially in the holy temples. It is easy to see people in deep meditation and prayer, and it is also common to find people picnicking or just hanging out comfortably on Temple grounds.

Sadhus are people who commit their lives to becoming enlightened. They separate themselves from society by renouncing all worldly possessions, often living in caves or in forests (or on the streets). Many live in communal environments and ashrams. Most Sadhus wear orange, a colour like fire, to help burn away the need for earthly desires. Instead, they focus on simple and pure living. In general, Sadhus smoke a lot of pot. It is considered to be a mind-opening journey to ‘truth’. These guys are definitely engaged in practise!

I just love the people here and their outward show of love!

 

Holy

Below....Thiruvanammalai

As I wander through the holy grounds of Thiruvanalammai, I find myself with my hands clasped together at my heart. “Namaste” I say, in greeting to people I pass, “I bow to the light in you”. I am realizing that  ‘holy’ is found more in the people I meet, than in the land or in the historical events that took place here.

“Keep a smile on your face”, Sajee reminds me through periods of meditation. So I practise that daily. It has become easier for me to “keep a smile on my face” throughout my day. What’s not to smile about? Our world is so rich. We are full of diversity and culture. We have choice. There are many people sharing the gifts of our Mother Earth. I can only smile to each one as I pass. “Namaste. I bow to the light in you”.

Our meditation walk begins at the foot of Aranachula Mountain. Though many people ascend the mountain daily, it is relatively quiet along the rocky path. It is, for many, a holy place, a mecca for meditation and prayer. There are many westerners here seeking inner growth and enlightenment, several who have been here for years! I can’t help but notice how serene they look; some even look miserable! Some people react to my smile in a responsive manner. Some don’t respond at all. I wonder, “Why does enlightenment mean you have to be miserable?” Self -awareness can bring joy and openness with a love of life and of self. Smiles express that love!

The children along the way want to play. The birds sing from the mountain trees and dogs bark at passersby, sensing danger or intrusion. These sounds blend in to the atmosphere. Other than that, there is silence.

I chose to lag behind Tamara and Paul to experience the journey up the mountain in my own way.

Sadu action along the way

As I sit for a while on a rock, the sounds of Thiruvanammalai are obvious from below. Horns from vehicles, and the rumbling of buses and cars, even the mooing sounds of the cows that walk freely in the streets, are clear. Walking further up, these sounds begin to disappear.

A sadu sits on a rock on the side of the path. “Welcome”, he says to me as I pass. “What’s that book? A journal?” he asks, pointing to what I’m holding in my hand.

“Yes. It’s my journal.” I respond.

“You’re a writer?” he confirms.

“We are all writers”, I answer.

“What do you write?

“I write what is in my heart and my head”, I say to him.

“Ahhh! The head is just a physical organ”, he says. “Everything you need is in your heart. Too much thinking.”

“I know. I know”, I smile, “and I strive very hard to understand what is in my heart!” And my journey continues.

“Good morning” says the Tamil worker as he continues digging. “Beautiful morning. I am working here...working.” he says lifting the heavy scythe with one hand and pointing to his shovel with the other.

“Thank you for working”, I say, “It looks very beautiful”. He responds with a grateful smile and an ‘Indian’ nod. “Tank you. Tank you”, he says.

I am happy I came to Aranachula Mountain with no money. That way I won’t be lying when I say to beggars along the way, “Sorry. I have no money with me.” I don’t usually feel ungenerous when I deny moneys to beggars. I just don’t ‘do’ money, I’ve always said, I give my time, friendship and love. But no money. Where does the giving end? Too many people asking and not enough resources to give to everyone! It’s an endless pursuit. And I think that begging is a poor practise that I don’t want to perpetuate.

Lesson in Tamil

Instead, I stop for a while with a very old looking woman, who, when I tell her I don’t have any money to give her, seems to gesture to me “But please! I’m hungry. I’m tired. I don’t sleep. My head hurts.” I place myself behind her and begin to massage her head. I move my hands along her forehead to her temples, applying a gentle pressure there. She surrenders to my touch, and as she closes her eyes, I continue to massage. In the end, I place a kiss through the wrinkles on her forehead. Standing before her again, I clasp my hands at my heart. “Namaste” I say as I ready myself to leave, “I bow to the light in you.”

Two young boys pass me on the path. We spend some time talking, learning from each other, and writing together in my journal. The Tamil language is a whole different alphabet!

Monkey Business

The monkeys on the mountain are frisky. They frolic with each other avoiding contact with humans, only interested in the food we eat along the way.

My journey up (and down) the mountain brings me to a place of understanding. It is said that Sri Ramana Maharishi lived for 7 years at the top of the mountain, reclusive in a cave, meditating in solitude and quiet.  The trek up the mountain is in reverence to his teachings, which he expressed through modelling as opposed to discourse. I wonder out loud:

1.     How did he get his food to eat while he was in his cave?

2.     Why would he spend 7 years of meditation secluded in a hot, dark cave when, outside there is so much beauty and light that Nature provides?

I am reminded that Gurus seeking enlightenment, search within, and purposely disconnect from the outside world. “No thanks”, I think to myself, as I continue to smile with those around me. “Namaste, I bow to the light in you”.

KodaiKanal and Alfie

We have the most amazing experiences! I don’t know how it happens, but it does regularly! We meet fabulous people, who welcome us, and take us under their wing, enhancing our journey all along the way.

Our new friend...Alfie

While waiting for our connecting bus at Pallani station to get to KodaiKanal, we stop for a masala chai at the booth just inside. It is 3:30 in the morning! Chandran (‘Alfie’) the owner of the shop, offers us chai. He refuses payment (even though we each had 2 cups) and we spend the wait talking together. Alfie is a retired sailor who has spent many years in the United States and Canada throughout his career. A native of India, he has several business ventures in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, all of which are related in some way to tourism. He, too, was on his way to KodaiKanal, and he and I sat together on the bus. Not only did Alfie insist on paying for our bus fare, but by the time we arrived to our destination, he invited us to be his guests at his hotel in KodaiKanal.

Our original plan took us to Karuna Farm where we spent a glorious 3 days of Nature hikes, mountain climbing and quiet time meeting new friends. It was a joy to be surrounded by young people, all seeking the same quiet, peaceful time. Many of the guests are Israelis and we made some very wonderful new friendships. On our way out of KodaiKanal we decide to include a visit to Alfie and an opportunity to absorb the culture of the town.

Arriving at his hotel he has a pot of masala chai waiting for us. He welcomes us with so much gratitude and joy! As if we were doing him an honour. We knew from his brochure that the fees for a room in his 3 star hotel is 1100 rupees. From us he wanted nothing! “You are my guest.” He says often.  “You pay nothing to me.” We insist on some payment. “Okay, okay.” He says, “Whatever you want to pay.” He agrees to accept 500 rupees for the night.

Bonfire, food and friends!

The night we spend at Alfie’s is incredible. Inviting several of his friends to dinner and bonfire, we have a wonderful party together with music blasting and laughter and dancing and fun. We offer to buy the whiskey! Everyone was happy!. The homemade food (made by Alfie),  spicy and delicious, enhances the multi sensory experience.

Just stopping to talk

Alfie made arrangements for a friend to take us all around the city of Kodai Kanal. Its name in Tamil means "The Gift of the Forest".  Referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations", KodaiKanal has a long history as a retreat location and a popular tourist destination for travelers of all origin, including Native Indians. Parks, markets, temples, and the hustle of every day life make our day full and exciting. The people here are, like Kerala, so warm and gracious and sincere in their welcome.

Along the route I see a sign for an International School. Interested to investigate, we drive through the main gates to check out the administrative offices. After some introductory conversations, I speak briefly to the Vice Principal in charge of Academic curriculum who expresses interest in getting together for possible professional development for his teachers. I love the idea of working next year for some time in Tamil Nadu. And it seems like they might be eager too! The universe just keeps opening up!

On our way to Madurai, now, where the largest Hindu temple in all of India stands. Instead of travelling by bus we are offered a ride in a car with Anbu, who is in KodaiKanal for his Law practise. He’ll be driving back to his home tonight in Madurai. That’s exactly where we’re going! So instead of bussing it, this evening, we’ll be travelling with him…. yet another friendship developing and another example of the universe providing for us in her entirety!

Our saga just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

Beautiful women making the gardens beautiful

 

Off The Grid on Karuna Farm

I am in the heavens and I feel like I’m in heaven! Perched on the tip of “The Rock”, a huge bolder nestled in the lush green mountains of Karuna Farm, I am surrounded by the world. Around me, the hills of KodaiKanal embrace. I feel completely at ease, despite the high elevation and the intrinsic fear of falling.

We have chosen to spend a few days in an eco village here in Tamil Nadu. Acres of land spanning miles of mountain comprise the farm area. From the rock I can see lush growth of trees, various fruits, nuts, coffee, and hundreds of varieties of flowers and small buds. An effort to grow vegetables is evident in several sections of the hills, and the brown patches peaking through the green growth, shows healthy signs of fertile soil. The farm strives to be self-sufficient and relies exclusively on organic farming methods.

Little villas, each sitting alone on various spots behind me, offer home to travellers, many of whom find their way here, as we did, through word of mouth from others.

Rubber Made House

Inspired by a young Israeli, Alex Lior, the small community of consistent residents here work together to provide a place with absolute self-sufficiency. The ‘Earthship’, the house that Alex built for himself, is an incredibly innovative creation of  Nature’s ultimate co-operation with humankind. Supported and insulated by rubber, and covered with mud plaster, the circular structure (almost yurtlike) is powered strictly by solar energy. Inside is anything a modern westerner could ask for. And it sits in the hills, surrounded by the trees and the active wild life that live here.

Monkeys are KodaiKanal’s racoons, pesky creatures that boldly enter homes in search of food. During the day, I hear the constant cry from the older Indian woman who lives nearby, shooing away the monkeys and encouraging them to find their sustenance somewhere else. It doesn’t help! And I have come to anticipate and enjoy her cries.

The birds encircle me. There are all kinds, evidenced by the many sounds. I can easily tune in to the diversity of sound and appreciate the combination of rhythmic melodies. Some times I can even discriminate specific calls. They have become familiar to me during my time in India. I have become an observer.

sunrise over the valley

Below me (and that’s pretty far down) sporadically dispersed across the valley and along the mountainsides, are small villages. They can be seen even more clearly at night, when the lights from their homes can be seen shining through the darkness of the night. Music from the villages plays almost constantly and I hear it clearly because there is no interference.

We are definitely living off the grid here. There is no Internet, no cell phone coverage, and, other than an emergency land line, no access to the outside world. I think that’s my biggest challenge because I like having regular access to my wonderful, amazing children. For 4 days, however, I can do this. So can they! Our trip in here from the local town took 25 minutes down rocky, winding dirt roads. Only a 4-wheel drive jeep can make it through. It could be anywhere in the world. But it is right here in Tamil Nadu.

I find myself struggling a little bit with the calm and lack of distraction. I welcome the opportunity to be self…my self! I am trying to not think so much and to allow myself more fully to experience the moment. That means just to ‘be’ and to avoid judging or forming opinions as I live. I am finding when I do that there is so much more in the universe to experience, because things and people and places just become. They become just anything…not good or bad, not difficult or loud, not beautiful or expansive, not beautiful or smart. It just becomes, and that’s it! Recently a friend said to me “I don’t want to be a human being. I want to be a human becoming.” Me too! Sitting on this rock helps me become and gives me practise for making that happen more often in my life.

 

Jewish in Kochi

It’s Friday night and although there are two synagogues in the area of Kochi, they will both, no doubt, remain empty tonight. There are about 7 Jews left here! One of the historical things that make Kochi so special is that here, every expression of religion is represented. Over the centuries an accepting and peaceful co-existence has materialized. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples, Muslim mosques, Roman Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues stand side by side, each offering spiritual refuge to those who come to pray.

renovated in 1700's

The call of the muezzin inviting Muslims to prayer take turns with music beckoning worshippers for celebration in the temples. We hear the constant call. Interspersed with shops and homes simple pictures or statues of deities offer impromptu pooja to all Hindus who choose to pray. That’s what makes being here so wonderful for me!

The(hidden) synagogue

The synagogue in Fort Cochin is in Jewtown, just past Mattancherry outside of the main area of the town. The last time I attended an actual service there was 2 years ago. At that time there were 9 Jews left in the town, and they, along with travellers often combined to make enough for a minyan (10 people) for prayer. Today there are 3 Jews left in the city, and the synagogue is open for touring from Sunday to Friday. It is rare to experience services there anymore.

Today, Paul and I decide to check out the synagogue in Ernakulum, a 20-minute ferry ride from Fort Cochin. We knew there is no service because there is only one family left in the city. The father of that family is the caretaker of the building. We heard from a friend that if we find the right guy, in the right flower shop on the right street we might be lucky enough to go in.

Cochin Blossoms and Fish Shop

Ernakulum, like most cities in India is crazy busy. Travelling in to cities is not our favourite thing to do. By the time we arrived in Ernakulum, the heat of the day had peaked and the atmosphere seemed like it was simmering. It was hot. The streets were ridiculously crowded with markets and people shopping and selling and yelling. The synagogue, we knew is on Jews Street. This, in itself is a challenge for me…asking directions, “Excuse me. Where is Jew Street?” just doesn’t have a ‘politically correct’ ring to it. Neither does the location of the synagogue in Cochin…“Jewtown”. But that fact is, no one balks at our inquiries and with help, we are able to locate the building.

The synagogue is hidden one layer into the framework of the buildings that line the streets. Mr. Elias “Babu” Josephai, the caretaker, is the one who is working hard to refurbish the sanctuary that has become completely abandoned since it stopped being used. He is also the owner and main salesperson for the “Cochin Blossoms and Fish Shop” which provides an entranceway to the ancient building that lies beyond the back door.

Aron Hacodesh

Built in the 1200’s and then renovated in the early 1700’s, the synagogue is simple and lush. Cement walls enclose the area with an Aron Hacodesh in brilliant red with gold leaf paint with an ornate keter (crown) above the curtains behind which the Torah used to sit.

Wooden benches line up in front, on either side of the room. The actual prayer area is relatively intact from the 1700’s. There is room for about 100 to sit. I wonder how many times the seats filled.

Mr. Elias "Babu" Josephai

Mr. Elias “Babu” Josephai is busy hanging portable fans from the long nails protruding from the walls. The floor is in serious disrepair, and the roof is open in several areas. Elias tells us that he is redecorating slowly. And he feels confident about his progress. It is still not ready for use.

Elias is completely committed to redoing the building so that Jews from all over the world can come, maybe pray, and definitely learn about the Jewish heritage that existed in the area. All of his family is now in Israel, and Elias and his wife stay behind to continue the traditions of Indian Jewry.

Just a facade for what lies within

For me, being in India reminds me of Israel. India is the Mother country, with hundreds of thousands of Indians migrating to other parts of the world seeking freedom, prosperity and life style change in other lands. We Jews too, live in a Diaspora, away from our ‘Mother’ land, Israel. When I celebrate Jewish holidays or engage in Jewish ritual, I think of Jews throughout the world practicing the same as I do. When we travel, we often seek out the familiarity of synagogues to connect and relate more significantly to the culture of the area through our Jewish heritage. Indians living in a Diaspora, and those remaining here, understand what it’s like to be far from home. The welcoming and gracious reception we receive this evening certainly demonstrates that understanding and compassion as I have experienced throughout the region of Kochi.