Category Archives: Travel

Whiff of an Arabian spread

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, Travel

 
‘Instant’ kabsah kits are in much demand in Kozhikode. / The Hindu
‘Instant’ kabsah kits are in much demand in Kozhikode. / The Hindu

Shawarma, Shawaya, and Khubuz came to Kerala crossing the Arabian seas several years ago. They were served in wayside eateries and fast-food outlets, initially started by the Gulf-returned cafeteria employees.

These dishes, however, did not make their way to the Malayali kitchen even in the Malabar region, where most of the households have at least one member employed in the Middle East.

Of late, a few Arabian dishes such as Mandi, Kabsah, and Majboos, which figure on the main course menu of Arabian countries have become popular in Malabar. These rice-meat combination dishes are not only cooked in the kitchens of the region, but are also served as “prestige” dishes on occasions such as weddings.

Some places like Koduvally, with a huge expatriate population, also have exclusive Mandi and Kabsah eateries. “I know many who come from the city just to eat these dishes,” says P. Abid, a native of Koduvally.

Author and sociologist Hafiz Mohammed says this is only a continuation of the culinary influence Arabia has cast on Kerala for the past 30 years. “The close socio-cultural association between the two countries has paved the way for these dishes’ smooth entry into our society,” says Dr. Mohammed. Ready-to-cook kits of these dishes, including Majboos, the regional variant of Kabsah, are available in shops and supermarkets here now. Dealers of these kits also provide cooking instructions in regional languages on their cover. “I prepare them at home quite often,” says A.K. Ali, who returned from Saudi Arabia a few years ago and is settled at Kalanthode in Kozhikode.

The dishes are much in demand for weddings and parties in the region. Local chefs, with some experience in eateries in the Gulf, have started advertising their skills here, says Mr. Ali.

Dr. Mohammed sees ‘status symbol’ in play here. “Many affluent families in Malabar serve these Arabian dishes during wedding parties for this reason,” he says.

The trend is here to stay for some time at least. “My father, who was in the Gulf for several years, prepared Kabsah at home a couple of years ago during his vacation. All of us liked it. Now I too can prepare the dish,” says Sayed Junaid, from Ayencheri near Vadakara in Kozhikode.

source: http://www.thehindu.com /  The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Jabir Mushthari / Kozhikode – May 10th, 2014

Now, hire a cab, go online and track your trip

Business & Economy, Travel

Taxio, the State's first GPS system-driven radio taxi service. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Taxio, the State’s first GPS system-driven radio taxi service. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

With the formal launch of Taxio, the State’s first GPS system-driven radio taxi service operated using premium sedans, in the city, residents can now avail of end-to-end tracking of cabs.

The system is simple. Hire a taxi through the call centre that functions round the clock, then log on to the website (www.taxio.in), feed the booking number and track the cab from the feed from its GPS system.

Every time a cab stops or deviates from its chosen path, the call centre is alerted and a call is generated to the client. Same is the case whenever the speed crosses 80 km per hour.

SMS alert at the time of pick-up and drop and drivers with clean police record completes the safety network.

There are cabs driven by women and the number is set to increase in the days to come.

Kriserv, the company that operates the service, has formulated a demand pattern using a predictive analysis and learning algorithm based on its 5,000-odd users from its trial run since January.

“We have deployed our fleet at strategic points based on this assessment and this helps us send a cab from the nearest point to the client within 10-15 minutes from the time of booking,” said Vijay Nair, managing director, Kriserv.

Such a deployment helps avoid empty run and enables the company offer city service at affordable rates without charging return fare.

Interestingly, the city limit is not rigid and keeps expanding with the addition to the fleet based on the economy of scale. The tariff starts from Rs. 90 with an additional Rs. 15 for every kilometre.

Work is progressing on a mobile application, which when activated can be downloaded on smartphones and used for booking.

Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram are set to have the service shortly, which, the company claimed, would enable inter-city passengers to travel at half the existing fares due to its unique model whereby cabs would operate under the local hub until return trip is available.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Staff Reporter / Kochi – May 12th, 2014

Bullet enthusiasts in Kochi gear up for a green drive

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Travel

BulletTF15may2014

The thud of Bullets will wake the Kochi city up from its slumber this weekend.

In a unique initiative, as many as 50 motorcycle enthusiasts in the city will take the road to Idukki as part of a tree planting campaign. The ride is being organised by Greenpeople, a Kochi-based environmental organisation in association with Bullethood, a group of Bullet enthusiasts in the city.

Named ‘Ride For Nature’, the event will see bikers starting from Kochi on Saturday to reach Devikulam via Kothamangalam and Thokkupara. The next day, the group members will embark on a 15-km trek to Chokra Mudi peak and return in the evening.

“It aims at giving the riders a chance to rave about their passion and roar about the streets in style while upholding the social message,” said Aseez Kunnapilly, State coordinator, Greenpeople.

The ride will have around 40 stopovers at different locations, during which the members will plant trees around the locations and present a five-minute long programme on the need to conserve nature. “That way, it may take about 10 hours to reach the destination, but only after serving the purpose,” said Mr. Aziz.

Sanoj P.K., a senior member of Bullethood, said the trip would help the group members meet and interact with people and help form an opinion on the subject. “Roads are supposed to connect people and meeting people makes you fall in love with nature,” he said.

Besides biking activities, the group has been actively involved in social issues with members organising rallies to educate the public on road safety.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Hiran UnniKrishnan / Kochi – May 14th, 2014