• Home
  • Portfolio
    • Abandoned
    • Astrology
    • Beaches
    • Cape Cod and the Islands
    • City Architecture
    • Fall Color
    • Gallery Shows
    • HDR
    • Massachusetts
    • Miscellaneous
    • Nature
    • Pandemic Times - I shoot what I see...
    • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh
    • Sports
    • Transportation
    • Walk-abouts
    • Antelope Canyon
    • Bridges
    • Landscapes
    • Photography As Art
    • Portfolio Highlights
    • Portraits
    • Project 2022
    • Sunrise...Moonrise...Sunset...Moonset
  • Project 2022
  • Client Galleries
    • BilkeyKatz1
    • Bo Lebow and Russell Slayton
    • Croatian Dance Ensemble
    • JAA
    • JAA Shareable Galleries
    • Jake and Diana
    • Jewish Healthcare Foundation
    • Linden - Israel
    • MayoBarMitzvah
    • Molly Lebow and Alex Desman
    • Penner Flower Project
    • PIIN
    • Pittsburgh Mediation Group
    • Sanghvi Engagement Party - 170715
    • Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition
    • Temple Sinai
    • American Lung Association
    • Barbara Rosenzweig
    • Barkley Art
    • Bob and Ellie Bernstein's 45th Anniversary
    • Brahma Kumaris
    • Doseeedot
    • Doug Schiller
    • Elliot Oshry
    • Elliott Oshrey Portraits
    • Giveback Kitchen
    • Harvest Financial
    • Immel Thanksgiving 2018
    • Jeff Schiller
    • Jesi Weaver and Chris Piccoli Engagement
    • Jessie and Dave's Wedding
    • JF&CS Annual Party - December 18, 2019
    • Kitchen Shots - Eastman Perkins
    • Klempner Woodworking II
    • Mark and Ellie
    • Mark Klempner
    • P2 - Jerusalem
    • Paul Cuzzupe Fisherman
    • Philip Lehman
    • Still Becoming - Booksigning with Elinor Svenson and Betsy Epstein
    • Svenson - Klempner
    • The Collected Works of Henry Koerner
    • Winn-Horvitz
  • Travel
    • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - October 2017
    • Italy 2018
    • Southern Civil Rights Tour and Photo Safari - Oct 2015
    • India 2019
    • New Zealand
    • Acadia National Park - June 2017
    • Cuba - May 2016
    • Denver 2018
  • Friends & Family
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2005
    • 2003
    • 2002
    • 2001
    • 1988
    • 1981
    • Cape Cod
    • Family Reunions
    • Football and TurkeyBowl
    • Holiday Cards
    • Schiller Family History and 2020 Reunion Website and Family Photo Gallery
    • Special Galleries
    • Trips and Special Events
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • Grandkids, etc.
  • Meet Me
  • REACH ME

  1. Friends & Family
  2. Trips and Special Events
  3. India - 2019
  4. Schiller Images

12 Kollam to Ashtamudi

We set off for Kollam, about 120 kms to the south on the coast of Kerala. First we stopped at the Spice Market in an area known a ‘Jew Town’ owing to the presence there of an old but still active synagogue. The narrow streets were full of shops, one of which was a Judaica store owned by a 96 year old lady who presided over the store. At the end of the street was the ancient synagogue – Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568. After spending some time there, we proceeded to the spice shop and an adjacent antique shop.

The State of Kerala is, we are told, ‘less Hindu’ than the rest of India with a more Moslem and Christian population than, say, in the north of the country. The relative absence of cows on the streets and the presence of beef on the menus in restaurants testify to this.

After our visit to this historic part of town, we rejoined the bus for a short ride until the driver needed to stop for a lunch break. We took this opportunity to walk a short way to see the Chinese fishing net apparatus which consists of a bamboo-type gantry upon which are suspended the nets. At high tide, the nets are lowered into the water and then hoisted up with the fish, which have swum into them. Apparently, the amount of fish caught this way is not very large. A little further on was a stall selling coconuts and Hemant bought some for us to try first drinking the ‘milk’ and then eating the flesh of what were young and sweet coconuts. On our way back to the bus, we encountered a wall, which contained some fairly radical graffiti concerning killing animals, pollution and other ills of the world.

This area, is, we are told governed by the Communist Party and there are elections upcoming. The way in which parties canvass here is by the display of flags representing the parties as there is a degree of illiteracy, which means that slogans and advertisements have more limited effect. In this area we saw many red flags, many with the ‘hammer and sickle’ logo on them representing the Communist Party as elections are upcoming in the spring and before monsoon.

The road south, which is NH 66, was quite narrow in places and we had the usual series of ‘close calls’ with coming traffic. John who rode in the front seat must have very nearly had paint on his arms, so close were we to passing vehicles.

After hours on the road, we turned down a narrow lane and arrived at the incredible Raviz Resort and Spa which is at a place called Ashtamudi (this refers to the large lake upon the shores of which the hotel is located, the Ashtabula meaning 8 and the ‘mudi’ being the ‘arms’ or inlets of the lake.

The hotel is very beautiful and there is a large ‘infinity’ swimming pool, several large boats for trips on the lake including one with rooms, which guests can stay in. A huge long boat, full of spices dominates the lobby.

After finding our room and having our baggage delivered, we went down to the jetty where tea was served and then boarded our boat for a sunset cruise. The boat was large and spacious and made of what seemed to be heavy teak wood. There was an upper deck and a shady lower deck. We proceeded off passing a large house with a huge white statue of a nude lady in the front of it. Then on past fishing boats waiting to go out for the night’s fishing, more of the ‘Chinese’ fishing net contraptions and several Christian churches on the shore one of which was having a very loud ‘revivalist’ type service.

Our brief but very enjoyable evening cruise ended and we repaired to the suite of Hemant and Darshana, for a pre-dinner drink and to watch the sun set through their huge picture window. Then it was down to the foyer for a short 15 minute Indian dance performance by a very talented young lady dancer. Dinner followed, which was a choice of an extensive buffet or an a la carte menu.
Read More
  • DSC_9708

    DSC_9708

  • DSC_9711

    DSC_9711

  • DSC_9712

    DSC_9712

  • DSC_9714

    DSC_9714

  • DSC_9718

    DSC_9718

  • DSC_9720

    DSC_9720

  • DSC_9722

    DSC_9722

  • DSC_9724

    DSC_9724

  • DSC_9725

    DSC_9725

  • DSC_9727

    DSC_9727

  • DSC_9728

    DSC_9728

  • DSC_9729

    DSC_9729

  • DSC_9730

    DSC_9730

  • DSC_9731

    DSC_9731

  • DSC_9733

    DSC_9733

  • IMG_1393

    IMG_1393

  • IMG_1395

    IMG_1395

  • DSC_9739

    DSC_9739

  • DSC_9740

    DSC_9740

  • DSC_9744

    DSC_9744

  • DSC_9746

    DSC_9746

  • DSC_9750

    DSC_9750

  • IMG_1397

    IMG_1397

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.