Estuary island

"Where else can you find a lake, a river, sea and beach, all in one place", is how this resort was advertised and organisers of the conference fell for it.And i was not unhappy that they did. It was a beaaaaaautiful place.Only way to reach the resort is by water transport.My colleague tells me, that these places were developed in the last couple of years; what used to be a handicap is now converted into their USP!Resort manager and the master chef, while sharing some inside story, did confess that it is an everyday challenge to get food items from the city through canoes and boats.The chef particularly shared his concern, that the specifications of tomato as red, ripe and firm normally is not followed and he does not have the luxury of returning the same!(i should keep this in mind, when the cream of tomato soup is a little weak in colour and consistency )
Just before sunset we were hurriedly ushered into small boats to take us into the estuary and mouth of the river joining the sea. Poovar the river, winds its way into the sea. First time i am seeing the river meet sea(please dont remind about the adyar river)and the entire stretch is crystal clear and inviting. I was warned not to venture very near the river, though.Watching the sunset, and walking along the beach i was thinking of the oft repeated philosophies related to river meeting the sea.The connotation is to the self and life on this earth.
While not yet out of the trance of watching sunset, looked around and a full moon was rising above the siluette of our resort and between the coconut trees.Felt quite mesmerised by the setting. A gentle breeze was blowing, of course.Remembered the poet Bharatiyar. For him, heaven on earth was a moonlit night, coconut trees around, a simple rope cot to sit on and sing a song. I did spot a few hammocks swaying in the wind; could use them if i were to take Bharatiyar litereally!
Had a surfeit of visual feast and a sense of well being that God is in his heaven and all is well with the world.
Later a kathakalai programme was organised on the banks of the river, providing a terrific backdrop. During the programme, a few small boats were coasting along the river which we could not see, but what we could see were the pole heads used by the boatmen suddenly moving. For a moment was duped to thinking that it is also part of the show. In a way it was, but not of the kathakali artiste!
Kathakali is not a dance; it is a dance drama. The artiste and his musical troupe literally brought the 'puthana samharam' as if it happend yesterday.
Another day was a 'kalaripayatu' demonstration. I have always been fascinated by any martial arts show and had a particular soft corner for kalaripayatu.The performers were young men, and the nimbleness of their movements is quite fascinating. Again the backdrop of the sea and beach providing the perfect setting.
This post will not be complete if i do not make a mention of some of the keralite delicacies which the chef proudly dished out(inspite of his constraints, hehe); toran is not a string of decorations but your humble vegetable with coconut, but of course the vegetables were finely and delicately chopped and were a visual treat;appam stew, my all time fav(they actually had botched up this dish on the first day, i was very disappointed and hence went and complained to the manager, and they made amends later);curd which was invariably sour(i should mention here, somehow keralites dont seem to know how to set curd; or how to do it the right way;my recollections of earlier visits to kerala always has sour curd figuring prominently);aval payasam and of course various puddings.
On our return journey my colleagues from kerala who organised the event, did share their concern about the march of tourism and its effect on the pristine pure ecology of kerala.Keralites share a genuine deep fondness for their 'naadu' was reinforced yet another time.