Touristic & General Information on Russia

E visa

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Many of the tourists who take the tour with us love the Indian songs. They have many Bollywood favourites which they have heard while growing up in their own countries. In UK, Israel, Russia, Middle-East, Africa.. Talking about Music will eventually lead us to the favourites of our visitors. They do mention names and hums tunes which unfortunately do not ring any bell for us in the begining. Here is the story of one such often mentioned song, "Killing Me Softly with his song.."

Lori Lieberman, a young lady in her early twenties, went to the Truberdor Bar to listen to this particularly talented young man who played there and was becoming popular with his style. While she was there the young man, who was Don McLean,  played his melancholy and heart pulling number "Empty Chairs.." which took young Lori's heart for a ride. She felt his words were straight out of her life, he was reading her letters loud, she felt feverish and embarassed and wished he would finish but kept right on...

The next day Lori discussed her experience with her associates  Charles Fox and Norman Gimbley with whom she was discussing the making of a record. Norman took the clues from her talk and wrote the song giving the title "Killing me softly with his song" which was inspired by some Blues singers whom he met earlier who sang songs like "Killing me softly with his Blues". They recorded the song which Lori Lieberman sang in the year 1972.

Roberta Flack, an already established Afro-American singer, was on a flight when she heard this song on the airplane's song collection. She was so struck by the song, she asked the stewardess to replay that song for her repeatedly while her musical mind took down the lyrics and made mental correction and adjustments to the Lori's song.

Immediately after she got off the plane, she called Quincy Jones to contact the writers of the song and request the permission/right to sing the song. She started practicing the song with her band at Jamaica, the way she wanted it to be played but did not record it. While performing on stage for an organiser, after her set encore, they asked her play something new if she had. She said, yes, there is a song we are practicing and gave it a try.
The audience went berserk after listening to the song and their reaction prompted the organizer to comment, " Baby don't you play this song ever again, before recording it".

Within a month the song was recorded and released and rose to the status of the most popular song of the year and one of the few all time hits.

Thus, Lori Lieberman's emotions while listening to a Don McLean performance became the most popular hum of a generation through another singer's voice while Lori's own song was sideline. One can imagine what it would have done to a sweet young lady like Lori, emotionally. She kept on with her writing and composed and song many other songs and albums though she left the space for a long time after the "Killing me softly with his song.." experience. 

Dharma, Karma and the cross

The Dharma, Karma and The Cross

Between birth and death stretches the quiet field of a human life.

What came before our birth remains hidden from us.

What lies beyond death is equally veiled.

But between these two mysteries we are given a journey.

Many traditions have tried to understand this journey.

Some speak of dharma, the duty and order into which we are born.

Some speak of karma, the consequences of what we do within that order.

Together they form the path each person must walk.

In another tradition, Jesus Christ spoke of the Cross.

“Pick up your cross and follow me.”

Perhaps these ideas are not so different.

The cross may simply be the life already placed upon our shoulders.

We did not choose our parents.

We did not choose the family or circumstances into which we were born.

We inherit an emotional world, a culture, a language, expectations and responsibilities.

From there the road continues:

education, work, relationships, marriage, children, duties, disappointments, hopes.

This is the shape of our cross.

Yet human beings often try to exchange the cross given to them for another of their own making.

We choose careers that are not truly ours.

We form relationships for reasons that do not belong to our deepest self.

We run away from responsibilities that seem too heavy.

For a time it feels like freedom.

But often it is only a detour.

Life has a patient wisdom.

Sooner or later it brings us back to the unfinished task we tried to escape.

And then we begin to understand something simple but profound.

The real question is not which cross we carry, but how we carry it.

Every tradition teaches this in its own language.

The path may be called dharma.

The consequences may be called karma.

Or the burden may be called the cross.

But the truth beneath them is the same.

We must live the life that has been entrusted to us.

For my own heart, the path I have chosen is the way of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Yet the deeper lesson remains universal.

We did not choose our cross.

But we can choose the spirit with which we carry it.

In that spirit lies dignity.

In that spirit lies faithfulness.

And in that spirit lies the quiet possibility that even the heaviest burdens of life may become a path toward meaning and peace.

Easter

An Easter Message

James Lord Pierpont

James Lord Pierpont: The Man Behind "Jingle Bells"

When the festive season rolls around, few songs are as universally recognized and cherished as "Jingle Bells." It has become a hallmark of Christmas celebrations, evoking images of snow-covered sleigh rides, jingling bells, and holiday cheer. Yet, the story of the song's creator, James Lord Pierpont, is as fascinating as the tune itself. 

Who Was James Lord Pierpont?

Born on April 25, 1822, in Medford, Massachusetts, James Lord Pierpont was an American songwriter, organist, and composer. He grew up in a prominent New England family. His father, Reverend John Pierpont, was a noted abolitionist and Unitarian minister, and his nephew, J.P. Morgan, would go on to become one of the most influential financiers in American history.

Despite his distinguished family background, James led a life marked by adventure and occasional controversy. He left home at a young age, heading to sea and later joining the California Gold Rush in 1849. His search for fortune in the gold mines, however, proved fruitless, leading him back to his true passion: music.

The Birth of "Jingle Bells"

In 1857, Pierpont composed a song originally titled "The One Horse Open Sleigh." The song was reportedly inspired by the sleigh races he had witnessed during his time in Medford, a town known for its snowy winters and lively winter festivities. Contrary to popular belief, "Jingle Bells" was not initially written as a Christmas song. Instead, it was intended as a lighthearted tune for Thanksgiving.

The song was first performed at a Thanksgiving concert at Pierpont’s church in Savannah, Georgia, where he worked as an organist and music director. Despite its initial modest reception, the melody's catchy, jubilant nature soon gained popularity, and the song was renamed "Jingle Bells."

A Song Beyond Seasons

Over the years, "Jingle Bells" transcended its Thanksgiving origins to become synonymous with Christmas. Its infectious rhythm and cheerful lyrics have made it a global favorite, covered by countless artists and translated into numerous languages. Remarkably, it was also one of the first songs broadcast from space in 1965, when astronauts aboard NASA's Gemini 6 played it during a Christmas-themed prank.

A Complicated Legacy

While "Jingle Bells" is an enduring symbol of joy and celebration, James Lord Pierpont's life was not without its complexities. His personal life was turbulent; after the death of his first wife, he remarried and moved to Savannah, where his loyalties during the Civil War created tension. Despite being from a staunch abolitionist family, Pierpont supported the Confederacy, even composing songs in its favor.

An Enduring Influence

James Lord Pierpont passed away in 1893, but his legacy lives on through "Jingle Bells." More than just a holiday staple, the song is a testament to his creativity and ability to capture the universal joy of wintertime merriment.

As we hum along to "Jingle Bells" this season, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the man who crafted this timeless tune. From the snowy streets of Massachusetts to the far reaches of outer space, James Lord Pierpont’s song continues to unite people in festive spirit, reminding us all of the simple pleasures of the season.

Durham Miners' Banner

Display of the Durham Miners' Banners

Amy Wilson Carmichael

Amy Wilson Carmichael was a.....

Indian booking of Cruise Tourism 2022

 Cruise Tourism was the first to be hit by the pandemic. Now, after two years, Cruise Tourism is showing a positive sign of revival. The Indian booking for cruises are seeing an unprecedented rise in the last few weeks. Leading Cruise agents like STIC, Thomas Cook etc are reporting 35-40% rise in their cruise booking from India. 

Short hauls, easy visa destinations without quarantine requirements are the hot favorites among the Indians. Singapore Sailing, middle east cruises like Dubai - Abudhabi - Muscat - Bahrain offered by the cruise companies like Genting Dream, Royal Caribbean Cruises top the booking chart for their November to March Sailing season. 

While the news come as a consolation for our mates in the out-bounds the entire team in the in-bounds are staying positive hoping their 'days' are not far away too, monkeypox or not!

Wayanad Tribal Tourism

Wayanad has always been a pleasant surprise. Natural and beautiful, a delight of the tourists. The more we try to learn about Wayanad the more curious we become about the original inhabitants of the hill country. Few centuries ago there were no one except them. It was Tipu’s soldiers who came down the hills from Mysore making way for his march to conquer the coast and its harbours. Then came the British who knew how to work the hill, magnificent plantations came up, labourers from all over the south found a means of bread and settled. Within a few years, Wayanad became a fashionable European settlement. Few of the names of the hills and the places were changed but mostly the old ways and names remained. By the turn of the 20th century, came the flood of local migration, centuries long tribal heritage of the place was lost for ever.

Enchanting Wayanad always had the tourism potential; it was realized early became operational with policy change when the tourism focus shifted from south to North Kerala. Besides the natural beauty what captivated the tourists were its original people. At last an enterprise had come up celebrating the heritage, tradition and lives of the tribes of Wayanad.

A charitable trust formed with the leadership of Sub-collector and 13 tribal leaders has formed a tribal heritage centre “ Enna OOru” formally making a platform to interact, experience the tribal way of life including 10 tribal huts for the visitors to stay in. The centre has shops to sell tribal products of medicine, art, crafts etc. a cafeteria to taste tribal foods, space to hold events and performances in tribal culture.

It is a beginning in a way. Let us hope, the tribes themselves could set up their own enterprise and truly change the face of Wayanad tourism. 

 

Farm tourism around Munnar in trouble

Farm tourism that grew around Munnar and it's tourism is in trouble in these covid days. Farmers in places like Anchunadu, Marayur, Kanthallur, Vattavada had started growing fruits like apple, orange, plum, peach, guava, mosambi, passion fruit, tamarillo etc. and they used to get vistors to their farm even during off season. The farm fresh fruits were a delight which fetched some additional income for the farmers. The tea companies had let their workers grow oranges which went well for the tea shrubs growth, these oranges though small are very sweet and were a favourite among visitors. 

Solanum Betaceum  (Tamarillo) by C.T. Johansson

Licensed under a  CC BY-SA 3.0 License

The organic Marayur Jaggery which was made around the sugar cane fields of Kanthallur and Marayur has also lost its market. The worst hit, perhaps, among all are the strawberry farmers of Kanthallur and Vattavada, the flight restrictions have slowed down the export of these highly perishable fruits and no agents are turning up for their purchase nor do the farmers have the means to preserve them, pushing the farmers of the Devikulam taluk into deep trouble.  Strawberries need special care and attention unlike other fruits. Government's strawberry park in Munnar barely have any visitors during these slump months.

Low margins of OTAs

Online Travel Agents (OTA) offer discounts, cashbacks and flexible travel booking to survive the blow dealt by the pandemic. Needless to say the "offers" are squeezing their margins. 

Recently we saw EaseMyTrip, ClearTrip (airline ticketing agents), MakeMyTrip, SOTC, ixigo, Thomas Cook (wholesome trip providers) offering 50-60% discounts. These deals were possible only because all the key partners across the industry like carriers, hotels etc., who were also badly bitten by the pandemic induced slump were offering big discounts to survive. 

Though these offers had some positive impact mostly it was never more than 65% use of inventory. 

In airline ticket booking where 20% of the margin is linked with volumes there was not much to feel happy about especially when there were hardly any margin earlier too, as India is a low cost driven market. 

Hotel bookings are running at one third of the last year's, as guests are waiting to confirm the booking using the flexible booking option. 

Though the reliable McKinsey report on OTA says their structure and the variable costs involved help them to absorb the fluctuation it should not be forgotten travel industry, in general, is margin and volume driven without both they cannot offer the key partners a contract or commission for the services. 

With the changing situation let us hope a service provider will also find it convenient to stick to an OTA brand than a one sided chase by the OTAs to find and keep a service provider. 

It's Rubber, again!

 The rubber planters of Kerala are breathing a huge sigh of relief. After 7  years of misery the rubber price has gone up to Rs.165 per kilogram. During these years the price has gone so down, out of disappointment arising out of the inability to sustain the plantations many planters have cleared their plantations and sold the trees to timber traders and as firewood. The new surge in price is giving hope to the survivors. 

The big question that is playing on every planters mind is quite obvious, is this boom sustainable? The pandemic effect is certainly playing its part, delay in the shipment of the imported rubber, rise in shipment rates, non-availability of the shipment containers etc. has forced the local manufacturers to go back to the domestic rubber suppliers. Above all, the international rate for the rubber has gone up, at present the going rate at the Bangkok Market is Rs.186.90 per kilogram. 

The government decision to place tyre into restricted category list of import has helped the local suppliers as tyre manufacturers are the premium customers of the planters and they had a free run to import cheap raw rubber from the south east Asia all these years. Successive extreme climatic conditions, the attack of fungus and its fast spread has destroyed many a crop around the world which had a negative impact on the availability of rubber in the world market. 

With everything said, the experienced planters are limiting their sales keeping an eye on the international rubber price, knowing very well from their experience when the world market price is riding 15 to 20% above the local price they expect the local price to go above the global price within   a short time. 

Let us hope for the best for our planters as their surplus in the good years have flowed into tourism and have played its part in the infrastructure and destination development of Kerala.

Honey, a produce of the tribe

Those of us who favour and work for the promotion of tribal tourism and a better market for the produce of tribal communities will not be surprised by the sting report produced by the Centre for Science and Environment which states the wide spread sugar syrup adulteration of honey. Ten out of the thirteen popular brands which have been tested are selling impure honey whose content has sugar and honey syrup imported cheaply from China by the commercial manufacturers. 

Traditionally, honey is associated with health and wellness and is consumed by a large percentage of our population whose commercial value is the prime concern of the market sellers. Surprisingly, Food Safety Standards Authority Of India (fssai) who certifies the quality of food products sold in India is not applying the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test which they use for honey exported for international markets for locally supplied forest produce. This lapse give the registered commercial companies a golden opportunity to tap the market to their own advantage. 

Ideally, the honey requirement of the nation ought to be met by the tribes who collect it. The tribal welfare department and trifed (Govt. Marketing agency for tribal produce) are trying to help and promote the produce of our indigenous people, so that they too make a decent living. 

Kangris of Kashmir

As soon as the winter arrives in Kashmir, tourism news is full of pictures of the snow in the valley. The social aspect of how the local people cope with negative temperatures for a couple of months is even more interesting. 

Of all the heating devices available, kangris have a mass appeal. It is portable, less expensive and most importantly it keeps one warm both indoors and outdoors. Kangris are basically clay pots with six inches (half a feet) wide mouth where charcoals are fed and burned. The local artisans have made a pot holder with twigs with handles that can be easily carried around. 

While outside the Kashmiris hold it inside their knee long coats (Pheran) which both men and women wear in winter or they hung it on the hook if they are inside the house. The whole fill weighs around quarter of a kilo of charcoal along with the kangris itself is good to go for a 4 to 6 hours. 

The cost of the Kangiri can be anywhere between 70 to 1500 depending on the intricacies of artisan decoration of the wicker around the pot. 

Towards the end of winter the Pandit Brahmins hold a festival and pooja at the end of which the clay pots are smashed in thanksgiving for a safe winter. 

Innovation during Pandemic

Tourism is one of the worst hit industries during these pandemic era. Many entrepreneurs have gone bankrupt and many careers have been thrown under the bus. 

Inspite of everything Aveda Resorts & Spa at Kumarakom, in Alleppey district of Kerala has found a way to do something that would generate some income to maintain the property, atleast. By June, they knew the lock down is here to stay and the hotels will not be allowed to open anytime soon.  So they decided to turn their awesome 150 metre long swimming pool into a fish farm. 

They bought around 16,000, two months old Pearl Spot ( Local favourite) baby fishes and farmed them in the pool.

Pearl Spot usually take around eight months to reach their full growth/size and the team at Aveda is hoping to harvest them in November and looking forward to sell them both in the local and UAE market. 

The reality of Pandemic is shock and panic which drove many to destruction, the team at Aveda Resort and Spa has found a way to stay afloat. Congratulations Team Aveda, you guys are very inspiring.  

The link:

Aveda Boutique Resort & Spa

Onam

On this day of our harvest festival, Onam, when every one used to be  blessed with a bountiful harvest and were filled with the happiness of prosperity and contentment, we remember our Great King, Mahabali, who ensured justice & fairness, equality, honesty, work & bread for  all  and wish you a very happy Onam in the age old tradition of our forefathers who lived and died here, in our Kerala! 

May the panic and anxiety of the pandemic do not cast a shadow on our celebrations, let us make the best with what we have and hopefully look forward for a better year to come. 

Picture: picnewposts.blogspot.com

Pandemic and Monetary relief in Tourism

 With the devastating pandemic attack the world tourism sank like the sugar cube in our cup of tea. Lock down and the fear of infection forced people not to travel at all forcing the tourism stakeholders to shut down their enterprises and lay off the employees.

The 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced by the central government in February did not consider tourism for any sort of support though the authorities had mentioned that more package are coming and  some indirect benefits are available to those tourism companies which fall under the MSME category with a 100 crore turn over and 25 crore in outstanding. They can avail an emergency credit to the amount of 20% of their outstanding with a four year tenor and an year of moratorium in repayment. 

Almost six months after that, the Kerala state government announced yesterday Rs. 455 crore Relief package to the Tourism industry. The State Level Bankers Committee has agreed to disperse 355 crores of loans to small and large stakeholders in the Tourism Industry at 50% of the prevalent interest rate. Government has decided to pay the remaining 50% of the interest to the bank on behalf of the Tourism industry as a subsidy from the Government's Plan Fund. 

Under the Relief program nearly 2500 small enterprises will get 1-3 lakhs and big enterprises will get 5-25 lakhs with a moratorium of 6 months for repayment. 

Apart from the enterprises, the Tourism Employees Support Scheme with an outlay of Rs.100 Crore will provide tourism employees who come around  to 50,000 in number  a personal loan between 20-30 thousand through the Kerala Bank at an interest rate of 9% of which 6% will be paid by the Government itself. The personal loan will have a moratorium of 4 months on repayment. The employees will have to submit their application through the Tourism Deputy Director of their respective districts. 

Kerala tourism revenue accounted for the year 2019 was Rs. 45,000 crores but in this pandemic year the industry has suffered a loss of Rs. 20,000 crore with an uncertain tourism season coming up from September to February. 

 

Village Tourism

Looking forward, optimistically, the Corona free states and those  which have shown considerable efficiency in their health system may see a rise in tourism from a stand still situation.  No doubt, inbound and outbound tourism is not going to revive with visa controls and air travel restrictions still on, there could be a possible increase in tourism with aparticular demand for village and experience oriented tours. With the summer holidays coming, people who are weary after the lock down might want to travel, if the tourism stake holders can woo them to less crowded destinations unlike beaches. 

Social distancing, staying in quarentine have taught all of us a good lesson and chances are local travellers may find experiential tourism a much needed break from the numbness of staying home for so long. 

To attract visitors every suitable localities have to upload short videos on folklores, art forms, cuisines etc on social media and related websites. For that, ofcourse, the local villagers have to be trained on how to make videos and record audios with their phones and how to add sub-titles. 

The government employees who claim the leave travel allowance for the holidays, if they choose, could add some hope and light to tourism villages whose dreams are already shattered. 

Robusta coffee of Wayanad

Italy is famous for its pizzas, wine, gelato and ofcourse coffee among many other food delights. In our state of Kerala, the district of Wayanad produces around 2.24 lakh tonnes of Robusta coffee every year. The Italians use the Robusta for their Coffee and buy from our India and Wayanad farmers around 65,000 tonnes of Robusta every year. With Italy down with Corona Infection, the farmers of Wayanad have lost their hope for the season as such the price was at its lowest in ten years even before the pandemic outbreak.

According to the coffee board of India authorities there are around 59,000 small farmers in the naturally beautiful north Kerala district producing around 58,000 tonnes of Robusta from 67,000 hectares of land. 

All the hopes are now hung on local consumption (1.10 lakh tonnes) by the farmers do not have any insurance coverage. They had insurance cover from weather till 2016, later coffee was dropped from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana.

Source: The Hindu, 12-04-'20
Wayanad Coffee Farmers

The invitation to guest lecture at the tourism colleges is something BTGS enjoys very much and consider it as a duty to share the tourism working experience with the Tourism Students. After the closing of the semester in November in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh,  BTGS is now available at Kochi for consultation and tours. All our Historical & Cultural tourists and enthusiasts are welcome.

While BTGS is thankful for the enquiries that have come our way in the past few months, we apologize for the inconvenience caused to our tourists by not being available. BTGS extends a special note of gratitude to Mr. Adrian Whittle, from England and Mr. Amir Broshi from Israel, for taking our freshly designed 'Weaving Trail' (Chennai-Tirupati-Venkatgiri-Srikalahasti-Nellore) which was still in experimental stage while they chose to visit . Thank you Sirs for your patience and unbound cooperation.  

Meydad Eliyahu & Tom Landau, we missed taking you around while you were here in Kochi.