My Coorg Experience

Just back from the refreshing days at COORG!!! Coorg is called as The Scotland of India. No wonder it is, the lovely valley kodugu, the sparkling waterfalls, wildlife, the awesome coorg cuisine and its people. Coorg is famous for its adventure and outside activities.

We started early in the morning by car via Mysore route to coorg. Reached around 11.00 AM in Madikeri. We browsed a lot to find the best home stay or resorts and landed up with three. On checking the first home stay on list, we decided to confirm our booking with a Resort. I don't mean that the Home stays are bad but it depends on your duration of stay and purpose. Its best to prefer a home stay when you come in groups for a longer period. Resorts are best for people like me who wanted to have a place away the work and stress, just to ooze around the place enjoying the beauty, climate, cuisine and places.

We visited the Abbey falls first, which is located 8 Kms from the Madikeri Town. The waterfalls is a must see place there, enjoyed the heavy water drops and its gushing sound with drizzle.This white waterfalls joins the River cauvery. The road down to the town Medikeri from here has steep ups and downs, twists and turns with the coffee plantations aroma definitely making the drive memorable.

Abbey falls, Coorg

I goggled a lot in finding a traditional place to enjoy coorg cuisine and landed up with top five restaurants. We had a delicious lunch at Raintree, the place and ambiance was very good, at a reasonable price. Got fresh mountain honey from their organic farm and made Honey Amla. We loved their Chilli naan very much. Another place called The fort mercara opposite to the fort had a very fresh and delicious cuisine. Its got a pretty decent lodging too.

We returned back to our resort, just went for a evening walk around and ended the day in the resort sports club playing badminton.

The next day we visited Raja seat , this place is called so as coorg raja used to visit this place to enjoy the enchanting view of coorg during sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed the amazing beauty of coorg from here.

View from Raja seat

We then took the sowmarpet road, passing through the finest coffee estates of coorg, adding to the beauty was big tall trees of spices.

Dubare Elephant camp is were we headed then to go for Rafting. The current was slow on that day and rafting experience was not so thrill compared to our last rafting. We had to take an boat to cross the river to the camp. The camp offers Elephant rides. The fun part is that if you reach Dubare in the early morning, you get to watch the elephant bath and you can scrub them too. We went late afternoon so missed it. Its 18 Kms from Kushalnagar.

On way back to Bangalore, near kushalnagar is Golden Temple. Its called Bailkuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in south India. It has monastery and large educational monastery. We found lots of monks and nuns there. There were big blocks of building for them to stay and had a small canteen. This golden temple depicts the rich cultural heritage of Tibetans. These golden plated statues are unique and colourful.

Golden Temple Front View

Golden Temple Inside

I have attached the pictures taken at Coorg on the Picasa link. Click Here.

We did not trek, but its a great spot for everyone who enjoys trekking and hiking. A must visit place for a relaxing weekend. 

Happy weekend

Nib Painting

Nib Painting

Painting is an art. Nib Painting is one form of it. 

Materials needed

1. Design as per your choice
2. Black Felt Cloth
3. Oil colours
4. Hard Board
5. Nibs

Nibs - Different types of nibs are used

• Rounded Tips- for circle designs
• Long Tip- for lines
• Short Pointed Tip- for sharp lines

Method

1. Stick the Black Felt Cloth on the Hard Board. Let it dry completely.
2. Trace the desired design on the Black Felt Cloth.
3. Now the design is ready for painting. First, you should always paint from top so that you have the flow correctly. Second, you have to move your hand evenly.
4. Concentrate on one part first, after doing the portion start with the next one. As shades of colours are very important.
5. After applying the paint on the design, use the tips as per the design and on flow of the pattern. Dont over stress on any place. make it uniform.
6.  The strokes have to be from top to bottom. Make it even.
7. Do it very patiently. 
8. The design takes a weeks time to dry completely.
9. Now its ready for framing. Enjoy the joy of gifting your loved ones.

Love,

Ree

Tanjore Painting

Tanjore Painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting whose origin goes back to a town Tanjavur, in Tamil Nadu,India. Tanjore paintings are very well known for their surface richness, vivid colours and compact composition. Tanjore paintings mostly serve as devotional icons. The theme of Tanjore paintings are Hindu gods and goddesses.

My first try - Lord Krishna 

Tanjore Paintings comes in different styles like classic, antique and embossed. They are highly valued and treasured. In recent times,these paintings have become pieces to decorate walls and collectors item for the art lovers. 

TECHNIQUE

The process of making a Tanjore painting involves many stages

• Initially we will have to make an sketch of the design on the base.The base consists of a cloth pasted on a wooden board. Its then coated with chalk power mixed with water soluble adhesive. 
• Decorate the Jewellery and apparels with the semiprecious Jaipur stones. Jaipur stones come in different colours, mostly used are red,green and white which is very attractive. 
• Now, the muck work of the design. For this, mix of chalk powder and Arabic gum is required. The liquid can be liquid or semi liquid as per your work on the design.

• On top of the muck work, gold foils are pasted. High Quality gold foil should be used for  paintings to last generations. Press the gold foil enough to make the impression on the muck works and it takes those shapes on the design.
• Remove the gold foil on the stones with blade/pin. Highlight these with black engineering pen. 
• Base colouring is done first, then as per our choice the shades. Background colours are mostly very striking like green,red or dark brown. Once the colouring is dried, the precious stones can be placed. 
• Frame it as per your choice. Its just so classic. 
• This is my first try on Tanjore painting, hope you like it.

My next Tanjore painting is Lord Siva and Family. Will Post it soon with the detailed steps of working on it. 

Hope you like it!!!!! 

Thanks,

Riya 

Do Post your comments.

The Home Herbalist

Herbs in the diet and herbal remedies have made a comeback as people have rediscovered its high medicinal values in day today's life. Many powerful drugs of today are derived from the herbs.

Many herbs are now available in dry form or tea bags in local supermarkets, which we can benefit from. These can be consumed in the form of Herbal teas or juices, making an healthy alternative.

Methods to consume herbs:

1. Use a spoon of dried herb leaves or two spoons of fresh herbs, pour hot water on it. Leave it covered for 5-10 mins. Now, strain and drink while its hot. Don't add sugar or milk. If desired add Honey.

2. Make decotions and use when required. Wash the herbs completely free from dirt and pesticide residues. Boil the herbs/roots/barks and store it. Use as above when required.

Its best to use the herbs in our diet to benefit from its therapeutic powers. Generally, Herbs have little nutritional/medicinal value because of the low quantity consumed. So its always best recommended to consume regularly for a longer period of time.

BASIL: An important ingredient in Italian cooking. Its a tonic believed to calm the nervous system. Aids in easy digestion and stomach cramps.

BAY: Used in herbal seasoning, which aids in digestion.

CORIANDER: The leaves are used in curries, salads and soups. The small bunch of fresh leaves when consumed relieves stomach problem. Both seeds and leaves are used for strengthening of urinary tract and treating urinary infections.

FENNEL: Both seeds and leaves can be used to aid digestion and helps prevent insomnia, nausea and vomiting.

MINT: The leaves are used for cooking, juices and crushers. It brings delicate flavours. It aids in cold.

OREGANO: Its mostly used in pizzas and stuffing's. I use a lot in soups, as it eases in symptoms of cold,flu and colds.

PARSLEY: This herb is one of the most nutritious garnishes, having lots of vitamin C and iron.

ROSEMARY: Relieves indigestion and flatulence. Drinking helps relieve nervous headaches and colds.

Are these Myth or Medicine?? Try these home herbalist and enjoy its nutritious value.  

National Standards for Organic Production

The demand for organic farm products have grown over years, everyone is now looking to eat chemical free food. More awareness has come on the conventional farming, which led to use of organic farm products. New business in support of Green is blooming. Lets know a little about the standards of organic production. This answers all your question of how healthy organic food is over the conventionally grown foods.

The national standards procedures to be followed and practised are given by NPOP for organic production. These standards are grouped under the following categories:

CONVERSION PERIOD: The time period between the farmlands being converted to the organic standards. It should meet all the requirements for organic growth and cultivation of crops or animal husbandry This is called as the Conversion Period. It depends on the past use of the land and ecological situations. It usually is long for a highly polluted land. Full conversion period is not required for lands already cultivating by organic means.

CROP PRODUCTION: 

• Choice of crops and varieties: All seeds and planting materials should be organic. By organic standards, only certified organic seeds must be use otherwise seeds which are not chemically treated, genetically modified. 
• Duration of conversion period: This depends on the seeds ,accordingly the production cycle. Prior to the start of production cycle, the land must have met the organic management standards. 
• Fertilization policy: The organic process should minimize the nutrient losses,avoid accumulation of heavy metals and maintain soil pH. Organic farmer should ensure he uses only organic fertilizer. Over manuring should be avoided. Manures from human sludge should strictly be not used on vegetation.
• Pest disease and weed management: It should be managed only by preventive cultural techniques. Botanical pesticides are allowed. Prohibited from synthetic chemicals and genetically engineered organisms.
• Soil and water conservation: Soil and water resources should be handled in a sustainable manner to avoid soil erosion, improper use of water and pollution of surface and ground water. Strictly restricted from burning soil and converting primary forests for agriculture.

COLLECTION OF NON CULTIVATED MATERIAL FOR PLANT ORIGIN: 

Wild harvested products shall be only certified "Organic" - Only if obtained from a stable and sustainable growth environment, harvesting should not exceed the sustainable level of our ecosystem. 

FOOD PROCESSING AND HANDLING:

While processing and handling organic farm products, proper care should be taken to avoid organic products from getting mingled with non organic farm products. Direct or indirect contact of organic food products with prohibited substances should be avoided. 

All the facilities adding to organic standards for decontamination, clearing or disinfection should be there. 

PACKAGING:

Organic food products should be packaged with ecofriendly materials, which can be recycled and reusable. Packaging material should not contaminate the food. 

LABELLING:

When full requirements are met, the package can be labelled "Organic". Based on the percentage of organic, logo can also be placed. Read detail on ORGANIC LABELLING here.

STORAGE AND TRANSPORT:

Products should be stored in a proper place which is free from prohibited substances and organic products should not be stored with non organic products. 

Go organic, Live healthy!!!