Standing tall at 6 ’3, it is not difficult to notice Hari Menon roaming around with a camera trying to capture nature’s bounty through his lens. Hari Menon has been working with a number of known publications like the Lonely Planet, Femina, Outlook Traveler, Jade magazine, since his early days and his images are familiar to common folks through campaigns such as Incredible India, Kerala and Karnataka Tourism promotions. He is an internationally acclaimed visual archive and has won numerous distinctions in his field. He has also featured in several photography and life style magazines such as Smart photography and the Scope magazine. Some of his prominent works include ” Close to the Gods ” documenting the dynamic ritual art form Theyyam of North Kerala, and ” People from the Peak ” photo stories from the Himalayas that the perpetual life styles of the common folks of the mountain as well as his photo essay on Kumbh Mela and Holi from U.P. His recent works for book releases include ‘India for a billion reasons’ for Wisdom Tree publications.

An instinctive photographer, his magical touch is evident in the numerous photos he has taken ranging from stills to faces, and abstract to reality. He is known to capture images from day today life and render them immortal. His play of colors and shapes in the photos he clicks talk deeply about his passion and love for photography. He hails from the beautiful village near Cochin, North Paravur. His eye for detail is completely self-taught and it is his love for the unknown and the need to capture it through the visual medium that made him follow his dreams to become a freelance travel photographer. There are limitations to the use of language, but for Hari it is through the photographs that he speaks.

Hari Menon partnering with Media Wallet Branding Solutions, the branding and advertising arm of Cochin Media City, a leading media conglomerate, announced a two-day photography workshop from January 28th to 29th at the Abad Grande Residencia, Fort Kochi. The entry is limited to 25 aspiring photographers, who would be introduced to world-class techniques in photography to enable them explore their creative side. For more details please write to mediawallet@gmail.com

It is cruising time for Kochi. From major cruise ships embarking in Kochi, our city is now in the news. But if you were planning on shelling some few extra bucks on those luxury cruises to visit the islands, we have some better news for you. The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) is starting a boat service connecting the different islands that comes under its authority.

Kochi will have a double-decker boat that will serve this purpose. The boast will cost nearly 2.5 crores, and the operation and services will be carried out by a private operator on contract basis. The implementation of this project will facilitate in enhancing the condition of Kochi’s pioneer boat jetties that includes Vypeen, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, and Ernakulam jetty. So when they say these places will be renovated, they plan to give these places a complete make-over. From bringing in good toilet facilities, providing drinking water and more, there are many plans that are in the to-do list.

The lower deck will be a normal one where regular passengers can travel, and the upper deck will be air-conditioned for the tourists. The charges will be reasonable, but yet to be fixed. This initiative from the government will truly be a blessing.

The Commercial Dance Music Carnival (CDMC) is the brain child of Cochin’s own Dj Savyo. Savyo created CDMC with the aim of putting Cochin and Kerala as a whole on the  Electronic Dance Music (EDM) charts of India and the world. According to Savyo “The Indian EDM world is limited unfortunately only to the metros and South India’s share is Bangalore’s presence. At the same time EDM fans are not restricted to the big cities and have  a very large following in cities like Cochin and Trivandrum. Majority of the EDM parties are held at Bangalore where the crowd has the presence of a noticeable number of people from Kerala.”

Event managers who bring international artists to India are visibly scared to bring their artists to God’s own country fearing lack of audience. What went unanswered was the wishes of  people from the state to see an EDM night in the home ground. Though we did not get our share of EDM events our Djs still played for the home crowd at the various crowds and events. All these events featured few of the best Djs on a single stage. These events were once in a while and the time gap widening.

Now the time has come for the scenario to change. The Djs are ready and the crowd has been asking for it for a long time. CDMC is here and it is here to stay. This music festival will be held at the Fort Cochin beach during the Onam time. CDMC will be the biggest EDM event to have happened in the state and will feature Djs from Cochin. The biggest names in the EDM from Cochin will come together on one stage for two consecutive days playing the best from their collections. Each of these Djs have years of performing experience and huge fan followings.

What comes as icing on the cake is the fact that this will be a free for all event and no entry charges will be collected. However for the security and smooth running the floor will be divided into two portions. One will be for couples and ladies and the other for stags. Guest can be assured of the best music at this open air musical extravaganza from the very people who changed the way we party. The music will range from progressive sessions to electro madness fuelled by heavy doses of commercial and bollywood numbers. While you are there don’t forget to enjoy the breathtaking sunset amongst the world famous Chinese fishing nets that dot the coast line. The steady pace at which EDM is gaining popularity amongst the youth has encouraged the Mayor of Cochin to extend all support to this venture.

Here is something which you can do for your city, Kochiites. The Fortkochi beach cleaning campaign is on. It mobilises people across the city to clean the beach and create an awareness to stop harming the beauty of beaches. This initiative taken by ‘The Society for Marine Research and Conservation (SMRC)’ sure shall turn out to be a success.

Youngsters from across the city are all set to walk in at Fortkochi on the 8th of June, Wednesday. This shall be happening from 3.00p.m to 4.30p.m near the beach premises. Fortkochi beach is one of those beaches facing a major setback. Be it tourism, fishing or other marine activities, Fortkochi beach is losing its charm. Thanks to the officials who are not much bothered about this condition. Neither do they take the trouble of cleaning it up on a regular basis, nor do they take actions against people who litter the place.

The major tourist hub is being eaten up by ignorant and reckless people. And let’s not let that happen!

So don’t miss this chance of doing that little bit for our city! So see you there on June 8th!

The COCHIN CLUB ALL KERALA SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP, 2011 will be held at Cochin Club, Church Road, Fort Kochi on 22^nd May, 2011. There will be categories for Men, Women and Under 18 years Juniors. Entry fees is Rs.200/- and matches will commence from 11 a.m.

The tournament is being organised by the Cochin Club in association with the Scrabble Association of Kerala. A class on Basics of Scrabble will be conducted by Team Sam Academy from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The winners will get Trophies and certificates. For registration details call 9846042421.

Fabindia aka the faultless domicile for Indian wear is the absolute sanctuary for Indian clothes. The wide range of accessories, clothes, furniture, bed linen, curtains etc., makes you go head over heels for the shop. Even though Fabindia is considered to be one of the most expensive outlets for ethnic clothes, I would propose this as the consign for ethnicity at an affordable rate. The rates of some boutiques and outlets that sell the same stuff are even more bizarre and wacky!! The shop has everything required for a home. Starting from the furniture, bedspreads, they even have cosmetics that include lotions and creams. You wear a Fabindia saree, and hold a clutch from the store, and then I guarantee you are the chic for the party! The shop started off at Old Thevara road, and opened its wings at other parts of the city pretty soon. It includes the one at Oberon Mall, Fort Kochi, Kerala History Museum, Bay pride Mall, and will be seen very soon at Abad Nucleus Mall. If you are looking for a makeover for your house, and want some finicky matchless stuff in place, make sure you try out the store, cos’ no place can swap FABINDIA!

Kochi, since quite a long time has been missing out on some real finicky hangout places! But gone are the days when Cocoa Tree or CCD were the only places where we could sit over a cup of  coffee, or hang out with ya’ pals!! Fort Kochi is now the in-thing, people! Fortkochi has been a hub for the flood of tourists who visit Kochi. The pretty buildings and lovely locale has  added to the splendour. But now, youngsters in the city, when they really need a break, prefer hanging out in Fortkochi! Kashi Art Cafe is nothing new to us. There is hardly anyone in Kochi who hasn’t tried out their Chocolate cake and Cold Coffee (Slurrrrrrppp!! I’am already drooling…. ). The art cafe was started around 15 years back by an American lady, and I would suggest this as the first place you should check out the minute you enter Fortkochi! Also, if you are someone who goes for merchandise from the street for clothes, and accessories, do not hesitate to step into the umpteen shops out there. The shopkeepers might try playing smart by charging you a li’l too much, but make sure you tell’em that ‘I’am a Kochiite, so ‘chetta’ don’t mess with me (It helps guys, I tell you)! Dal Roti offers you a wide range of North Indian cuisine, David Hall for a sip of coffee with great ambiance, plus a lot more. So if you still haven’t spent time with your friends out there in Fort Kochi, make sure the weekend is spent there!!

All you dirt bike enthusiasts, here is something you might be interested in. As Team CRC celebrates its 10th anniversary they are organizing a few races on 20th Feb at Fort Kochi. Races are in category of National, Expert, Novice and Scooter class.

For details contact: 9061600009, 9846172007

About a month back, I almost caused a few accidents and made even more people stop in their tracks and gawk at me when I decided to give a very attractive young woman a hug. And would you believe it? This happened in one of the more upmarket and liberal spaces in Kochi.
A friend narrated to me an instance when he really had to take a leak while walking around in Fort Kochi. So he walked into one of the famed heritage hotels there and was told that the toilet was only for guests, while a man from a foreign land was given immediate access and all this while he was standing there..
So this begs a question, are Indians racist to Indians? I once had a hearty laugh while I was discussing this with a traveller friend of mine from America (Caucasian male) and he told me that India was one country where he never had a racism problem. He even mentioned to me how people were falling over each other to help him, by letting him jump the queue in train stations and letting him sit in crowded buses while many old Indians stood.
Why is giving a lady a hug wrong? Why is physical touch considered taboo? Why can’t a girl be my friend? Why can’t I have a meal with a lady without ulterior motives? Why are public toilets in so called high end hotels only for the ‘Guests’? Why is there so much Bias? Is it wrong I was born with Dark Skin?
The Indian prejudice against ‘shyam varna’ is well documented from the past, stories of prince and princess bathing in sandalwood oil infused water with rose petals to lighten their skin, to our own modern version of Shah Rukh Khan telling people which product to use to make our skin color lighter. Most of us would have succumbed to this temptation and used one of these products ourselves.
The more I think about it and the more I research, it brings me to one common stand point, ‘education’. The first bits of education we get are from our parents and the society around us, and it is ingrained in us very early that dark is bad and white is great. They scramble to make the kids drink milk; so that they get fair are one such example and a great way of demonstration of this ethic to our younger ones.
India does not talk about sex, but we have heaps of it. The proof to that is our population. Education again plays a huge role in this problem. Talking about sex is not taboo and neither is physical contact between a guy and a girl. Thus hugging a girl/boy with no ulterior motives does not amount to cheating and NO you will not lose your precious virginity with a hug.
The generation our influencers (people who influence us) lived in was dominated by the talk of culture and a socially acceptable right and wrong. The generation we live in is slowly changing to let us have the freedom to choose what is right and what is wrong. So what might be right for me might be wrong for you. But the big picture here is that of the diminishing influence of the society.
So the next time you see me hug a beautiful girl, feel jealous, But don’t stare..
And also an appeal to the high end hotels in Fort Kochi and anywhere else living similarly on a high pedestal: It’s the same thing, Don’t Discriminate my pee, I have little control over it…. I might make your lobby very very dirty.