Monday, April 19, 2010

Bonchi anyone?

This is the ultimate thirst quencher for dapper Mallu in the capital of God's Own Country, a state where the majority sex is scared to step out after dusk.
Any guesses as to what this is? Dude, it is nothing other than your lime soda. Even outside the capital of lechers of the world no one understands the name.
In the other parts of the state it is called soda naranga!
Amco Enameled Aluminum Lime Squeezer, Light Green
The only other drink that can beat Bonchi is the Campa cola (they call it Kampa cola in Dilli) mixed with a special concotion added to it that is available opposite erstwhile Fleet Street of India, Bhadurshah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.
All the pan shops in the city provide Bonchi with an option of sweet, salt and also chilled soda. The sound of opening the old soda bottle as the marble pops into the bottle resembles a small cracker going off. The new caps are nothing compared to this.
Even these pan shops are slowly disappering from the city to be replaced with coffee shops. CCD has one outlet in Kaudiar and the two others are near where the techies rule the roost. The first coffee lounge to set shop in the city was a huge success until it had to find a new franchise and then it ceased to exist. Coffee Beanz was my favourite hangout.
But ask anyone what Mallu's favourite drink is and it would be gold old rum (Old Monk)that would come up top.
And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails
I would always vote for toddy, but good old toddy is a rarity in coconut country today. Toddy Brewing Container with Handle

Monday, April 5, 2010

Eco-friendly toys

Snake
It was an e-mail from a friend that brought memories of childhood holidays flooding back. The simple toys we used to make with coconut palm fronds was fun. Although it lasted only a day or two it was quite eco-friendly and we had no regrets throwing it away and make new ones later.
Watch
Are the net savy kids hooked on Pogo and Cartoon network even aware of the existence of such toys. The simple craft of making these toys may even die out for want of practise. My mother used to say that she could easily turn the palm fronds into the simplest roofing material or the "medanja ola'. But she has forgotten how to do it now. People could easily make a small basked of wicker or bigger ones using various eco-friendly material. In early days such baskets were used to carry stuff bought from the market be it vegetables or fish.
Spectacles
If the fishmongers used wicker baskets earlier, they have switched to aluminium vessels to carry their wares today. Change, when it comes, should it not be always for the better and not just convenience?
Flute