Willingdon Island - Cochin

Willingdon Island

Willingdon Island is a man-made island that was created in 1933, named after lord Willingdon a former British viceroy to India. Cochin harbor, Southern naval command, best hotels in the city, port trust head quarters, major trading centers etc are situated at Willingdon Island.

The island is made by sand that was dredged while deepening the backwaters for the Cochin port. Sir Robert Bristow was the man that in charge of this endeavor.

When the British withdrew from India after independence in 1947, they left behind an indispensable and significant transport hub. During its short colonial tenure, the Wellingdon Island in Cochin handled almost one million tons of freight and by the year 1960, the traffic had almost doubled.

It is a major artificial port in India and serves as a major landmark in the Kochi city of Kerala. The Wellington Island also serves as a link between the city and some other seaports of the world.


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Bolgatty Palace - Cochin

Bolgatty Palace

Bolgatty Palace is located on the island popularly known as Bolgatty Island in Cochin. Bolgaaty palace is built by the Dutch. One of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, this quaint mansion, built in 1744 by Dutch traders.

The building was then the Governor palace for the commander of Dutch Malabar and later in 1909 was leased to the British. It served as the home of the British Governors, being the seat of the British resident of Cochin during the British regime.

 In 1947, when India obtained independence, the palace became the property of the state and was later converted into a heritage hotel resort. It is encircled by a nine-hole golf course established in 1923.

Bolgatty Palace now has a swimming pool, Ayurvedic Centre and daily Kathakali performances and is a holiday destination for Indian and overseas tourists. 

Bolgatty Palace faces straight to the estuary of Vembanad backwaters and it is also close to the international marina. 

Eranakulam

Eranakulam

Eranakulam is the biggest metropolis in the state and the nerve centre of commercial and industrial activities, Eranakulam offers much potential for a casual or shopping spree visitor.  Cochin is known as the queen of the Arabian Sea.

From the Chinese fishing nets and heritage buildings of fort cochin to the old spice markets of Mattancherry and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Eranakulam, buzzing with hotels, cinema halls, shops and restaurant, the city combines the finest in tradition and modernity.

The name of the Eranakulam is derived from the name of vary famous temple of lord Shiva called the Ernakulathappan temple. It is also said that the word Eranakulam was drawn from Malayalam words ‘ere nall kulam’, which means ‘pond for the long time’.

Eranakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala. The Kerala high court, the office of the corporation of Cochin and the Cochin stock exchange are situated here. Eranakulam was once the capital of the kingdom of Cochin. 

The interior defense dines under the sabotage.

Neyyar Dam- Thiruvanthapuram

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam is a popular picnic spot with a lake and a picturesque dam site.  Neyyar Dam is situated 32 km away from the Thiruvanthapuram city. This place is a repository of some rarest medicinal herbs. 

The lake formed by the dam across the Neyyar River in the bluest of blue, making boating irresistible for tourists. This place is suitable for trekking.

The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of which the dam is a part is the habitat of over a hundred species of funa including Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles like King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise etc.

A Crocodile breeding centre and a Lion safari park are also located in the dam site.

The kappukad elephant rehabilitation center is near the Neyyar Dam

Veli - Thiruvanathapuram

Veli

Veli is the most popular picnic destination in Thiruvanathapuram. It is situated 8 km away from the city centre and very close to the Thiruvanathapuram Airport.

The picturesque Veli Lagoon separated by a narrow sandbar from the Arabian Sea, this sandbar is the Veli Tourist Village complete with a waterfront park, floating bridge and great water sports facility. 

A major draw to Veli is the large inland lake separated from the ocean by a narrow sandbar. Set out on a sunset cruise into the Veli Lagoon and watch the water change color from bluish – green to burn orange. Enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lagoon and the Arabian Sea beyond on a pedal boat or row boat.

Fish ponds, wave pools, beautifully landscaped gardens enhance the ambience of the village, and make it look like a jewel, an emerald, on the shimmering waters of the Arabian Sea. 

The Veli Lagoon is famous for sunset boat rides. I visited here number of times with my friends, I enjoyed the beauty of the Veli is very much.


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Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is probably the most famous cricketer world wide but undoubtedly the most known Indian internationally, even in parts where cricket is more an insect than a sport.

In his over two decade career, Sachin Tendulkar's aura has won him countless fans, including those who played against him. Here is a collection of sentences said by others to describe this living legend:-

"He can play that leg glance with a walking stick also."
-Waqar Younis, former Pakistan fast bowler.

“Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives."
-British broadcasting corporation (BBC).

"Sometimes, you get so engrossed in watching batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job."
-Yasir Hameed, former Pakistan batsman, trying to explain why he dropped a catch off Sachin in a test at Rawalpindi.

"Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it."
-Hashim Amla, South African cricketer, reassuring himself when board a flight.

"I can be hundred per cent sure that Sachin will not play for a minute longer when he is not enjoying himself. He is still so eager to go out there and play. He will play as long as he feels he can play".
-Anjali Tendulkar, Sachin's wife.

"On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt in one of the stations. The train stopped by for few minutes as usual. Sachin was nearing century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This Genius can stop time in India!"
-Peter Rebouck, Australian journalist.

"To Sachin, the man we all want to be."
-Andrew Symonds, Australian cricketer, signing a T shirt specially for Sachin.

"Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal."
-Brian Lara, West Indies batsman who holds record of highest score in cricket.

"The number of innings of his (Tendulkar's) I have been able to sit back and watch, I think he is an amazing player. Look at his stats and records and it's quite incredible for someone to have stayed in the game for 20 years.. He has set benchmarks for guys like me to chase him and get as close as we can. If I had to last 20 years, I would probably be batting in a wheelchair!!"
-Ricky Ponting, Aussie batsman who once was expected to overhaul Sachin's records.


"We did not lose to a team called India...we lost to a man called Sachin."
-Mark Taylor, Australian captain in 1998 when his team lost Chennai test as Tendulkar scored 155 unbeaten runs in second innings, smashing star spinner Shane Warne all around Chepauk.

"He has been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive."
-Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer who began his career as a teenager.

"The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual".
-Glen McGrath, Aussie fast bowler who always bowled well against Sachin Tendulkar.

There was a big party where stars from bollywood and cricketers were invited. Suddenly, there was a big noise, all wanted to see approaching Amitabh Bachhan. Then Sachin entered the hall and Amitabh was leading the queue to get a grab of the genius!!
-Shahrukh Khan, Indian actor, in an interview when asked to name the most important celebrity.

"India me aap Prime Minister ko ek baar Katghare me khada kar sakte hain par Sachin Tendulkar par ungli nahi utha sakte". (In India, you can sue Prime Minister for once but no one can contest Sachin Tendulkar).
-Navjot Singh Sidhu, former India cricketer, politician and TV personality.

"Sachin cannot cheat. He is to cricket what (Mahatma) Gandhiji was to politics. It's clear discrimination."
-NKP Salve, former Union Minister when Tendulkar was accused of ball tempering during a test match in South Africa.

"There are two kind of batsmen in the world. One Sachin Tendulkar. Two all the others."
-Andy Flower, former Zimbabwe cricketer.

"Test cricket is bloody hard work, especially when you've got Sachin batting with what looks like a three metre wide bat."
-Michael Hussey, Aussie cricketer.

I have joked before that there is a good chance that I might retire before Tendulkar."
-MS Dhoni, Indian cricketer who began his career 16 years after Sachin did.

"Sachin Tendulkar is a great cricketer but he walks and goes to the toilet like all of us."
-Ray Jennings, Royal Challengers Bangalore team coach, trying to encourage his team before an IPL match against Sachin's Mumbai Indians in 2010.

"He's not going to sleep for a week."
Harsha Bhogle, Commentator, describing feeling of Rahul Sharma, an unknown spinner.

"I want to clarify that this nightmare thing was a joke. Sachin is the best batsman of my time... but I am not scared of him, or anybody for that matter."
-Shane Warne, legendry Aussie leg spinner who once joked he was getting nightmares of Sachin Tendulkar ravaging his bowling after a test at Chennai in 1998.

"I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do."
-Shahrukh Khan, Indian actor.

We have started calling him grandfather."
-Yuvraj Singh, Sachin's team mate for over a decade.

"To me he will not just be remembered as a great player and a lovely human being, but as somebody who tried to learn Bengali for the last 14 years but never managed to do so!"
-Sourav Ganguly, former Indian captain.

Sachin was so focused. He never looked like getting out. He was batting with single-minded devotion. It was truly remarkable. It was a lesson."
-Martina Navratilova, Tennis legend, after watching Tendulkar bat at Sydney.

Some of Sachin Tendulkar's memorable quotes :-

"Hansie Cronje. Honestly. I got out to Hansie more than anyone ... I never knew what to do with him."
-Sachin, on which bowlers troubled him the most. Cronje, South African part time medium pacer, dismissed him 8 times.

"As the total crept, we weren't allowed to change places. Our manager was near the toilet and I was by the food, so I kept munching away. I can tell you I was very full by the end."
-Sachin Tendulkar recalls India's marathaon chase of 326 in the 2002 Natwest Series final where Yuvraj & Kaif lured India out of dead situation.

"If you try to hit a six, I will hit you on the bum."
-Sachin Tendulkar warned Virender Sehwag when he was on 295 at Multan against Pakistan.. Sehwag hit a six to reach first triple century by an Indian!

"I have sometimes worn a baseball cap, a beard, spectacles and a wig not to be noticed."
-Sachin, on how he dodges fans in India.

"Twenty20 cricket is the dessert and you can't survive on that. Who wants to eat only desserts?"
-Sachin insists Test cricket is real cricket.

"I am glad it does not breathe."
-Sachin, on his wax statue at Madame Tussauds in London.

"I used to receive letters written in blood, but not anymore."
-Sachin says his fans have grown up.

"Success is a process. During that journey sometimes there are stones thrown at you, and you convert them into milestones."
-Sachin, in an interview the day he went past Brian Lara as leading run scorer in test cricket.

"I couldn't sleep all this time. I am numb. The images keep playing in my head. This was just not an attack on Mumbai, it is an attack on India."
-Sachin Tendulkar on 26/11.

Diego Maradona - Kerala Visit

Maradona Visited God’s Own Country

 Diego Maradona visited God’s own country, Kerala on 24^th October at Kannur.  The Kerala arranged elaborated security for the visit of Argentine football legend and icon of the world football Diego Maradona.

Soccer of fans saw him in the Kannur Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on yesterday. He came for the inauguration of a new showroom of Boby Chemmanur International Jewelers at Kannur and Helicopter service.  He is also the brand ambassador of the company.

People from Malabar region of Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram is came for the lifetime opportunity to catch a glimpse of the legend, Maradona.

On ascending the specially- prepared stage at the stadium, Maradona energetically waved to the crowd and then kicked football in all the four directions. To entertain the hysterical Malayali fans who came to Kannur from all over the state, Maradona sang Latin song, danced and kicked balls in to the roaring galleries even as the event was telecasted live by all Kerala TV channels. He hugged Kerala’s biggest soccer star IM Vijayan and shared a few headers. Maradona cut a specially designed 25 –kg cake to celebrate his 52th birthday that falls on October 30^th. 


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