Trivandrum- Tourist places, new projects & Updates

[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by Gopal.K.Kumar

People go for a vacation or outing to relax and enjoy. Whether one accepts or not consumption of alcohol is now almost an integral part of holidaying. (Except probably with fanatical teetotalers) A proper tourist destination provides amongst many others, facilities for staying, consuming food and alcohol. If facilities are not available, people find out alternative ways of meeting their needs. To my mind the solution to the issue is to have all these facilities of some standard to be established at the location. I believe people will act more responsibly when their needs are met. However the requirement of adequate control and enforcement of discipline will still prevail.

The issue here is non removal of waste for 10 months and the resultant accumulation of bottles and plastic waste.
Once,this is sorted out,the area will be clean.
So is the case of all tourist spots in Trivandrum,be it Kovalam,Neyyardam,...

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by Gopal.K.Kumar

People go for a vacation or outing to relax and enjoy. Whether one accepts or not consumption of alcohol is now almost an integral part of holidaying. (Except probably with fanatical teetotalers) A proper tourist destination provides amongst many others, facilities for staying, consuming food and alcohol. If facilities are not available, people find out alternative ways of meeting their needs. To my mind the solution to the issue is to have all these facilities of some standard to be established at the location. I believe people will act more responsibly when their needs are met. However the requirement of adequate control and enforcement of discipline will still prevail.

You said it..Also I liked the part 'Fanatical teetotallers'.

There are very limited options at Ponmudi, just a lone Beer Parlour, which will have one brand, that too may not be available always. Also it is priced high compared with a retail outlet. (Anyway we don’t have even a decent retail outlet).

One safe way to enjoy public drinking in tourist places in India, without being harassed or noticed by Police or others is to be with a group of family/ladies. You need to have ‘Ready mix’ in sprite/7 up bottles. I remember standing in a day long queue at Eravikulam, Munnar to see Neelakurinji. It began as a hardship to stand in a queue, in a hill, exposed to elements, but became interesting when we got the idea of boozing this way.

We have to learn from cities like Singapore where liquor is available in even small shacks in all tourist spots. Tiger beer flows, we all have had nice time with friends during such trips. There no trouble is there even though you can drink in public, infact it is not drinking, most times it would be binging all the day. So the problem is not with the drinks or the law, but with the people/society and system.

[BabuCS]

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

You said it..Also I liked the part 'Fanatical teetotallers'.

There are very limited options at Ponmudi, just a lone Beer Parlour, which will have one brand, that too may not be available always. Also it is priced high compared with a retail outlet. (Anyway we don’t have even a decent retail outlet).

One safe way to enjoy public drinking in tourist places in India, without being harassed or noticed by Police or others is to be with a group of family/ladies. You need to have ‘Ready mix’ in sprite/7 up bottles. I remember standing in a day long queue at Eravikulam, Munnar to see Neelakurinji. It began as a hardship to stand in a queue, in a hill, exposed to elements, but became interesting when we got the idea of boozing this way.

We have to learn from cities like Singapore where liquor is available in even small shacks in all tourist spots. Tiger beer flows, we all have had nice time with friends during such trips. There no trouble is there even though you can drink in public, infact it is not drinking, most times it would be binging all the day. So the problem is not with the drinks or the law, but with the people/society and system.

It all boils down to perceptions. We associate drinking with only one purpose, that is to create nuisance to others after becoming so called 'SNAKE' . In other places, 98% of people drink for relaxation after a hard days work, and not for the sake of 'DRINKING'. This attitude of the public has to change. They must also realise that drinking alcohol is as important for some as drinking soft drink/water and the society should identify those guys who drink for other reasons.
It is a pity to see long queues in the evenings at important junctions to buy few ounces of ethanol... Gods Own Country.

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by BabuCS

It all boils down to perceptions. We associate drinking with only one purpose, that is to create nuisance to others after becoming so called 'SNAKE' . In other places, 98% of people drink for relaxation after a hard days work, and not for the sake of 'DRINKING'. This attitude of the public has to change. They must also realise that drinking alcohol is as important for some as drinking soft drink/water and the society should identify those guys who drink for other reasons.
It is a pity to see long queues in the evenings at important junctions to buy few ounces of ethanol... Gods Own Country.

True. The perception of the general public is like that. That’s why the reason I generally don’t like to drink in groups. It is all about making noise, horse play etc etc. 99% time I drink alone at my home bar, and some occasional parties once in a while.

Just like you said, after a hard day’s work or drive, you get relaxed after two pegs of whiskey (Better to go for the imported Scotch or Bourbon. I am not sure if they are available in our BEVCO outlets). Or if it is during day time, a couple of beers.

Originally Posted by BabuCS

It is a pity to see long queues in the evenings at important junctions to buy few ounces of ethanol... Gods Own Country. .

I think it is mainly because of the proportion of the number of shops available on a percapita basis. Kerala is one place where you have very low proportion of retail liquor outlets. India fares badly when compared with West or even Asian countries like China. In India, Kerala fares very badly. There was a nice series of article in ‘Malayalam’ weekly some time back assessing the bad practices/exploitation etc of the liquor business in Kerala. Our neighbouring states have many times the number what is available in Kerala, citing the example of TASMAC shops of TN which is also controlled by Govt like our BEVCO. In Bangalore, near my home, there is a total of about 7 liqour joints; including one fine dining bar and two air-conditioned liquor boutiques. Comparatively, near my home in Trivandrum, there is a lone BEVCO counter. (Last month a bar was opened in a four star property near my home, good to hear. One of my friends called me and told that ‘ladies’ are serving there. They were having their weekend fever in Luciya, then somebody told about this and then they went there)

Feel sad seeing the pathetic situation of our BEVCO outlets which is always jammed by lower middle class crowd. My wife used to tease me how will you buy booze if you shift to TVM. I am better off as a Bangalorean where I can buy scotch or beer or wine or breezer from the air-conditioned confines of a hyper/super market spending enough time to chose between the various brands available. Liquor purchase becomes a part of your grocery/meat/fish/vegetable purchase. In Trivandrum, we need to depend on agents who will supply from the clubs/airport duty free for good quality imported liquor.

[Ajaypp]

Fine points, gentlemen, here's the bottom line as I see it.

The question here is about tourist spots and how injudicious liquor consumption by a few individuals makes them unfriendly to the vast majority of visitors, who happen to be tee-totallers or at least desist from making nuisances of themselves. In this regard:

A) Alcohol consumption is a luxury not a right, if there's no safe and secluded way of doing it in a public place, be it a bar, cafe or shack, then it shouldn't be indulged in.

B) Accepting that only a few individuals, probably a small minority of drinkers, indulge in unpleasant activities, the unfortunate truth is that it's easier to enforce a ban on public drinking than to seek out the trouble-makers. For example, in Ponmudi it's easier to seize and remove all alcohol rather than wait till it's consumed and then see who makes trouble and who doesn't.

C) That said, creating a public nuisance while under the influence must be met with the same sorts of fines and jail terms as DUI. With cameras all over the place, enforcement should be easier now than before.

D) Tourist locations definitely have more managed outlets and the same holds true to up-scale supermarkets and restaurants. The sad truth is that Keralites will probably not be weaned off the tipple any time soon, if ever, so it's best to make it available in a safe and regulated environment so that we don't have more coffins being filled by spurious liquor and the like.

In the end, each individual is welcome to risk having his liver melt away, but there should be absolutely no tolerance for any behavior such as DUI, which affects other individuals. I'd say that it's better to err on the side of over-enforcement rather than the other way round.

Btw, it's probably high time to shift this discussion out of this thread, if there's appetite for continuing it further. Thanks and cheers!

[ajithv]

Source: Metro Manorama

[RMarshal]

A New Club Mahindra Property in Poovar.

On my recent trip to Munnar, I was informed about a new Club M property coming up in Poovar, TVM. They have an existing lease operation with the P Island resort and m told they r building a new property adj. to the existing location. I can locate a nice property in Google Map next to the existing one. Hope tht's the new Club M resort. Not getting how to paste the image.

[shafi]

Originally Posted by RMarshal

A New Club Mahindra Property in Poovar.

On my recent trip to Munnar, I was informed about a new Club M property coming up in Poovar, TVM. They have an existing lease operation with the P Island resort and m told they r building a new property adj. to the existing location. I can locate a nice property in Google Map next to the existing one. Hope tht's the new Club M resort. Not getting how to paste the image.

Bhasuram Resorts, Poovar which is a huge sea view property was handed over to Club Mahindra. The works are final stage and we can see the inauguration by Jan 2013.

[RajeshVR]

Report about Fishermen @ Kovalam

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...g-mussels.html

[ajithv]

Source: City Kaumudi

[ajithv]

Source: City Kaumudi

[RajeshVR]

Bird sanctury and Snake park at Kotoor.

[ASGeorge]

4.2Crore for shankumugham beach development



Source:Mathrubhumi

[ajithv]

Source: Kerala Kaumudi

[ajithv]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[ajithv]

Rs 4.2 crore for development of Sanghumukham

The govt will implement a major development plan amounting to `4.2 crore for the development of Sanghumukham in the state capital. Minister V S Sivakumar said `2.5 crore had already been sanctioned at the behest of Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar.

DTPC will prepare the project retaining the heritage beauty of Sanghumukham. The existing park will be decorated by laying tiles in 1000 square metre.

There will be separate zones for the aged and children. Open air theatre, video wall, refreshment counters, parking slot for thousand vehicles are the new facilities planned as part of the development.

A tourism wave for Shanghumughom



A Rs.4.2-crore project aimed at the comprehensive development of Shanghumughom, one of the prominent tourist spots in the State, is on the anvil, Health Minister and local legislator V.S. Sivakumar said here on Saturday.

A sum of Rs.2.5 crore had already been sanctioned for the project by Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar, Mr. Sivakumar said. The project, prepared by the District Tourism Promotion Council, envisaged development of basic amenities and infrastructure. These would be done by conserving the heritage and natural beauty of the spot, he said, adding that historical monuments at Shanghumughom would be repaired and maintained. There would be exclusive zones for children and senior citizens, the Minister said. counters.

...

[ajithv]

Source: Kerala Kaumudi

[ajithv]

Source: Kerala Kaumudi

[ajithv]

Veli Tourist Village to be made plastic-free zone

The Veli Tourist Village, arguably the most favoured weekend holiday spot in the city, will soon be a no-plastic zone.

Tourism Village Deputy Director Vijaya Kumaran said here recently that the 13-acre verdant piece of land that abutted the estuary of the Veli lagoon could also be counted as one of the most frequented domestic tourism destinations in the State.

More than 5,000 persons visit the tourist village each day to take speed boat rides, spot water birds, amble along the long manmade walkway adjoining the lagoon, savour the sea breeze and catch a few hours of blissful quiet away from the tumult of the city. Parents favour the village for its children’s park and swimming pool.

On weekends and holidays, the number of visitors almost doubles. The tourism officials are hard pressed on such days to remove the amount of litter left behind by the crowds.

Each day, they clear the grounds of ice-cream cups, ice-candy covers, styrofoam beakers, synthetic containers, cigarette packets, matchsticks, the occasional liquor bottle, exploded balloons and plastic trinkets.

Tourism officials say that soon visitors will not be allowed to carry plastic bags or containers into the park. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, which manages the village, hope to set up drinking water fountains to persuade visitors not to carry bottled water into the park.

The children’s park will be developed and a music fountain set up. The KTDC will purchase three more speed boats and a similar number of pedal and “safari” boats to augment its existing fleet. The KTDC will also extend the walkway.

The estuary’s beach is devoid of any tree cover, which often makes daytime visits a scorching ordeal.

The KTDC has proposed the planting of salt-resistant varieties of trees, chiefly casuarinas (Casuarina equisetifolia), ‘punnai’ (Calophyllum inophyllum), ‘Ezha Chembakam’ (plumeria) and ‘Chelanthi’ (Hibiscus populneus) in a manner that will provide shade to visitors without impeding the view of the lagoon and the sea.

[ajithv]

Source: City Kaumudi