
1. BAKER FROM GOA
1.1. IMPORTANT POINTS
1.1.1. STORY IS ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF BAKERS IN THE GOAN CULTURE
1.1.2. THIS IS STORY SETS IN THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS PORTUGUESE RULE OVER GOA
1.1.3. THERE PEOPLE ATE LOAVES OF BREADS. BREADS WERE PREPARED IN LARGE FURNACES
1.1.4. THE BAKER WOULD COME TWICE A DAY WITH A JINGLING THUD OF HIS BAMBOO. THE LOAVES OF BREAD WERE GENERALLY GIVEN TO THE SERVANTS
1.1.5. HE WOULD BRING LOAVES FOR THE ELDERS AND BANGLES FOR THE CHILDREN.
1.1.6. BREAD WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY OCASSION, ESPECIALLY THE SWEET BREAD, "BOL"
1.1.7. THEY HAD A PECULIAR DRESS CALLED "KABAI", IT WAS SINGLE PIECE OF FROCK THAT WOULD REACH UPTO KNEES. NOW, THIS PROFESSION IS CONTINUED BY THEIR SONS.
1.1.8. THEY COLLECTED BILLS AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH. BAKING WAS A PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
2. COORG
2.1. IMPORTANT POINTS
2.1.1. COORG/KODAGU IS THE SMALLEST DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA. THE WRITER CALLS IT A HEAVENLY PLACE THAT LIES BETWEEN MANGLORE AND MYSORE.
2.1.2. THEY ARE POSSIBLY THE DESCENDENTS OF THE GREEKS OR ARABICS. THERE IS A FAMOUS STORY THAT- A SMALL GROUP OF ALEXANDER'S ARMY HAD TO SETTLE THERE AS IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GO BACK.THEY MARRIED WITH LOCALS
2.1.3. THIS TEORY HAS ITS PROOF FROM THE "KUPPIA", A LONG BACK COAT EMBROIDED WAIST-BELT WORN BY KODAVUS THAT RESEMBLES THE KUPPIA WORN BY ARABS OR KURDS.
2.1.4. COORGIS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR HOSPIITALITY. THE COORG REGIMENT IS THE MOST DECORATED IN THE INDIAN ARMY.
2.1.5. A THE CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL KARIAPPA, WAS A COORGI.EVEN THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN INDIA PERMITTED TO CARRY FIREARMS WITHOUT LICENSE.
2.1.6. RIVER KAVERI FLOWS THROUGH COORG. ROCK CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN HIKING, RIVER RAFTING, CANOEING AND RAPPELINGARE FAMOUS SPORTS.
2.1.7. "NISARGADHAMA" AND THE LARGEST TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS "BYLAKUPPE" IS ALSO AN AMAZING PLACE TO EXPLORE.
2.1.8. BIRDS, BEES, MACAQUES, MALABAR SQUIRRELS ETC GRAB ATTENTION OF TOURISTS. ONE CAN HAVE A PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE BRAHMGIRI HILLS.
3. TEA FROM ASSAM
3.1. IMPORTANT POINTS
3.1.1. THE STORY IS ALL ABOUT TWO FRIENDS PRANJOL AND RAJVIR GOING TO ASSAM. ASSAM IS PRANJOL'S HOMETOWN. AS TEAIN MOVE FORWARD, RAJVIR GOT EXCITED AND HIS JOY KNOW NO BOUNCE. HE STARTED PEEKING THE SCENIC BEAUTY FO ASSAM THROUGH THE WINDOW.
3.1.2. RAJVIR WAS EXCITED TO SEE SOFT GREEN PADDY FIELD AND THE BUSHES OF TEA LEAVES BUT PRANJOL REMAINED CALM AS IT WAS HIS NATIVE. ASSAM IS KNOWN AS "TEA COUNTRY".
3.1.3. RAJVIR TOLD MANY LEGENDS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF TEA.
3.1.3.1. ACCORDING TO ONE LEGEND, IT WAS FORST CONSUMED BY CHINESE PEOPLE. WHEN THE EMPEROR OF CHINA BOILIBG WATER FOR HIMSELF. WHILE IN THE WATER FEW LEAVES FELL INTO IT AND WHEN TASTED, THEY ENHANCED THE TASTE OF WATER AND NAMED THE TEA LEAVES.
3.1.3.2. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER LEGEND, A MONK NAMED "BODHIDHARMA" CUT OFF HIS EYELIDS AS HE WAS FACING THE PROBLEM OF SLEPPINESS WHILE MEDITATING. THEN, FROM THOSE EYELIDS TEA PLANTS GREW OUT.
3.1.4. THETRAIN JOURNEY ENDED AT MARIANI JUNCTION. PRANJOL'S PARENTS WERE THERE TO PICKUP THE BOYS. HE TOOK THEM AND DROVE TO THE "DEKHIABRI TEA PLANTATION". THERE THEY SAW MANY TEA PLUCKERS CARRYONG BAMBOO. ADN BASKETS FULL OF SPROUTED TEA LEAVES. PRANJOL'S FATHER WAS ALSO VERY MUCH IMPRESSED BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF TEA LEAVES OF RAJVIR.