Wildernest, Swapnagandha Valley,Goa

Today let me take you all to Swapnagandha valley,the Valley of Fragrant Dreams where the Wildernest cottages are situated,the most ecofriendly of the resorts one would come across in this part of the world.The Swapnagandha valley is situated in the ridgeline of the Chorla Ghats between the rich forests of the proposed Bhimgad Wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka and the declared Mahdei sanctuary of Goa.

Snuggled cozily amidst picturesque setting of the fabled Western Ghats landscape of Goa at a height of 700 metres above sea level in full view of the majestic Vazra Sakla,a 143 meter waterfall on one side and the tranquil Anjunem backwaters on the other is swapnagandha,a fresh paradise that is ready to be explored and experienced.

I have always shared with you my stories and the Indian Decor which I have come across on our travels.This travel was not part of my life but my brother's "Travels of a Lifetime " as he has fondly calls it.He shares with us the story of the rainsoaked forests,the monsoon butterflies,the winding roads,the ecofriendly wooden cottages with internationally acclaimed ecofriendly standards,the tasty, tasty food which came in ecofriendly traditional 'martaban' jars and served on the dried arecanut leaf plates....and so on and on.

The cottages present an unobstructed view of the famed swapnagandha valley and the forests.

Come enjoy the beauty of Swapnagandha!

view of the valley and the hills....breathtaking

the winding roads in the hills

the ecofriendly boards on the way

the bed ,lamps and the view of the valley from the rooms

sit outside and enjoy the view,very ecofriendly

the flooring is made of old rail sleepers ,very natural and smooth

the water jugs and glasses

ecofriendly lights in wood holders

the walls are also in wood

the dining area which doubles up as the movie hall in the night when nature documentaries are shown.

all wooden furniture facing the valley

the food spread is in terracotta and martaban jars ,look at the rustic ways they have adopted laid out on a huge log of wood which doubles up as a table

their rustic kitchen

cloud 9 bar and the seating arrangement

various shots of the infinity pool perched dangerously at the edge of a cliff

Dusk by the Pool

Come let's go for a walk....

Seating above the Machan to view the valley,climb up and enjoy

Various artefacts to show the true rustic style in their garden,very tropical and natural

Seating arrangement in the cart

Various totem poles strewn here and there in the Landscape

Lord krishna's temple forms the heart of their premises

Seating arrangements to sit,when your tired

Enjoy the outdoor seating

Each nook has been decorated carefully yet subtly

Another figurine on the way

Sign boards to get back ...,the old grinder ,used a show piece in most gardens to float flowers...

Carved seating arrangements in wood

seating arrangements on the Restaurant Deck overlooking the Valley and the Waterfall

Some photographic moments

Looks like an ecofriendly platter to me

on the way back

Beautiful nature ,everywhere

A never before experience is what he described it as...Rustic charm and simplicity clubbed with all comforts make it an ideal retreat to chill out and wash away all the weariness of our urban lives.

Images courtesy:Sandeep Menon

Visit his blog: http://alley-of-dreams.blogspot.com/

Pl do not save images nor copy them from the site.

Masmara - handcrafted products by rural artisans

"Masmara" the story unfolds here says their first post on their blog.....

Masmara, founded by Two friends ( who are incidentally married to each other :)) quit their jobs and then travel, chill out, laze around...and soon decide its time they did something more constructive with their time.. They travel some more, meet lots of people, research some ideas and zero in on starting "masmara".

Masmara, based out of Bangalore, was started with the intention of bringing little known rural crafts to a global audience. Masmara strives to bring before you some beautiful handcrafted products which sustains and promotes good craftsmanship.

All our products are eco-friendly says "Masmara" and are aimed to appeal to a wider global audience. Being original handmade selection of products, they are surely a treat for your eyes. Coming in an affordable range of prices, we have several products in our collection which are made of natural fibers like jute, cotton, banana fiber, sheep wool and hibiscus fiber. We also collaborate with NGO’s who promote craft-based sustainable livelihood projects for women.

I like Masmara,coz they have a huge collection of my favourite Kerala Murals in a different fashion,drawn on bamboo and which could be put on walls and cute pendants and silver jewellery which I have been always eyeing on....

Enjoy their products and promote "Masmara",Truly Indian

Simple jewellery from beads and colored thread and a mural workLambini jewellery made by lambini tribes in Karnataka

very colorful bagsbeads in different colors

mural work on bamboo,wall art

mural painting by rural artisans
mural art kept to the side of the mirror

Site: http://www.masmara.com/

Blog:http://masmara-india.blogspot.com/

All images are courtesy to "Masmara"

MESH

Its been along time since I have been wanting to write about MESH-Maximising Employment to Serve the Handicapped.From the time ,I have read about them ,I knew i had to write about them .

MESH is an Indian organisation practicing Fair Trade with disabled and leprosy affected crafts artisans, for their rehabilitation.MESH has shops in New Delhi and Hyderabad and work with disabled artisans from all over India.To provide opportunities for disabled people and people affected by leprosy to achieve social and economic integration by trading.

GOALS

To provide opportunities for disabled people and their dependents, especially those affected by leprosy, to be rehabilitated in order to become self-sufficient

To train disabled people to produce goods suited to their capabilities

To serve as a guide in the selection of what will sell best

To assist in obtaining raw materials

To ensure prompt payment for goods to provide constant cash flow and working capital for continued production

To maintain quality control

To provide guidance to village industries in developing cost sheets which include fair wages for the artisans as well as overheads and profits

To secure orders with the aim of providing full-time employment for disabled people

To secure orders with the aim of providing full-time employment for disabled people

The MESH has a Design Studio on its own..MESH Design Studio opened in February 2008 with financial support from IM Soir, a Swedish Development Organisation committed to Fair Trade.

MESH design studios helps to provide high quality design and product development support as an on-going service of MESH through a design studio. Thereby to allow regular orders and increased economic security to the disabled people that supply MESH.

To encourage young people from the target community to undertake appropriate higher education that will enable the groups to do more of their own design work in-homes.

They also undertake long term and short term workshops for the artisans and helps find prospective clients for MESH

made from sisal fibres
some assorted products
vegetable dyed bed sheets
coasters from fibres

jute cushion covers
mobile pouches

wooden designs
CD cases
Different types of printed bagslove the designs on this rug baglovely colored bags for college goers and laptops

Contact MESH at

5,Local shopping complex,

Uday park,New Delhi

Links http://www.mesh.org.in

Meshdesigns blog at http://meshdesigns.wordpress.com/

Pictures courtesy:MESH,Fair trade forum

The Many Faces of Lord Ganesha at home

Om maha Ganapathe namaha

Sarva vignoba shantaye

Om Ganeshaya namaha.

Om, I invoke the name of Ganapathi,

Bringer of peace over all troubles,

Om, I invoke the name of Ganesh….

* Lord Ganesh, the remover of all obstacles and bestower of wishes, is worshipped in myriad expressions of form and material -wood, terracotta, bronze, clay, silver and stone. His elephant-head and curving trunk resting over his enormous belly are the most prominent features of him.

* Today is Ganesh Chaturthi and I thought this was the perfect time to post a few snaps from my personal collection of Ganeshas. Collecting ganesh idols have become almost an obsession for me.

* Ganesh, or Ganapathi as we prefer to call him down South, sits on my shelves, in multiple forms of statuary, stone, metal and papier mache.

* Few auspicious occasions are not embarked upon without first seeking his blessings.

* He figured prominently in my childhood stories, which I now tell my little one. I have since then developed an even more personal connection to Ganesh.

* Ganesh’s trunk can be curled into the symbol “Om”, the primal sound; and the snake found coiled around his waist represents the force of cosmic energy.

* To thee, Lord Ganesha, come and fill our homes with happiness and goodness……..

On the wooden pedestal

The land of India,the land of Gods and Godessesses.The lord Krisha rides his way into the hearts of millions He is the most popular divine figure.From childhood we have developed an even more personal connection with Lord Krishna.Worship him thorough peacock feathers and foot prints.Below arrangements on the wooden pedestal convey our love ,the fragrance wafted in the air and does that echo our mood?

All Images are clicked by Lakshmi Arvind.

Pl do not steal them nor copy them form the site.