[ajmat]

I find those mondas fascinating.
What?
Mandos?
Mundu?
Yeah! Fascinating.
lol.

I had to wear one for my wedding (white one) at my wife's request - ensured it stayed on with a belt underneath ...and a lot of prayers

Nice pics of Fort Cochin - I used to stay in one of the houses adjacent to the Brunton Boatyards and opposite the Cochin CLub in the early '80's/ Beleive me, they are grand inside.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by ajmat

I had to wear one for my wedding (white one) at my wife's request - ensured it stayed on with a belt underneath ...and a lot of prayers.

The last time I wore mundu was for the house warming of my current home in year 2000. Just after lunch I could feel it coming off, I had to quickly run towards in-laws home (100 meters away) to switch back into pants. It was a close call, and no, I was not using a belt.

[pjay_in]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Just after lunch I could feel it coming off, I had to quickly run towards in-laws home (100 meters away) to switch back into pants. It was a close call, and no, I was not using a belt.

Why didn't you just tie it back on again? Better than running quickly when it was coming off

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by pjay_in

Why didn't you just tie it back on again? Better than running quickly when it was coming off

In front of all the guests? It had taken me a while to tie in the morning, didn't want to try a quick fix.

Sam, one thing about the mundu. If you are not used to it, you literally feel naked or vulnerable the entire time while wearing it. I could never get used to it.

[lohithrao]

I prefer to wear short inside, just incase

Originally Posted by Samurai

In front of all the guests? It had taken me a while to tie in the morning, didn't want to try a quick fix.

Sam, one thing about the mundu. If you are not used to it, you literally feel naked or vulnerable the entire time while wearing it. I could never get used to it.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

I prefer to wear short inside, just incase

I did that too. But then, this wasn't a beach house warming party.

[lloydofcochin]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

I prefer to wear short inside, just incase

People in Northern Kerala, esp Malappuram & Calicut districts do the same. They also wear a Thick belt too.

Btw Sam nice to see that you are having a ball in my Hometown. Did you try those Lobsters?

[sanjayatarizona]

Heck, i used to play soccer wearing that thing. Can't be too difficult to keep it on.
It's extremely body friendly to boot...

[Jaggu]

OT: Actually the Mundu is not that difficult a thing to master, i never used to wear it regulalry, for that matter even now. But one of my friends gave me some pointers at my wedding on how to secure it safe and carry it naturally (without any rope, belt, or shorts as back up).

Then on have no issues managing one and trust me this is one of the most comfortable attire for the hot sultry summers while @ mallu land.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Everywhere I see mountains of rice bobbing up and down on plates. What is weirdest is that I hear none of the familiar chink-chink of forks, spoons and knives.

You mean, you really expected people to eat fish curry and rice with spoons and forks?? Huh? I what I have to say.

Well, sam, you were in Kerala during one of the wettest weeks in last decade or or so. I was travelling way out in North Malabar - (all parts north of Trichur is "Malabar" for us Keralites), and travelling back to Cochin was a royal pain. I took me 9 hours on that particular day.

The rivers you saw (from the train) - were flowing well above the highest marks.

And side berths on an uncrowded train - best place to be in during honeymoon!!!!

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

were talking of the downside of living there; the difficulties of getting stuff done, the negotiations with the local unions/poiticians....

How unfortunately true. But pay the unions a bit of "respects", and they will vanish.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I used to stay at Brunton's Boatyard in Kochi. Aburdly expensive. This looks just as nice at a fraction of the price. Noted for the future

Correction - this place is called Vypeen. The other side of Fort Cochin. Dad's place is a mere 100M from this Brunton's place. More than a decade since I visited this area.

Fort Cochin is a declared heritage area - means no "modern" construction in this part.

There is a small island just off the Brunton place - called the Gundu island. Used to be a coir processing factory, now a multi star hotel. You should inquire with somebody better versed about staying here. But, hey, what about the "honeymoon" cottages at the KTDC run Bolgatty island??

The waters between Fort Cochin , Vypeen and Ernakulam used to be full of dolphins (not actually, but dunno the actual name - they are a variety of dolphins) up to a couple of decades back. They will jump up, do a flip, and dive back into water. Used to be a feast for your eyes. And in those days, the goshree bridges were not yet there, (not even the "junkar") and we had to travel by KSRTC boat service to Vypeen.

Originally Posted by Samurai

In front of all the guests? It had taken me a while to tie in the morning, didn't want to try a quick fix. .

Heh. But adjusting your mundu is normal. A bit like fixing a crease on your suit.

Sam, one thing about the mundu. If you are not used to it, you literally feel naked or vulnerable the entire time while wearing it.

True. I actually felt sick when I wore it for first time, and did not touch it for next 3 years. After that, it was very comfy, but I would not wear it outside, unless visiting temples.

Trick to wearing a mundu securely - "re fit" it after the first 15 minutes or so. The mundu will absorb a bit of moisture / sweat, and will become more sticky and hence stick on longer.

So, sam, what about the Thiruvananthapuram nee Trivandrum visit?

[Unknownsatan]

Originally Posted by ajmat

I had to wear one for my wedding (white one) at my wife's request - ensured it stayed on with a belt underneath ...and a lot of prayers

Happy to know there is one more Mal who doesnt know to wear a mundu. Even i went through the same situation[belt & prayer] during my brother's marriage.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

True. I actually felt sick when I wore it for first time, and did not touch it for next 3 years.

Thats the longest duration anyone on earth would have worn a 'Mundu' not removing for wash !

Sam, please jump in and save this boat before the 'mundu' janta will hijack this place.

Personally I wait for a chance to wear the mundu, no luck for the last 2 years ! Going out in a 'mundu group' is more fun. I can never forget an ONAM (harvest festival in Kerala) ocassion in mundu, sitting on the floor and eating the lunch in a group. I had to excuse myself twice to get up, go to the next room and losen the mundu, so that I could continue eating.

[lloydofcochin]

@ BaCkSeAtDrIVeR - Fort House hotel, Calvathy is around 200 mtrs ahead of Casino or CGH Brunto Boatyard, it is next to Hotel Seagull.

What you said about Dolphins is absolutely true, nowadays you can rarely spot them. I still remember my school days when everyday I had to cross the ferry to Vypeen to attend school and the jumping Dolphins were a feast to the eyes.

If you go to Fort Cochin beach you can also find a Foundation stone laid for a Dolpninarium years back, but as usual in Kerala it did not get off the ground .

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by lloydofcochin

@ BaCkSeAtDrIVeR - Fort House hotel, Calvathy is around 200 mtrs ahead of Casino or CGH Brunto Boatyard, it is next to Hotel Seagull.

So which of these is the old Aspinwall company?

There was a brunton boat yard at Vypeen - just at the point where "Fort Cochin" / Cochin corporation ended and "Vypeen" panchayath started. There is a church (the one on the road side itself) at this point. I thought Thad was referring to this boat yard. Thanks for the correction.

If you go to Fort Cochin beach

Beach? Where is it?? <grin>

Here is a wee bit of info.

The Cherai beach and Fort Cochin beach are mutually exclusive. One should die for the other to exist.

Not my words, but I found it in Sir Robert Bristow's Autobiography, the "Cochin Saga". The Cochin Port needs to be dredged regularly, and there are two sites where the sludge could be deposited. Place X is closer, but depositing the sludge here meand Fort Cochin beach dies. Place Y is further, and the Fort Cochin beach would survive and thrive if sludge is deposited here. The cochin port trust used place Y till the early 1990s, and changed to point X for reasons of economy.

you can also find a Foundation stone laid for a Dolpninarium years back, but as usual in Kerala it did not get off the ground .

Literally in deep waters, eh?

I tried to learn swimming at the Fort Cochin beach. The attempts went on for a few weeks. But my friend simply did not have the knowledge / guts to teach, (but could swim for himself). Learning to swim on a beach hardly 500 M from an approach to the port, is not a very good idea. Had to be satisfied with floating in 2 - 3 feet of water.

Sam, the "beach" is about 500 M walk from the place you had dinner.

The Kashi Art cafe opened a couple of years later.

@shaju chetta, സമ്മതിച്ചു!!!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Aspinwall is directly next-door to Bruntons, and Casino Group obviously followed the Aspinwall architecture, making their building look as if it had always been there.

I had the pleasure of having a drink with the then (now retired) boss of Aspinwall when I last stayed at Brunton's in 2002 or 3. I got to know him through seeking his son's e-mail address. Things like that happen on the internet!

I'd forgotten the dolphins! One of the highlights of staying in a water-side room there

Guys... with a little practice, vesti/mundu is easy.

The only exception to that is when you have to wear a brand-new silk one for a special occasion. The fabric is both stiff and slippery. Not a problem in Kerala, mundus are always cotton.

I suppose we know now, why Bob Geldorf sang, "I don't Like Mundus"...