Thumbapoo (Leuca Indica)

Thumba is a very small flower white in color. It is found almost everywhere in Kerala. The botanical name of Thumba Poovu belongs to the family of Leucas. Thumba is called Leuca Indica or Leucas aspera. I am not a botanist, and I do not know the exact taxonomy and family tree of Thumba. Some people write it as Thumba and some others write it as Thumpa. Thumbapoo and the plant itself are related to many ways with the culture of people of Kerala. Thumbapoo is used as one of the ingredient of “ada” a food dish that is special to Kerala. Thumpapoo is having an important role in many poojas observed by the Hindu community in Kerala. Thumbapoo (the flower) and Thumbachedi (the plant) is ingredient to many ayurvedic medicines. Thumbapoo is having an important role with Onam, the festival of Kerala. This small flower has a resemblance with a beautiful foot, and there are many stories that describe how this “foot” landed in earth from heaven. Some of the main classifications of Thumba found in Kerala are Anisomeles malabarica, Leucas aspera and Leucas cephalotes.

The Riverside

Again, these are pictures of the Flooded River Kabani and the place is called Koodalkadavu. Whenever I go to my home town Payyampally, I will go to the house of Inchikalla Babychettan (George Panatt) which is situated by this Riverside, and I love spend time there just sitting at his verandah and enjoying this riverside. Manathavady River and Panamaram River combines at Koodalkadavu, to form the larger Kabani, and flows towards Karnataka (Beachnahalli Dam). Kabani River is one of the major sources of water (for drinking and agricultural purpose) for Karnataka, and Wayanad is not able to make much use of this river.

The forest land that can be seen in these pictures is known as Pulpally forest which occupies the tourist spot namely Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island. This river separates payyampally and Pulpally.

 

 

Typical Californian Freeway

This picture shows a typical Californian freeway far from the seashore. The terrain is almost like dessert hills, and the sky is clear most of the time. Drive through these long curvy freeways along the hills and mountains were a pleasure for me, but after a while, it turned to be too monotonous.

Water vapor near Aircraft Wing

This video is taken from the terminal of Los Angeles airport. When the aircrafts where lifting up, water vapor formation near the aircraft wing (flowing from the front side of the wing towards the back side through bottom and top part of the wing) was noticed for a shot while. It lasted for around 4 to 6 seconds and it disappeared immediately.

Flooded River

These pictures of the Flooded River Kabani near Koodalkadavu is taken on the month of October 2010 just after the heavy rain that poured in Wayanad. Koodalkadavu is formed when the two rivers namely “Mananthavady Puzha” and “Panamaram Puzha” joins together at this place. Since these two rivers flows through most part of the Wayanad, the river turns muddy whenever there is heavy rain anywhere in Wayanad.
Kodalkadavu is located two kilometers away from Payyampally, and the famous tourist spot – Kuruvadweep lies nearby, which is again formed by the multi splits and joinings of the river Kabani and the forest land surrounded by the splitted branches of the River Kabani.