Butterflies&Dragonflies_02

Thanks to Dorothea, our guest from Germany during January 2013, we‘ve got some joyful impressions of these beauties … 

… flying from blossom to blossom of trees and plants in the garden around our Sylviander House. 

Since Dorothea spent her holidays here, she got plenty of time to sit and watch with her 2 cameras on our verandahs … 

… full of patience waiting for the right moment … 

 … to catch wonderful pictures, which we can enjoy now and again and again … 

… even though everybody knows, how important these tiny creatures are for the supply of our food – which means not only honey, but mainly their effort to pollenizing all the plants of our fruits, vegetables, nuts … 

… and even though everybody knows, that too many pesticides globally spread on the plants by humans will kill them … 

… why humans still go on by spraying pesticides, which kill them? 

Instead of going on in such self destructing manner, better let us care for that our garden will be full of flowers and blossoms to provide delicious food for our hard-working tiny supporters!

Whenever we see somebody using pesticides for plants, we explain them, how humbly we have to say thanks … 

Please keep your eyes open and remember the need of support of each petition fighting for the lives of bees and butterflies, and then sign – humankind of future will even thanks to us.

© all photographs by Dorothea Geist

Thirumal, the traditional Kerala massage for the Wellbeing

Karkidakam would be the best time for having a Thirumal, a traditional Kerala massage, people say. Karkidakam is the malayalam month from mid of July to mid of August. Then monsoon has started in Kerala, the climate is pleasant cool with lot of rain between warm sunshine, with wonderful cloud formations, colorful illuminated during sunrise and sunset. 

What a pleasure, during that time plenty of Maracuja fruits are growing in our garden. Every day we can eat these delicacy fruits and because they grow so plenty, I make Maracuja jam and fruit jelly, which tastes delicious with a dab of self-made curd from the milk of a neighbor‘s cow (eating the organic medicinal grass in our garden!) … And what a beauty the Maracuja‘s flowers are! 

Thirumal is the respectful malayalam name for the traditional Kerala massage, which has a very long tradition. Once in every village were at least a man and a woman treating the villagers in need. 
And of course, Thirumal can be done in any month of the year. 

© Sandra Merx

We are very lucky to have found our Lilama from the village. She is doing the massage for women. For men we have an ayurveda masseur coming from a long traditional ayurveda family. His wife also is a good masseur and will be an additional help, whenever to many guests are to be massaged the same time. 

© Sandra Merx

Massage starts in the morning before breakfast. For that Lilama has to prepare the medicinal water. In a huge pot she boils several medicinal barks over an open fire behind the house. While the massage, which will take around 40 minutes, the water cools down, to be used then for the medicinal bath after the massage in the attached bathroom next to the massage room. Lilama rubs the whole body of the client with a herbal soap and a natural fiber of a plant, then will pour the hot medicinal water over the body … 

I‘ve got many massages like that and afterwards I always felt like a baby after being washed by the mother.  

© Sandra Merx

It is recommended to have massages for 1 week or better for 2 or 3 weeks. This purification treatment needs time to become powerful to rejuvenate the body by detoxication – a physical as a mental process. 

An ayurvedic doctor once explained to me the importance of time: If you have a very dirty dress, at first you soak it in soap water for a while. Then you will rub it with soap for some time. After that you will rinse with clear water as long soap and dirt is seen in the water. These 3 steps are very needed for draining the toxins from the tissue and finally wash it out from the body. 

All our guests who had a Thirumal treatment felt the inner reaction – to let go waste is a physical and a mental process. Afterwards they sensed positive new energies for their life, and some took new decisions. Many lost weight and were very happy about that. 

Lilama is an exellent cook too and besides she helps us to keep the house clean.

Of course along with the massage treatment healthy food is recommended. 

© Sandra Merx

For lunch Lilama prepares a rich ayurvedic meal with different kind of vegetables – some from our garden, some from organic farmers in the neighborhood. These will be served together with rice and fish, which we often fry on banana leaves from our garden. 

© Ravindra Ranasinha

Among the vegetables there is a rare sort of pumpkin (malayalam: Neykumbalam), no Hotel will prepare and serve. This native pumpkin is used for ayurvedic treatment for its detoxicational effect. Mostly we prepare it as a soup, sometimes with coconut milk. If you eat it everyday for sure you will loose unwanted weight.

Within one day we once cured guests, who arrived sickly in our Sylviander House! 
By the way, it tastes delicious! 

One of our guests who lost 4 kilo during her 3 weeks massage treatment said: What a pleasure, loosing weight with feasting! 

During the time of Thirumal treatment one should rest – very important are the first 3 days. Then one feels very tired and will sleep a lot. After 3 days a short walk through the village or to the nearby beach can be done, later some excursions with the car or auto rikscha to nearby Alappuzha town or a temple or some other interesting places not far away. 

A Thirumal treatment brings peace. You will enjoy plenty of time relaxing on the verandah, watching the sky and the nature of our garden with the pond, and fly with the many birds … 

Squirril babies under the roof

Rarely owls reside for a night under the roof of Sylviander House, but permanent residents are squirrils. Twice a year they have babies – mostly two. 

As soon as these squirril kids are old enough, they start couriously climbing down the pillars, then running over the verandas, through our rooms … Not always a pleasure for us, because they have the habit to push down all the loose leftovers of the mason‘s mortar from the walls. Sometimes, shortly after we‘ve just broomed the floor, again dried pieces of mortar are laying there. 

But for our guests the squirril babies are a lot of fun and highlight their holidays in our house. Often for hours they sit silently waiting for these tiny cute beings may appear and then exited take photographs … 

They don‘t mind to find their soap next morning half eaten. Yes, these squirrils have a taste to soap and eat it whenever they get the chance. That‘s why we have to cover our soap over night. 

And not only strange delicacies as soap, they appreciate also towels and my hammock to eat, both made from cotton. 

Of course they like cashew-mango too – we have to hurry to get some fruits before them …

Sometimes we are very lucky to watching them, how tender they are to each other, even give kisses … 

(Thanks for some photographs from © Dorothea Geist and © Sandra Merx)

Strangers in the Night

Sometimes in the night when going to the bathroom I meet with strange creatures sitting silently on the mirror …

… watching themselves? 

While getting closer I think: It seems so. And: Why not? 

What do we know about the mind of such beings? 

Sometimes when going to the bathroom in the night it seems I am still dreaming … 

What is that? I wonder with half open eyes. Looks like flying in the space …

May be a strange creatures in my dream is sitting on the mirror … silently watching itself … 

Coming closer I can hear it thinking: WOW! 

Look at me, if you can … 

Then you‘ll see my beauty coming from another world!

 I must be dreaming … 

New life for Simba-Meeyoo

3 kitten were born under my stitching table end of October 2013 – what a joy 5 weeks long … 

Then in end of November they all left on one single day. 
Leila, the cat girl, was taken by our friend Meena to Kumily – she actually would have liked to have the white cat boy Simba-Meeyoo too. But that very moment, cat mother Bianca had brought him already to the neighbor‘s garden, as we saw him later following behind his mother coming back to our house, however he couldn‘t climb the fence. 

We ran to get him, but a motorbike passed and he full of fear hided under wooden blanks. We couldn‘t catch him. 
In the following night Bianca took also the red cat boy, which we would have liked to keep with us, we called him Kika-Meeyoo. 

But fate had other plans … 

Suddenly no more kitten were in the house. We understood the cat mother‘s decision after she got alert being traced by a male cat strolling over the verandah in the 1st floor looking for her kids … 

I kept my eyes open around the house and next morning already while brushing my teeth at our bathroom verandah facing to the north side of the Sylviander House I could see Bianca climbing up to the neighbor‘s flat roof and there my 2 cat boys appeared from their hiding place under the tiles. They were hungry of course. Happily I called »Meeyoo! Meeyoo!« They freezed and looked at me, then continued drinking and playing … 

Whenever I went to bathroom I had a look over there. Sometimes I saw from my writing room how Bianca was climbing to the neighbor‘s roof, then I watched and called them »Meeyoo! Meeyoo!« 

On the 4th day only, the white one didn‘t appear when mother Bianca came up for giving milk. 
»Something must have happened.« I said to Alexander, and he suddenly remembered: »Today early morning I have seen this neighbor passing our gate, in one hand a stick, in other hand something white …« 
Immediately we rushed out the house, then along the path, that neighbor was walking in the morning, always calling »Meeyoo! Meeyoo!« – it was already afternoon. 

After a short time we heard him replying, then saw him near a pond – that he moved so slowly made me wonder. 

Completely traumatized he crawled into a hole betwen the roots of a big tree … finally Alexander got him out with the help of some kids and conveyed this shivering little white fur to me. That moment Simba-Meeyoo was on my arms, his heart beat normalized immediately. 
He was full of flees and his right front leg was broken – »That‘s why he moved so slow!« I said. 

After several experiments I had worked out a perfect bandage, which he accepted with little protest only, because then he could walk again. 

We gave him milk and biskits and tried to pluck the flees, which was a big task … we made him a small house, a paper box with a cosy corner and a tray with sand for his toilet, which he understood from that moment … 

But after 2 nights he liked to sleep beside us in a cosy chair, and again 2 nights later he started playing in our mosquito net while we were sleeping. So we made his bed on my writing divan where he felt comfortable. 

Whenever he wished I let him sleep on my lap while writing … 

In the first days he went through some physical crisis with fever and stomach complaints … 

But with every day we could see him overcoming his shocking experience and being more and more happy … 

After few days, one morning he sprang forward to me, welcoming me so happily, that I felt a scream in my heart: No, I can‘t give him away anymore! 

I called Meena to explain my feelings, of course she understood. 

Then Simba-Meeyoo became our family member. 

After 10 days no bandage was needed anymore, his leg was healed. 
Then all day he was busy with running through the big house, through the garden, hunting beetles and butterflies, sometimes geckoes, resting on the corner seat in the kitchen or on my writing chair or behind my laptop or having a nap with Alexander … 

Our guests were crazy about him, even closed their eyes, when he jumped on the kitchen table – what he doesn‘t do today anymore. 

He really had no lack of affection at all. 

How much we had to lough while playing with him, he liked to fight and bite and then made funny rolls and jumps. When I was working in the garden he always was around me trying to ‘help‘ – of course in his way! 

And when Alexander came home with fresh sardines from market Simba-Meeyoo got mad, sreaming until 6 sardines were on his plate. 

The story of Prince Simba-Meeyoo will continue next … 

Yoga Workshop & Ayurveda Seminar

Yoga Workshop & Ayurveda Seminar 

mit Kerstin Einhorn

im Sylviander House – Eco Homestay & Art Museum

Alappuzha – Kerala – S-Indien

Termin 1:
25. Oktober – 1. November 2014

Termin 2:
2. November – 9.November 2014

(Termine auch nach Vereinbarung möglich)

Kosten: 540.- €

Mindestteilnehmer: 4 Personen

Anmeldeschluss 25.Sept.2014 / 1.Okt.2014: Life@sylvianderhouse.com

bei Buchung Anzahlung 120.- €

Yoga Workshop & Ayurveda Seminar 

by Kerstin Einhorn

at Sylviander House – Eco Homestay & Art Museum

Alappuzha – Kerala – S-India

date 1:
25. Oktober – 1. November 2014

date 2:
2. November – 9.November 2014

(also individual arrangement possible) 

Costs: 540.- €

Minimum participants: 4 persons

Registration deadline 25.Sept.2014 / 1.Oct.2014: Life@sylvianderhouse.com

with registration advance payment 120.- €

More informations in German & English below! 

GERMAN: 

Yoga Workshop & Ayurveda Seminar 
mit Kerstin Einhorn

im Sylviander House – Eco Homestay & Art Museum

Alappuzha – Kerala – S-Indien – www.sylvianderhouse.com

Termin 1:
25. Oktober – 1. November 2014

Termin 2:
2. November – 9.November 2014

(Termine auch nach Vereinbarung möglich)

Kosten: 540.- €

Mindestteilnehmer: 4 Personen

Anmeldeschluss 25.September 2014 / 1.Oct.2014

bei Buchung Anzahlung 120.- €

Leistungen:

7 Tage Workshop
2 mal täglich Yoga à 1.5 h 

an 2 Nachmittagen Ayurveda Seminar, Themen: 

Bin ich nun Vata, Pitta oder Kapha?

Wie wende ich mein individuelles Dosha (Bioenergien) in der täglichen Routine in Europa an?

Wie kann ich Ayurveda mit anderen Naturheilverfahren kombinieren?

Grundlagen des Ayurveda, einfach und sinnvoll verstehen …

8 Übernachtungen im DZ mit Vollpension, vorwiegend aus biologischem Anbau

Grüntee, ayurvedische und tibetische Gesundheitstees, doppelt gefiltertes Trinkwasser aus eigenem Regenwassertank den ganzen Tag

deutsch-indische Betreuung vor Ort

Nicht inbegriffen:

Yogamatten – bei Bedarf für 8.- € erhältlich 

Flug nach Kochi, Kerala, Süd-Indien

Flughafentransfer

Ausflüge und Trinkgelder

Visa – muss rechtzeitig über das indische Konsulat beantragt werden!!

EZ-Zuschlag

Auf Wunsch können Ausflüge in die nähere Umgebung organisiert werden, z.B. Backwaterfahrt, Tempelbesuch, Besichtigung des Krishna Palace, Shopping in Alappuzha … Wer sich für Malen/Zeichnen oder/und Schreiben interessiert, kann gerne Rat und Anregungen bei den Gastgebern von Sylviander House einholen.

Kerstin Einhorn: 

Heilpraktikerin, Ayurveda-Expertin, Yoga-Lehrerin, Reisebegleiterin, Indienkennerin

In Europa solide als Heilpraktikerin ausgebildet, zog die ehemalige Pharmazeutisch-Technische-Assistentin nach S-Indien, um vor Ort ihr Wissen über Ayurveda und Yoga zu vertiefen. Seit 2005 lebt und arbeitet sie in Kerala, S-Indien – Unterricht in Yoga und Ayurveda, Beratung, Einführung, Workshops, und Führung kleiner Reisegruppen individuell durch Süd-Indien.

www.ayuryoga-kerala.de

www.herrliches-Indien.de

Sylviander House Eco-Homestay & Art Museum: 

Nach 7 Jahren Bauzeit hat das deutsch-indische Künstlerpaar – Sylvie Bantle, Schriftstellerin, und Alexander Devasia, Maler – ihre Vision Sylviander House am 21.Dez.2012 eröffnet. 

Der Luxus von Sylviander House ist neben den kulturellen Zusammenkünften die ökologische Bauweise im großzügigen Kerala-Stil umgeben von einem Garten mit Teich und Biotop. Natürliche Materialien wie der traditionelle Innenverputz ‘Kumayam‘ (Muschelkalk mit Naturleim), Terrakotta-Boden, viele antike Fenster und Türen, die Raumhöhe von über 3 m halten die geräumigen Zimmer luftig und kühl. Die einfache, gemütliche Ausstattung, die traditionellen Badezimmer mit Schöpfduschen, die Openair-Waschstelle und die Veranden lassen ein echtes Kerala-Feeling aufkommen. 

Lage: 6 km nördlich von Alappuzha, 400 m vom Fischerstrand Chettikad, 70 km vom Internationalen Flughafen Kochi. 

Sylviander House, Blue Star Library Road, Chettikad, Pathirapally PO, Alappuzha 688 521, Kerala, India.

Tel: +91.9645817014 Email: Life@sylvianderhouse.com Web: www.sylvianderhouse.com

Blog: http://sylvianderhouse.blogspot.in

ENGLISH: 

Yoga Workshop & Ayurveda Seminar 
conducted by Kerstin Einhorn

at Sylviander House – Eco Homestay & Art Museum

Alappuzha – Kerala – S-India – www.sylvianderhouse.com

date 1:
25. Oktober – 1. November 2014

date 2:
2. November – 9.November 2014

(also individual arrangement possible) 

Costs: 540.- € / person

Minimum participants: 4 persons

Registration deadline 25. Sept. 2014 / 1.Oct.2014

Minimum advance registration: 120.- €

Included:

7 days Workshop
Yoga session 2 times a day, each 1 1/2 hours.

Lecture about Ayurveda on 2 days afternoon, focussing on the main theme:

Ayurvedic personality types: 

Vatta/ Pitta/ Kapha – which are you?

How to use your individual Dosha as bio-energies in daily routines?

How to combine Ayurveda with other naturopathic treatments?

Practical and easy comprehension of the basics of Ayurveda

x 8 days stay, twin share basis / double rooms with full board, including predominantly organic food, green tea, ayurvedic and tibetan health teas, double filtered drinking water from in-house water catching tank during all day.

Language & translation assistance: English-German-English

Profile of Kerstin Einhorn: 

Kerstin Einhorn is a well established and experienced Yoga and Ayurvedic instructor and alternative practitioner who has been practicing professionally as an Ayurveda-professional, Yoga-master and a  tour guide.

A German national,who is educated as an alternative practitioner, this former pharmacologist moved to Kerala in 1999, to widen her knowledge in Ayurveda and Yoga.

Ever since then, she married an Indian and has made Kerala her home from where she imparts her knowledge and skills to interested travellers, yoga students, Ayurvedic students and travellers. She is also an expert counsellor who does private consultations and provides guidance for small groups, including tour guiding especially for German and other individual European clients and tour groups. She regularly contributes articles to Daheim magazine in Germany. Her work is showcased at:

www.ayuryoga-kerala.de

www.herrliches-Indien.de

Mobile: 91- 9496138111

email: kerstin94@gmx.de

Profile of Sylviander Eco Homestay Art Museum

Using sound ecological building ideas including natural plaster and old techniques of construction, the house was conceived and executed by a German-Indian artist couple – Sylvie Bantle, writer, and Alexander Devasia, painter. 

Natural materials used are the traditional plaster for inside walls ‘Kumayam‘ (shellpowder, sand, natural glue), terracotta flooring, ancient windows and doors, with the average height of the rooms exceeding 3 m keeping the spacious rooms airy and cool. Bathrooms with traditional shower, open air washing place and verandahs create a pure traditional Keralan feel. The house was inaugurated on 21.Dec.2012. 

Sylviander House beside showcasing cultural gatherings is an example of  ecological architecture in a classical Keralan style surrounded by a big garden with pond and biotope.

Not included:

Yoga mat – on rent at 8.- € 

Airport transfer – best to fly to Kochi airport

Excursions and trips

Excursions and day trips are arranged and include:

Houseboat or boat trip in the backwaters of Alleppey.

Visit to the Krishna Palace and temples in the area.

Shopping in Alleppey

Other activities:

Those interested in art and wish to involve in creating painting/drawing or/and writing, can get advice and inspirations from the hosts of Sylviander House , Alexander and Sylvie who are both a well established artist and writer photographer couple.

Note: All the above activities will cost extra and are to be paid as per activity,  including taxi charges and visiting fees besides fees for training in art or writing etc.

Location: 

6 km north of Alappuzha

400 m to Chettikad fishing beach.

70 km from international airport Kochi. 

Sylviander House, Blue Star Library Road, Chettikad, Pathirapally PO, Alappuzha 688 521, Kerala, India.

Tel: +91.9645817014 Email: Life@sylvianderhouse.com Web: www.sylvianderhouse.com

Blog: http://sylvianderhouse.blogspot.in

Contact email: Life@sylvianderhouse.com