Tag: <span>kannur blogger</span>

December 18, 2018

As a native of Kannur district in north Kerala, I have been anticipating the opening of Kannur’s first international airport for a while now. It was a long time coming (as is the case of every large infrastructure project in India).

Kannur airport’s inauguration was held on December 9 and I decided to fly home from Bengaluru just to experience my “first flight home”. Currently, only Go Air has started flight operations from Bangalore airport (airport code: BLR) to Kannur airport (CNN). IndiGo launches their flights from Bangalore to Kannur on 25 January, 2019. SpiceJet has announced they intend to fly to Kannur but as of this writing, no date has been announced for commencement of services.

Since trains were all full due to year-end holidays, I checked for flights and got an airfare for Rs. 2154, which included a Rs. 200 fee that I paid to pick a window seat of my choice. (Window seat is a must for me on daytime flights)

I wanted to see just how much it would cost to fly solo from Bangalore to Kannur (all inclusive) so I told my dad not to come pick me up from Kannur airport in our car. Of course, the problem with Bengaluru is that the city’s airport (Kempegowda International Airport handles both domestic and international flights) is located so far from the city — making the taxi ride to the airport an expense by itself. Not to mention how long it takes. I had to leave home by 5am and since I couldn’t grab the airport bus at this time, I just hailed an Uber. Opting for Uber Pool, there was only one other passenger, and so the ride cost me Rs. 465 and took 40 minutes from where I am currently staying.

Bangalore airport early morning — This is the first time I was catching a domestic flight from this airport. Didn’t know it gets this busy so early in the morning.

Continue reading “Flying into Kannur International Airport for the first time” »

I’ve been meaning to visit Ayikkara for a while now. It’s a harbour and one of the main fishing ports in Kannur district. Fishing boats bring in their daily catch and often the fishermen sell the fish right on the beach.

Ayikkara village Kannur — After I got down at the government hospital bus stop (in Kannur city), one needs to walk through a fishermen’s housing colony to get to the beach

Frying fish Ayikkara Kannur — Laying salted fish out to dry

I had a picture of what I thought Ayikkara beach would look like. Brown sandy shores, fishermen’s boats all coming in fresh catch and a chance for the public to buy fresh fish cheap right off the boat.

The reality?

Ayikkara beach cow Kannur — This. Just look at the amount of trash on the beach :/ And of course this being India, there’s a cow here too!

Ayikkara fish market crab squid Kannur — Although there was variety on offer, a lot of it wasn’t very fresh to be honest

Crab fish Ayikkara Kannur — We bought some crab and some fish. Prices weren’t that low either.

I also saw trucks being loaded with fish. I guess all the good stuff gets sold at higher prices for exporters and suppliers to the big hotels & restaurants. And we locals get left with the stuff the big guys didn’t want.

Ayikkara harbour Kannur Kerala — There were people selling from the boats too

Birds in water Kerala — Birds and a pot-bellied man — both waiting for fish

Ayikkara fishing harbour Kannur — Me and my father walked around the area after buying the fish

Bengali workers Ayikarra fish market — What was surprising is how here too, most of the workers are not Keralites but Bengalis and others from the Eastern states

Fishing boats Ayikkara Kannur — The boats were done for the day I guess

Couple Ayikarra Kannur Kerala — I wanted to explore the area a bit more

Seaside road Ayikkara Kannur — Seemed like a good place to sit & relax

Eagle Ayikkara Kannur Kerala — Eagles were flying above… or they could have been Kites

Ayikkara beach Kerala — I guess that’s the actual beach for Ayikkara

Ayikkara jetty Kannur Kerala — I saw some people walking on the jetty

Fishing Ayikkara Kannur — Want your own catch but too afraid to go out to sea? Come here and fish

Flower field Ayikkara Kannur — This open field was full of these pink flowers

Pink flower bokeh Kannur — Don’t know the name of this flower

Flower field Kannur panorama — But it was a pretty sight

Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid Kannur — This is Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid, just opposite the harbour

After this we left Ayikkara. Mappila Bay could be turned into a tourist attraction if the authorities wanted to make it one. But first, the whole beach and the area needs a massive clean up. Then they need to establish a line of small eateries serving fresh seafood to visitors. It can be done but as is the case with our politicians… they couldn’t care.

kannur blogger

Flying into Kannur International Airport for the first time

Kannur’s Mappila Bay – Ayikkara beach, more a fish market than a ‘beach’

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