I keep thinking about posting more often here, but time just flies by. Last few weeks had been very hectic. We just returned from a week long vacation to South Dakota. The trip planning/shopping took more time than I imagined. But I am glad it went well. Ishaan just started going to preschool today – I am trying to calm down my nerves even after I saw he was ok when I left him at school this morning!. So I thought I will write something here today and instead of posting a recipe, I thought of posting something that I wanted to post for a long time – some pictures of my home from rural India.
When I visited India last November, many of you asked me to post some pictures of my aayi’s beautiful garden. I took dozens of pictures, of every corner, but never got the time to post any. I haven’t even processed them yet!!!. But anyway, I will get to all of it soon, now that I will have few hours free for myself!.
I spent first 2 decades of my life in this beautiful home. Somehow, even after living in different places, setting the home all by myself, I still feel this home – where my parents live, where I spent my childhood, gives me that feeling of really being at home. Every corner of this place has many memories associated with them. I don’t think I can put down everything in words, so I will just stop here and show you all some pictures that I clicked.
Almost every house in the village has a “tulsi katte”. We pray here every day. Pappa waters the tulsi (holy basil) plant every day. Aayi lights a diya every night, there is a small opening in the rectangular blue stone you see in the picture where diya can be kept. Â Every couple of years this place is painted, we loved painting it when we were kids.Â
Sprinklers are relatively new here. When we were kids, pappa watered the plants with huge pipes. It used to be such a hectic process. Now the sprinklers make it relatively easy.
My parent’s garden has many banana, coconut and jackfruit trees.Â
It is very hard to save bananas from monkeys. Everyone covers them to make it harder for monkeys to get, but aayi tells me monkeys have figured out a way to open these bags!!
Our front yard.Â
It was Diwali time, what is the fun of Diwali without some firecrackers. We thought Ishaan won’t like it, but he enjoyed them a lot. When we were kids, pappa would bring big bags full of firecrackers, we would light up the entire house. We would light diyas or candles infront of the house. It was loads of fun.
Heating water. We still use this traditional water heating system, dried trees and leaves are used for this.
A well infront of the house – this is the only source of water for us. My parents still take out water using a rope for drinking and cooking. A electric pump is used to fill a overhead tank for other uses.
River is very close to our home, so we get very fresh seafood.
It is lot of fun to stick hand in a bucket of live crabs and take out one! And yes, that is Ishaan!
On the way to the river which is a short 5 mins walk from home. It is lined with beautiful coconut trees.
The trees you see in the below picture are on a tiny island. Many people live on this island, but they have to cross the river for their daily shopping and other things.
Sunset at the river is so beautiful.
Women go to catch shell fish in the river. 
Clams. Yumm
Your parents are fortunate to live so close to nature in all its tranquility, breathing fresh air, eating fresh produce and most importantly reducing carbon footprint to the minimum by cutting down on energy consumption (traditional water heating system and drawing water from the well by hand are fine examples) and growing trees. Love, love your home, Shilpa, reminds me of the calm and peaceful life we experience at our ancestral home. 🙂
It is such a beautiful place. Yes your family is very fortunate to live in such great natural surroundings and eat fresh produce. I have been to Mangalore and I love the fresh sea food there and the scenic landscapes! And of course needless to say Gadbad ice cream 😉
So beautiful and tranquil. Thanks for sharing, Shilpa. Makes me think of my ancestral village in Goa.
Shilpa,
You are so lucky,that you can take Ishaan back home.He will have such wonderful childhood memories.We all have memories of visits to our grandparent’s home-with big angaan,trees,swings in summer,river bathing,goshaala,climbing trees,eating chinchaamb 🙂
We made a trip to north canara last dec.When we reached Kumta,i announced this is where Shilpa of Aayis recipes grew up 🙂
Loved Karwar,kumta,sirsi,idagunji……compared to our hectic city life,it is so peaceful and clean.
loved your home.
Regards,Poornima
Oh what a breathtaking view! How serene and beautiful it is.
I can totally understand when u say ‘this’ is home. I do, I do!
I love how well balanced life seems, nature and man in harmony. Living green, this is a wonderful example.
You are SO lucky!
Shilpa, the pixs r soo beautiful…it took me down the nostalgia trip when I used to go to m’lore as a small girl.unfortunately my son will not get to see any of this first hand. we had to sell off the ancestral home as my grand parents moved into an apartment as it was difficult maintaining huge orchards…u pixs made my day
Beautiful post! very few people are fortunate enough to live in such a beautiful place!
Shilpa, your pics brought back memories of my summer holidays at Kodkani,the khubbo and crabs oh my mouth is watering….
Shilpa
Your pictures brought back childhood memories. My grandparents are from Hanehalli near Gokarna. Numerous memories of summer vacation spent with my cousins here. I stay in New York- read your blog often. We have another common factor- I was raised in Belgaum. Keep up your good work!!
Hi Shilpa
Hope i have got ur name right. I was first introduced to your site by my sis who is staying abroad. yes most of the recipes we try at home are very similar. But your site gives much more insight to the correct way of doing the dish. Keep it up. All the best
You home is beautiful Shilpa! thanks for sharing the pictures..Loved the river,women fishing and finally the clams in the boat….you are very lucky Shilpa!
Hi, I have goosebumps while watching those beautiful pictures, you are so LUCKY you spent your childhood in such a beautiful small village, having natural beauty. I will try to visit this place when I go to India
Thank you Shilpa ….gorgeous pictures.
Is this in Kumta? You grew up in an idyllic setting…wish u many many happy visits and often.
Thank You for a wonderful post. Lovely pics.
Hi Shilpa..
I always visit your blog and tried many recipes… Your recipes will be awesome especially non- veg.. And even i m kumta… Feel special that we are from south canara… All the best..and keep posting nice recipes so that even we can try it…
Hi Shilpa, love your recipes and wonderful explanations. I visit your site whenever I get bored of my Havyaka recipes and need slight variations to ‘add spice’! It feels like I am meeting someone from ‘tavaru’ when I come here. Thank you for great recipes and equally beautiful pics.
Hi Shilpa,
Your pictures are so beautiful. And the description u wrote puts “life” into the snaps. I have never visited interiors of South India….but I got such a good insight of the place. Keep up the good work. 🙂
Very Beautiful Home Town & House You Have.
It Feels Very Good To Live With Nature In Her Lap.
I too Want to Live Such a Life, But Unfortunately It IS Possible Only After My retirement. 🙁
Shilpa ,
totally reminds me of my grandma’s house in Kumta. her house was also close to the beach and river. Only difference is the angan is not cow-dung painted:).
Wow…you took me down the memory lane….love the pics and the greenery.
Loved the pictures! You and your family are really very lucky to experience Nature’s beauty at its best. Would love my 5 yr old to see something like this. Now I’m inspired to plan a Karwar(that’s where my mom grew up) trip next time we visit India. 🙂
Hey, I just chanced upon your site. I must compliment you on the painstaking work you have taken upon yourself in compiling Konkani recipes. The non- K stuff is available but with the migration of folks from the Konkan and the lack of interest in cooking in most younger people, I think genuine Konkani food is in danger of vanishing. Of course the younger generation is busy with their work but it presents a real danger. Konkani recipes are unwritten, without measurements and they vary regionally as also within Konkani families. I am glad you took this up. So again, its a great job.
Luv ur recipes. Ur parents home reminds me of my aai’s parents home in a village in karwar. 50yrs old memories came back rushing!
All d best…