This morning was very memorable for having an interesting conversation with Imbrahimkka, the skilled cook at Imdadiya, who invited to “have coffee” (popular phrase used in south kerala for having breakfast), for which I responded saying today I am not “having tea” (the common phrase in Malabar region for breakfast), confusing him. He thought I don’t want tea along with the breakfast meal (although they say “having coffee” for breakfast, tea is the normal morning beverage) and brought me two large puttu. Finding humour in this linguistic variation, I shared the incident on Facebook, eliciting similarly amusing experiences from friends.
Later, I attended Friday prayers at the nearby Maithanippalli Juma Masjid, where a heartwarming scene captured my attention—an adorable little boy, clad in a golden-lined Mundu and matching shirt, holding his father's fingers on their way to the mosque. The day's culinary adventure continued with a taste of Thiruvananthapuram Biriyani prepared by Imbrahimkka, containing green peas, beans, and pineapple—an unexpected yet delicious deviation for someone accustomed to Malabar dum biriyani.
In the evening, I went to Azhoor bridge to interview individuals engaged in fishing with rods. They clarified that their activity was a passionate leisure pursuit, emphasizing that they held well-paid jobs in the city. Notably, one participant, showcasing exceptional skill and reeling in numerous catches, revealed himself as a Gulf returnee enjoying his vacation. On my journey back home, I witnessed a picturesque scene—a man skillfully catching fish in the backwater casting or throwing his net (veeshivala technique).
Comments