ideaFactory

At KOKO, we are slowly building the Kalam. And for the stage backdrop, we didn’t want to bring in something that would simply be put up for an event and taken down later. We wanted something that would become part of the place. So we started with bamboo poles and betel leaf vines. The betel vines are slowly filling the backdrop, creating a natural green wall. On both sides, we are training pepper plants to climb up the poles. Nothing complicated. Just bamboo, plants, rope and a little patience. The best part is that it isn’t finished yet. The vines will keep growing. The pepper plants will find their way up. The backdrop will change with the seasons. That is exactly how we want KOKO to grow too. Slowly. Naturally. One little thing at a time. See it taking shape 🌿 Curious to see how the stage is coming together? Watch the work-in-progress video here:  👉  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0HPiUC2D1-E?si=KxjhPnICjaIJgiri&themeRefresh=1 The vines are still young, but the idea i...

A morning conversation about KOKO, Pusthakagramam and a different way of looking at tourism. This morning, I met  Shri. P. C. Vishnunadh, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of Kerala , at his office. I went there with something very simple in my hands — a small piece of  Kochattante Kolayi. KOKO started with a feeling I have had for some time. Our villages have so many stories. Stories about people, places, food, farming, traditions and everyday life. Many of them are slowly disappearing, not because they are unimportant, but simply because we have stopped telling them. KOKO is an attempt to bring some of those stories back into our everyday lives. It is not meant to be another conventional tourist destination. The idea is to create a village experience where people can slow down, spend some time, meet people, discover local stories and experience a side of Kerala that is often missed. During our conversation, I also shared an idea that is becoming important ...