Lace and embroidery work of high quality is being done by women in several parts of Kerala. The Talangara village of Kasaragod taluk is famous for textile cap making industry. The cotton caps manufactured here find a ready market in African and Gulf countries.

Ivory carving is another traditional art of Kerala. The art was given an impetus by Swati Tirunal Maharaja. An ivory throne made by Swati Tirunal is still preserved as a show piece. The craftsmen engaged in this art at present produce a variety of models of mythological characters, animals, birds, cigarette cases etc., to cater to different tastes. A typical specimen of ivory carving produced in Kerala is that of snake boat (Chundan vallam) and it is cherished by tourists to State as a memento. The craftsmen engaged in ivory carving also use other materials like buffalo born for practicing their art.

The jewelry of Kerala is noted for its artistic perfection. Each caste or community had its typical ornament. An ornament of Nair women was Nagapadam or serpent hood, so called after shape of pendant. An ear ornament called Toda, a double convex disc, was worn after dilating earlobes. Mukkuthi was an ornament for nose and Kappu for wrist. The most important ornaments for neck were Addyal, Yantram, Avil Mala and Puli Nakham. Cherutali was a kind of necklace worn loose over breast by Namboodiri women while Kasu Mala and Oddyanam were used by Tamil Brahmin. A kind of heavy guilt brass ring called Mekka Motiram was worn by Christian women after boring their ears in several places. Ottezhapathakkam, Kombu, Tala etc., were also typical Christian ornaments. Though most of traditional ornaments mentioned above have become defunct now, Kerala women are still found of ornaments, and jewelry items like necklaces, bangles, chains, earrings, studs etc., are now made by Kerala goldsmiths in a variety of attractive designs.

Apart from main crafts described above, there are also a few others which deserve mention. Granite carving is one such art, which is mainly centred in Chengannur. The granite workers manufacture a variety of articles like idols, household equipment, pillars, survey stones etc., which are in great demand. The manufacture of musical instruments like Chenda, Maddalam, Mridangam, Edakka etc., is done in some places. The costumes and accessories required in Kathakali and Teyyam are being manufactured by some craftsmen. In Tellicherry, home of Indian circus, peculiar kinds of umbrella required by circus companies are manufactured. Being a maritime State, Kerala has its own handicrafts based on marine materials. Conch-shell articles like paper weight, pin cushions, ashtrayas, studs etc., are made by craftsmen in Trivandrum area. In Kasaragod area articles like bangles, vanity bags and name boards are made of glass beads. Thus legacy of Kerala in field of arts and crafts is a rich and varied one.

6) If a maneuver goes wrong, try to complete it. Don’t just hit reset halfway through a botched loop. Try to recover from problem, as there is no reset bar in real life.

7) Have a lesson plan. Determine to fly from point A to point B while doing X, Y and Z. Don’t just go where airplane takes you! Remember, this is radio “control”, not radio “follow leader”.

8) Take breaks periodically. RC flight simulators can actually be hard on eyes and body.

9) When you have mastered basic flying, deliberately put sim airplane into unusual attitudes and try to recover.

10) When you’ve mastered basic flying and unusual attitude recovery, make program a bit more challenging. Trying adding more obstacles, e.g. trees. Adding wind is a good way to stretch your abilities. Wind speed and direction can often be changed in sim, and this is something that happens in real life as well.

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