En-route, God's own Country!

Day Two: The Oohs and Aahs!

The real adventure started now. Our day started with lazy kicks all around, everyone poking the other one to get up, twas still 5:00 in the morning. Lazily we packed our crumpled clothes lying here and there and dragged ourselves out of the room to receive a blast of rejuvenating air freshening our spirits. Something special in store was awaiting us.

Few hours after we had left the hustle and bustle of the city, immersed in blissful trance of scenic beauties all around, we halted at Pepper County restaurant to our first break. We had some dosas and uttapam for snacks and a cup of coffee afterwards. The food, as expected, had traditional South Indian taste, with sambhar masala ozzing out of every nook and corner of  the dosas. It still fulfilled its function that was to relieve us from our epidemic state. The coffee afterwards was good and refreshing and morning chit-chats in mystic surroundings, without office worries is always a welcome change. After loitering around here and there for a few quick glimpses and snaps, we packed ourselves back into the cab for our ride ahead.

Along the route, after crossing the slithering Periyar river, we halted at the sight of Cheeyappara waterfalls, very close to the road. We asked our driver to pause for a few moments, to stretch ourselves and to enjoy the surroundings. Upon getting closer to the falls we found some enthusiasts already bathing in it. Soon thereafter, shedding our inhibitions, we also jumped into it's shallow depths, joining others. The water was cold but manageable. Shivering, shouting and enjoying ourselves for an hour or so, we set ahead to Munnar.

Cheeyappra Falls - cold water, shallow depths, hot morning - perfect reasons for a quick bath

Before Munnar, we paused at spice gardens, something everyone had mentioned. So we took a stroll in the gardens pausing at Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Pepper, Turmeric, Ginger, Sandal Wood, Arrow Root, Eldoberry, Mulberry, Gooseberry and umpteen more plants than I would ever remember.

 Banana Plantation on rock, the fruit is not as sweet and soft as normal oneFlower on a banana tree A plant having flowers similar to a fish ( cannot remember the name) Munnar in simple words was beautiful and serene. Lush green tea plantations alongside road were overlooking the valleys and the lakes. All of us were ogling and drooling over the green carpet fields all around. For a moment, it seemed we would burst out of cars and run into the fields with paranoia. 
Squirming around the roads for an hour or two, we reached a Tea Processing plant, apparently upon insistence of our driver. Some of the guys inside were demonstrating something like how they oxidize the tea leaves and they grind it and then history of Munnar. The exhilaration of rejoining with our long lost love had such a profound and deep impact on us, that sitting on last bench soon we were found snoring at our loudest best, completely oblivious of what was going around. After some time ( obviously unbeknown, the time that passed), someone poked us mentioning that the lecture was over and we can have our cups of free ginger tea. Wow! that was very informative and useful I thought, said "Thank you" and ran towards the sign pointing "Free Tea this way'.We headed for lunch thereafter, expecting Pratul to join us anytime soon, he was delayed and had missed on everything we had done so far. After resting for a while, we left for lake Madupaty. The lake/dam was spread over a vast expanse of hillocks and islands in between, shadowed by trees lurching out of the islands and shores. We stopped on the Dam bridge to get a quick glimpse of gates and water gushing out of it. Pratul, Manu, Bhatt and Mittal tried there hands on shooting balloons (using gun) while I was left to shoot them(using camera of course ;) ).Later, our Safari driver suggested us ( once again), that we take a motor boat ride. We barely managed to reach the spot, to get last minute tickets before it closed for the day. The ride was uber-cool, but even more enchanting was the beautiful surroundings of the lake. The lands afar were the greenest with huge trees atop islands swaying romantically, hugging the winds. Naked roots half basking in sun, half bathing, were laid leisurely. And as the waves swooshed and whizzed around us, the serenity that laid beyond us knocked us out of our senses. 

Suddenly, the motor boat paused and driver asked us for our camera. I paused - " er ! what? " and by the time I realized he was standing facing us, maneuvering the boat with his leg right and left, producing gust of waves for clicks. 

The day worn out beautifully, and we planned to look for some place to rest for the night before  day 3 starts bellowing in our ears. But the party had not ended yet. We found a cottage a few distance away from the main stays. The owner consented to arrange for a night bonfire for us. After unpacking our luggage we went to see an ayurvedic massage parlor, got ourselves some relaxing head and body massage, came back freshened ourselves and laid ourselves besides fire, discussing our escapades throughout the day, plans for the next day and things left to do. As the night passed and chirping of crickets was reduced to whimper, we were still out there, although it got a bit more chilly now. Occasionally throwing pieces of wood in the fire to keep it alive, singing and giggling around, encumbering our tiredness, we chatted late into the night. Sometime around 1:00 p.m. we dragged ourselves onto our beds, dead and exhausted, we slept peacefully. I don't exactly remember the dreams, but somewhere I was still there in Munnar floating amidst the green carpet valleys, hooting amok the hills, enchanted by the scenic surroundings.

Night seeping into

En-route, God's own Country!

Day Zero: The Frenzy, The Delays and The Night Stay at Cochin.

Courtesy our experienced trip planners, we already had a full proof plan on our hands summarizing whole trip and all we had in mind was embark on flight and relax. But that was not what was ordained.

Well the plan was that we leave Chattrapati Shivaji Termius at 4:40 p.m. 

At 12'o'clock I receive a call from office saying I'm required urgently which further stated that I might have to delay my leave for a day if need be.

I rushed to office to look after the situation and was wondering if I might still be able to make it in time when suddenly I get a jab on my back. I turned around to meet the gaze of smirking Bhatt, after a brief impasse he suddenly realizes that I was not in a mood and he needed to burp something fast. And he says - " The flight has been delayed by two hours, so you can plan accordingly". So, there courtesy Indian Standard Time, my trip was secure.

So as planned again, we left at 5:00 p.m., Pratul was scheduled to join us the following day somewhere in Munnar. On reaching airport we receive communication that flight is further delayed and we need to stay put till then. But, we were okay with it as the party had just yet started and initial hiccups were expected. We boarded plane at around 8:00 p.m. and the plane originally scheduled to reach Cochin at 7:00 p.m. disembarked from the airport only at 9:00 p.m.

One of our other companion Mittal on the other hand was scrambling at Cochin airport waiting for us, enlisting taxi rates, hotel rates which we would need eventually. 

We reached at around 10:30 p.m. and all our hopes of reaching Munnar the same might vanquished with the news that no taxi operator was ready to carry us in the night. 

So, our day 1 plan was has gone to trash and we were running helter skelter for accommodation in Cochin.

Cochin in night was cool but humid. Made early morning travel arrangements for Munnar. Got our hands on awesome 'Kerela Chicken' as Dinner, filled ourselves to the brim and started our search for a cheap room to spend the rest of the night. Luckily we got an accommodation as desired nearby airport.

Although the room was too cramped for four persons, lizards hanging from walls making it all the more creepy and Mosquitoes playing their bit in night made it impossible for us to open the windows and sleep peacefully. However in absence of any chances of improvement in our situation we crashed onto bed and slept snoring till dawn.