Continuing with my series of adventures with Nature, this time I went home and we decided to drive down to Kerala. It was around 2:30 in the afternoon when we set out to venture into God's Own Country. The weather was perfect for a long drive. The sun began to hide behind the clouds. As we entered the territory of Kerala, we were welcomed by showers of rain. Both the sides of the road were blanketed with greens, fresh with rain drops still lingering on them, nourished with health. It was a beautiful sight to fresh water lakes filled with ripples of concentric circles, the wind blowing gently above them, coconut trees standing with pride at a distance, houses covered with ivys and compund walls covered with moss, the road clean as concrete appeard clean, birds flying around enjoying the evening breeze. I inhaled the fresh air and filled my lungs with them. For a moment, I was tempted to perform Pranayama right there.
As the car rolled by, wipers lashing on the windscreen wiping the droplets of water, we came across fields brimming with prosperity. Advertisement boards hovered above them.
We drove down to Vadakkandhara Kaavu (a temple of Goddess Amman) and sought her blessings. Fresh water lay in puddles as we walked around the temple. A well appeared as we entered the sannithi of Lord Guruvayoorappan. I peered in and was astonished to see it almost full, I remembered having seen another well so full long time back at Palghat. Water plants grew around the rim of it. As we walked back, the clods opened up again and blessed us with showers antoher time.
The journey back was as beautiful as the onward journey as we halted beside a green filed and savoured hot rava kicchadi, sambar and filter coffee.
Truly, it was a week-end well spent in sync with nature.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Nature-Thy name reflects beauty-3
It was 4:00 am on Saturday. The outside was dark resonating with silence. I got ready for another trip to be in sync with nature. And this time, it was to Bandipur and Mudhumalai. The journey started with enthusiasm and cheer reverberating all around the car. We drove down through Mysore Road, had breakfast at Cafe Coffee Day located at a beautiful spot, overlooking the main road yet cozily resting in a corner surrounded by greens. We were right on time as we embarked on our journey after food. As we drove along, we spotted sunflowers smiling at us, blooming brightly towards the sun, waving alongside with the breeze speeding by. They continued for a long stretch that painted the entire left side with yellow. All of a sudden, our eyes caught a splash of orange on the right side from marigolds that sprung beautifying the concrete roadside.
The weather was just perfect with droplets of drizzle occasionally. The landscape slowly started changing from yellow to orange and to water. Tall trees slowly emerged at the horizon. There appeared lakes full with fresh water till the brim.
We started climbing the hills of Gopal Bhetta where we were literally tearing through the clouds. The moist in them stuck to our face as we inhaled the fresh air that seemed to carry with it the aroma of herbs. The steep continued for sometime as we slowly trudged along. We got out of the car, kicked a football that we carried along as we climbed and reached a Temple. Behind the temple, land continued to slide down towards a valley (which I presume must be the Bandipur forest). We waded through bushes and shrubs and trekked along to find a perfect spot to stop for lunch. Sitting on a huge rock, overlooking the forest, our legs hanging down, we relished the masala dosas and pooris we had packed en route.
We continued wading through post lunch through the mesh of shrubs and greens till we decided it was time to proceed towards Bandipur.
With anticipation and excitement, we drove through the forest area. As we proceeded from Bandipur towards Mudumalai, searching for some form of wildlife, our eyes suddenly caught a herd of deers grazing. What a beauti
ful sight it was!! Brown, spotted, graceful deers nibbled at grass with sharp alertness for any sound. Monkey scrambled close. What struck me was how they co-existed with harmony...made me wonder why humans could not be so.
Having relished this sight, we moved only to find a couple of elephants hidden behind an overgrown bush. We were careful not to make any noise lest we disturb them.
We reached Mudhumalai, hungry for good food. A stream gushed by, covering rocks with its frequent gushes. We took a safari ride that gave us a tour through the interiors of the forest area. It was a beautiful journey through wilderness, covering spots that were well hidden into some of the pockets of the woods. Peacoks seemed to be in absolute ease within this peaceful arena that they flew around in bliss.
It was time to take on the return journey. As we entered the car, we saw monkeys scampering around with mischief. We fed them with danish cookies and clicked snaps.
We took the same road back and stopped to take a few videos of a peacock crossing the road, elephants munching, deers proceeding back home at dusk.
You can see a couple of snaps below.
It was indeed a treat for the eyes and the soul that yearned to be back n touch with nature.
The weather was just perfect with droplets of drizzle occasionally. The landscape slowly started changing from yellow to orange and to water. Tall trees slowly emerged at the horizon. There appeared lakes full with fresh water till the brim.
We started climbing the hills of Gopal Bhetta where we were literally tearing through the clouds. The moist in them stuck to our face as we inhaled the fresh air that seemed to carry with it the aroma of herbs. The steep continued for sometime as we slowly trudged along. We got out of the car, kicked a football that we carried along as we climbed and reached a Temple. Behind the temple, land continued to slide down towards a valley (which I presume must be the Bandipur forest). We waded through bushes and shrubs and trekked along to find a perfect spot to stop for lunch. Sitting on a huge rock, overlooking the forest, our legs hanging down, we relished the masala dosas and pooris we had packed en route.
We continued wading through post lunch through the mesh of shrubs and greens till we decided it was time to proceed towards Bandipur.
With anticipation and excitement, we drove through the forest area. As we proceeded from Bandipur towards Mudumalai, searching for some form of wildlife, our eyes suddenly caught a herd of deers grazing. What a beauti
ful sight it was!! Brown, spotted, graceful deers nibbled at grass with sharp alertness for any sound. Monkey scrambled close. What struck me was how they co-existed with harmony...made me wonder why humans could not be so. 
Having relished this sight, we moved only to find a couple of elephants hidden behind an overgrown bush. We were careful not to make any noise lest we disturb them.
We reached Mudhumalai, hungry for good food. A stream gushed by, covering rocks with its frequent gushes. We took a safari ride that gave us a tour through the interiors of the forest area. It was a beautiful journey through wilderness, covering spots that were well hidden into some of the pockets of the woods. Peacoks seemed to be in absolute ease within this peaceful arena that they flew around in bliss.
It was time to take on the return journey. As we entered the car, we saw monkeys scampering around with mischief. We fed them with danish cookies and clicked snaps.
We took the same road back and stopped to take a few videos of a peacock crossing the road, elephants munching, deers proceeding back home at dusk.
You can see a couple of snaps below.
It was indeed a treat for the eyes and the soul that yearned to be back n touch with nature.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Nature-Thy name reflects beauty-2
Another drive over the week-end. It's a great feeling to wake up early on a week-end and look forward to a drive with friends. This time, we wanted to look out for fields absolutely in sync with nature and have a good lunch. It took over one and a half hours to find the exact location. The road seemed to be winding
up and down into oblivion as fields stretched alongside waving to the tunes of the breeze swinging by. The sun subduedly shown, making the weather perfect for a drive. We located a beautiful spot, slightly off the road, submerged in green, beckoning us to visit. Big haystacks lay at the forefront. It was perfect for a snap:) Cows lay lazily chewing hay and relaxing in the afternoon sun. Trees loomed around providing the shade for us to sit down for lunch. As we started unwrapping the packets, two hens tip-toed and looked invitingly at the food that lay before us. It was fun to feed them, over- looking the fields that seemed to reveberate with prosperity. Post lunch, we walked to the greens, lookng the women planting the crops. We suddenly spotted a stretch of orange that presented a beautiful contrast to the green. Orange and yellow flowers grew into a beauitful bed that compelled us to propel in their direction. We sunk into the sheer beauty of nature with absolutely zilch commercialization. It was a beautiful drive that reinforced the fact that one always feels at home with Mother Nature.
up and down into oblivion as fields stretched alongside waving to the tunes of the breeze swinging by. The sun subduedly shown, making the weather perfect for a drive. We located a beautiful spot, slightly off the road, submerged in green, beckoning us to visit. Big haystacks lay at the forefront. It was perfect for a snap:) Cows lay lazily chewing hay and relaxing in the afternoon sun. Trees loomed around providing the shade for us to sit down for lunch. As we started unwrapping the packets, two hens tip-toed and looked invitingly at the food that lay before us. It was fun to feed them, over- looking the fields that seemed to reveberate with prosperity. Post lunch, we walked to the greens, lookng the women planting the crops. We suddenly spotted a stretch of orange that presented a beautiful contrast to the green. Orange and yellow flowers grew into a beauitful bed that compelled us to propel in their direction. We sunk into the sheer beauty of nature with absolutely zilch commercialization. It was a beautiful drive that reinforced the fact that one always feels at home with Mother Nature.
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