Don’t know why the vacation wasn’t exciting or to say there was something missed feeling throughout
the stay but travel wise I enjoyed the trip and spending time in lap of
mountains in company of birds and trees. It’s always a pleasure to stay at
Smokey Haven, my uncle’s woodhouse and cottages at Thandikudi near Kodaikanal,
where we spent our days with extended families from July 8 to 13. Since the inauguration
of the resort in 2015, I continue to visit it at least once a year and I’m
happy and thanks to my uncle for executing a project alike i.e. building a
woodhouse in the vicinity of coffee estate and tall big trees helps me staying
and enjoy an environment full of nature rich. Anytime there would be a bird chirping outside
but this time I felt a bit lesser sound of the birds and spotting birds has
reduced too what I perhaps guess was migration! I know there are some little
birds that migrate from Himalayas and it was the environment that console me
lot as I felt down sometime.
 |
| Smokey Haven Woodhouse and Cottages we stayed |
Though we waked
up early and began the journey, the most part of traveling (490km) went under
scorching weather until climbing up the hill. Our car couldn’t produce enough
cooling to the cabin, though we serviced the car before traveling it quite went
out of gas when we switched on the AC on the return journey. We travelled in
two cars and our 9 seater was occupied by 5 of us with boot space quite went
for wheelchair, commode and luggage and the uncle’s Innova had other five since
my uncle’s family was ahead of us in another car. Though we travelled together
they speed up always leaving us far behind as we drive on moderate speed to
help me balanced. While traveling at two
different speeds doesn’t bother me much unlike how it continues at the vacation
period as well. My uncle had built an
additional woodhouse at their vicinity at a ground below the already exists,
were all others stayed and we 5 including the grandmother stayed at the old
woodhouse. It wasn’t the old or new mattered, but none came above to spare time
with us and it felt like we came alone like how we travel last time to the same
place.
 |
| Dad standing in front of Thandikudi village (beneath), picture shot from Balamurgan Temple come viewpoint |
I was irritated
lot to sit alone always, even though nature gives me company I felt lonely when
all my dear ones were around not sharing. I haven’t felt this before while
travelled as five and I would sit ideal watching birds and taking photos as it
was my choice and nature of traveling, but as a family vacation mind thoughts
about being together, sharing and having fun rather think about anything. I
love exploring places and traveling but love double folds the family vacation
or group traveling at least once a year to keep cherished throughout. As soon
we come into the range of Thandikudi we all lost our Airtel network signal and
I actually thought that it could be a mild fault in connecting, but the
disappointment came hearing that Airtel network has stopped working there due
to fall of tower! I know I haven’t gone there for networking and it didn’t
bother me actually, instead only made feel happy that none will be looking into
the smartphones so there would be more chances for sharing face-to-face but my
cousins had another network to still connect and also hopping on and off in
jeep.
 |
| A moment together with family at the woodhouse deep inside woods |
Though we
expected rain in the mountains, as monsoon already began, the first two days
restricted us to woodhouse and we got to the Balamurugan temple one morning and
then to another woodhouse my uncle had built on behalf his friend and one day
spent driving to Kodaikanal and Kookal Lake/Village. We hear people complaining
of no rain until we got there and it was obvious wherever we visited except in
Kodaikanal where the
lake was at its brim! The Kookal Lake was muddy with water
at the bottom where only water hens were walking in and out. The weather was
much colder in Kodaikanal, even though clouds form as if it going to rain it didn’t
happen until we move to the woodhouse. One night we spent at my uncle’s friend
woodhouse (which my uncle built on behalf his friend) in a place called Vel
Farms, a place deep inside the woods and remote from much activity. Overall I had
good time despite the lack of sharing and feeling alone while being together as
well, it was refreshing and relieving to travel after more than a year and I could
cherish this for some time until I pick up another trip.
 |
| A part of beautiful star shaped Kodaikanal Lake at its full level, in the eventide light with reflection of trees. |
More details and
photos will follow in further posts.
