Fairy falls, Mist and Fun evening

It was a lovely dawn for me on the hills of Kodaikanal during our second day on vacation and the sun beams flashes between the trees just made my day very refreshing and warm from the cold night. The frost window panes were melting slowly from moisture to droplets to cause beautiful texture reflecting to the woods green backyard of the Yorke House of CSI Retreat Center. The Yorke House, nested atop the center surrounded by tall trees of pine, eucalyptus and yellow mimosa quite retreat weather is wet or sunshine.

Whom i consider my world, Parents (click each image for enlarge)

After the breakfast in the restaurant of CSI Retreat, we spent some time taking photos to one of a picturesque background of green and mist passing and they all come out very beautiful as family photos. Thus we aren’t new to Kodaikanal and having no plan to go where, it’s my choice to choose the place I haven’t revealed and certainly there’s a place  not to miss this time and it’s the Fairy Fall.

Fairy Falls

The Fairy waterfall is 5km from Kodaikanal on the road leading to Observatory and there’s a small sign board indicating the falls isolated from the tourist attraction. A road slide down from the main road makes the ride narrow and the falls has been brought under the horticulture garden to close by gate but there was none to stop us, so we went opening the gate with no sign of falls and the only visible was bank of mist.

It was cool indeed and later the mist moved, we get to see the wet rock expose to lack of water and above the marsh beneath a round-turn platform is build to check the falls near. Even it was disappointing to see the falls without water, I could imagine the wonderful it was suppose to fill if there was enough water. Some websites claim the old famous Liril soap ad was shot here and it is also called as Liril falls, where the late pretty girl Karen Lunel clad in bikini play with soap and water. But I’m not sure it’s that Fairy fall or Pambar fall!

Mysterious mist... bliss

We still hold time for lunch and so went around and during the season time the road lead to Pillar Rock would be one way and we have to take diversion at upper lake view and it took us nearly two hours to come across the Pillar Rock as caught between heavy traffic jam! It was never like before crowded and vehicles were standing for few kms and it was completely mist blanked, cool and fun throughout the slow-motion. One of my dear cousins took the steering first time on hills and I was the guide of him on routes and encouraged him a lot to go ahead and him soon become familiar on Ghats.

My hummer, Scorpio car

In between the hide and seek of sun, clouds and rain we had great time playing after the noon lunch and we have nothing to do then than going on chatting and women playing  musical chairs, badminton and rings. I personally had fun identifying the silent deeds of movie names and I kept clicking with my camera while they keep on playing, laughing and smiling and it was a worriless moment indeed.

The Kodaikanal Lake was almost misted and crowded by tourist this time and we had a pleasant evening sit back to the bank of Lake Platform before heading to the CSI Retreat where the real fun and treat waits for us. It’s the camp fire which is very special to me and this is the first time I am experiencing it like ever fun indeed! My uncle arranged it for me and we were all around sat to chairs waiting for the service maid to light the fire woods and as soon it went to flame the gala time begins.

Fun around Fire

 The cold was almost drive away and a warm feeling began to embrace and the sense of dancing in others slowly caught fire to the songs played in our car. It was a wonderful experience for me enjoying the bonfire as well sharing the moment while others having fun dancing around. Our enthusiasm last over 10pm and even it rained amid we never mind of getting inside and used the chairs as umbrella holding about the head and kept moving creating a new dance style!

Camp Fire

It was a moment like never experienced before so enthusiastically and the night might always remind in mind as treasure and even the entire trip was remarkable and memorable to never hide away.

Summer tree

Footnote:

I replaced this post after little work with Photoshop to promote the poem and picture of leafless tree take in front of my house… which is on rejuvenating process after stripping its leaves wholly.

Art by Jeevan

I painted this drawing few years back and I couldn’t remember what’s the name of the king was… But I guess he must be one of a Mughal empire. It’s been longtime I painted or drawn something and it’s not that I’m not interested or motivated by something to draw... it’s the drawback in physical activity of hands and stress keeps me away from painting. Laziness is also a reason for the lack of attempt to draw with tough hands hold to pen or pencil.

Angel’s trumpet - Frosty pink

Angel’s trumpet, also known as trumpet flower or the horn of plenty is a tropical shrub grows flowers up to 10 inches in long and 4” across.  These are the flowers that are mostly white in color, but they are in delightful forms of yellow, blue, red and pink decorating our yards and gardens.

Angel’s trumpet is richly scented, white, lily-like trumpets that hang downs are intoxicate fragrant in evening.  As they grow well on any good moist garden soil in full sun, I have seen them almost in cool climates on hill stations.

Ange’s Trumpets is a common name for two closely related genera in the Solanaceae family of Brugmansia and Datura; Brugmansia Frosty Pink is the name of this particular color of flowers that I captured in Kodaikanal.

Summer memories

The nature sun is very unkind towards us today for the first time in this season of summer and the heat waves are so rage making it ever so hot day of the year.  Usually this season might be wonderful at home with sea breeze rising by noon but today its quiet different with the usual breeze which instead of pleasing, rashes away. It’s an expected mighty during the peak season of summer, but still I wasn’t cared and hoped the usual sea breeze will blow away the heat but today it had joined hands along with it to become normal very later.

Usually this is one of my favorite seasons even the temperature raises to peak; the wind would bear nostalgic memories of past and caresses slightly during the empty afternoons. What mostly striking memories of this time was the vacation and happy days spent at granny home and along with cousins the holidays are the most charming phase of life with cool cadies, ice creams and juice items. Playing Ludo, snake ladder, monopoly and trade business has been a part of this season we play and the days would be totally noisy and most of our excitements were on afternoon under the water tank shadows on terrace and balcony where the cool breeze uplift me in air.

During summers these are the memories cherish me while taking back in to solace and the wind plays a major role in recollecting memories which swing me back front inside the heart. The wind is one of my inspirations during this season where some of the notable poems were written on this time and leaving mind to slim various thoughts, the afternoon calm give way to the deep insight to wind through the open windows. The crashing leaves, chattering squirrels and chirping birds are the nature resonant keeps the spirit upwards and self motivated towards the end of pleasing evening… writing a poem or letter from the heart, floating in the air.