Another level of challenge… waits ahead

A very difficult phase is waiting for us ahead. Before I say why, I need to tell my life isn’t myself but made of two more lives and do you want me to say what the other two was? Of course, who could be other than my mom and dad? We three were a ring of cycle and any damage or cause happens at any part of the circle will affect the rotate of the cycle. From the beginning, they were the two pillars supporting my entire life, though every parent support their children but the things carried out to be haven’t been same and my life is totally depend on them although they gave me complete freedom of thought and decision making of my own which has never been apart them. There have been many occasions where one has to take care of me in absence of another and they have managed it well all these years despite the difficulties but the upcoming days can’t be same as mom is waiting for a surgery tomorrow.

She has been suffering from prolapsed uterus for last few years and doctor has suggested her to go for operation to remove the uterus before it become complicate but she continued to postpone all these days only because of me – thinking who could lift me or help dad if she got operation. Because she was advised not (at all) to lift anything heavy post operation and complete rest for 45 days. Though the 45 days rest couldn’t be that matter since dad could manage (taking care of me) with the help of my brother and uncle, and the aunt and grandma could help making dishes. But quite no to lifting (for mom) will sure make a broken hand for dad and we can’t expect others to be there all the time and dad too has works to do and leaving alone mom could be very difficult. Though she could help me all other ways rather than lifting, will add load on dad and there will be the need of Hoist lot.

Lately she was feeling very difficult and pain in abdomen and it forced her to look out for a relief and remedy where there is the only option, an operation to acquire relief. She had never undergone a surgery in her life and being the first one, anxiety is not an easy thing to come out though she looks stronger and confidence and wanting for a relief is what I could see in her. She will be admitted to the hospital in evening for further check-ups before going into the operation tomorrow. Initially we prefer for a laparoscopic surgery but due to prolapse doctor decided to go for the surgical operation and she would be in hospital for next 3 days. I wish she got the best treatment and nothing goes out of planning (because we lost our great grandma a decade back due to a surgical mistake for the same cause) and this should be the first and last operation in her life. I have seen her suffering all these days and when she lifts me she would feel pain at abdomen later but despite these she continued to support me and I wish, and hope you too wish her the best, great sigh of relief.

Herd of Sheep

Those who follow me know that I love taking road-less travelled and every time I plan a trip I try to explore some unusual places and routes and this way I took an unusual road to Kodaikanal last year, which took me through refreshing sights. By taking this road I have covered all the motored roads to Kodaikanal, even though it’s a link road it takes through some beautiful mountain villages, including Thandikudi, where my uncle built the woodhouse. The 40 km detour takes us through newly scenes and experience of traveling. It was showering and drizzling alternately as we travel through the countryside, we come across herds of sheep blocking the road for a distance we could see.

Although it took few minutes for the shepherds to clear the sheep, seeing such big herd is a wonderful scene and allowed me to take photos on the same. Since it was about 4 pm, looks like the sheep are driven back to their shelter following grazing through the day. There were more than 3 big herds of sheep following one behind another and for us it was a long journey from Chennai and as we move close to the mountains the weather turned gloomy and rainy which was the reason I couldn’t get more clear photos and the following ones are shot from inside the car.

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Karimutty Waterfalls, Marayur

Following Thoovanam, we checked the Karimutty waterfalls on our travel to Munnar. The beautiful, fresh and natural waterfall is located on the end of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and 3km earlier to Marayur, the only town between Munnar and Udumalpet – from where we started our journey. The waterfall makes an impressive fall right next to the road and one could get a full view from the bridge across the waterfalls.

Few kms ahead to the waterfalls, we saw the water flowing down the mountains through thick vegetation and grasslands and the water is believed to have medicinal values as it passes through lot of herbs. Since it was slightly wet and drizzling weather, the waterfall makes feel cool and refreshing. There is a stair leading down to the waterfalls, provide a secure platform for people who desire to take bath and beside the falls there’s a room which I believe to be built for changing cloths.

Adjacent to the waterfalls, there’s a huge sculpture of an Indian Star Tortoise. I actually thought it was built to enhance the waterfalls but we find it was an Eco shop with an opening in the side, sells products made by the local tribal communities. The eco-shop also sell tea, coffee, biscuits and snacks along with some organic and herb products with the help of forest department. The Indian Star Tortoise structure here marks the existence of the endangered species more on the rivers along the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

My dad stood at the side of the falls, and our car parked aside the road (pic right above) and water running down across the bridge on other side of the waterfall 

This place is also facilitated by homestays and accommodation in forest guest house, from where one could take forest trek to Thoovanam waterfalls and Ancient dolmens and rock paintings date back to the Stone Age. Marayur is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forest from where one could learn more on the fragrant trees and is also popular for jiggery. Karimutty waterfall is located at a height of 500 meter, is a tributary to Pambar River flowing through the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Bird Watching and Red Whiskered Bulbul

Western Ghats is a great stretch of mountains, including valleys, dense forests and plantations of tea, coffee... according to the circumstance of height, soil and weather condition. It’s also home to innumerable species of trees, plants and shrubs and variety of birds and insects and wild animals. For the people of south and west coast of India, Western Ghats plays an important role as summer vacation with many parts of mountains or Ghats becomes a hill station where people visits when the plains turn hotter.

The view from the balcony on the rear side of my uncle's  woodhouse

Kodaikanal is one of a blissful part of the Western Ghats, comes under the Palani hills range and it’s the only hill station where I have been to more than 10 times. Since my uncle built the woodhouse (Smokey Haven) in the lower Palani hills or to say as half Kodai, staying atop the mountains has become easy and for last couple of years we have been visiting the mountains twice a year. Nestled amid woods, natural vegetation and coffee plantation, the place provides lot of opportunity to bird watch and listening to distinct note of birds. I call it as bird paradise but birds most of all smaller in size are difficult to find out but I try my best to capture birds every time I visit there.

Though there are number of birds in the vicinity of woods, adjoining the woodhouse, some birds are frequently spotted or to be a residential birds of woods. I have spotted even migratory birds flying all the way from Himalayas, which are difficult to believe looking at their tiny size. The bulbuls, magpie robins, eagles, woodpeckers are commonly found there but for me who sees once or twice a year turned to be surprise and blissful to watch and shoot. During my visit in December, it was raining and full of fog and mist but it didn’t stop me looking for birds and the Red Whiskered Bulbul was the one I able to shoot as it came perching the wire outside the woodhouse, despite light showering.

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Gates and Fences

During an off-roading to Adukkam on the eastern slope of Kodaikanal hills, we find some beautiful private guest houses around the coffee and orange plantations which are nicely fenced and gated to look out for. This is one simple gate and chain linked fence along the house that overlooks a valley.

Many traditional houses in Kodaikanl have a upper floor to dry coffee seeds and store things

Below is another beautiful house I simply like to own and it has elegantly designed gate and my favourite kind of driveway along with garden. Last month during my visit to Kodaikanal, I find some roadwork is going on the stretch and soon the road will be suitable to drive by cars. So far only SUV/MPS were able to venture this road that doesn’t play buses. The road through Adukkam village is the first motorized road to Kodiakanal, which has been abandoned so far after couple of better roads laid to the mountains.

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