A brief on my vacation

I’m back from the vacation two days before and it was indeed a wonderful trip/time except for couple of my cousins and aunt/uncle who couldn’t make up to the vacation. We spent 8 nights at my uncle’s woodhouse/cottage in the Kodai hills or half-kodai, what Thandikudi is called and it is one of the longest vacations I had in my life apart staying at our close relative’s house during school days. Unlike last year we planned this trip earlier due to one of my cousin’s college reopening but at last they postponed the opening, so we went along our family 3 days before my uncle/aunt (who owns the cottages) arrives.

A new woodhouse being build up by the uncle at the Serene Woods

As usual this time too (staying from my uncle’s woodhouse/cottages, the Serene Woods) I got to explore and experience some new place and routes to keep it interesting. By this travel I have covered all motor accessible roads to Kodaikanal, though it was a link road for about 35-40km, I felt  awesome taking  this road that take me through some pristine falls sight and  environment that many unaware about. I’m someone always look forward for something new and different even if the destinations were same to make my travel interesting. I explored couple of mountain villages taking a road less travelled, with scenic mountains and fascinating houses to view.

Winding though woods and forest

During my stay I visited the Berijam Lake, in the wildest part of Kodaikanal, after a gap of 8 years. I have been to the placid lake area couple of time in the past and I truly love the enriched natural environment of flora and fauna. We went through really a tough experience obtaining permission to visit the lake as it was in a protected area, though there wasn’t trouble in getting permission but we were a bit careless to become exhausted. Other day I was on my favourite road (Dindigul to Kumily) to visit a scenic village on the foot hills of Bodi aka Bodinayakanur and it was a popular shooting spot where the Tamil movies Kumki and Myna has been shot.

One of the scenic roads i traveled

I always prefer for a relaxed travel and plan according to it because I couldn’t over strain myself and I can’t check various places at a time. Thanks my uncle for building a woodhouse/cottage on the lap of mountains bestows me with abundance chances of exploring various places around the Kodaikanal, Dindigul and Theni regions. The woodhouse and cottages named as Serene Woods, is a fabulous place to stay and relax and enjoy nature at bay. Amid the woods I truly enjoyed having breakfast listening to the sound of birds unlike watching TV at home. It was blissful spending time with cousins at my favourite environment of woods and visiting places around. 

More on the vacation and travel later… 

RGB Monday

A colorful family

The picture shot at Kodaikanal Lake Road is a random image, where you could see a family representing the colors of red, green and blue which I find apt to add to the meme. Apart that you could see bicycles of different kind and colors in the image, which are rented cycles, that tourist enjoys riding around the lake. And to the left, you could see a foot cart selling bread omelette and bajjis, which has become one of the top pick by tourist visiting the hill station.  I find the number of foot carts making similar business along the lake road has been in rise so much lately. 

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Colorful bicycles for the ride...

There's nothing like riding a bicycle, the best part of the activity around the beautiful lake of Kodaikanal. Though I never enjoyed such a moment, I sensed it from my many visits. Regardless of age, everyone enjoys their ride.

Furthermore, in this regard, check my former post on Kodaikanal lake and travel.

Sothuparai Dam - Periyakulam

Sothuparai Dam is 9km from Periyakulam on the foot of Kodaikanal hills or the Western Ghats of Palani Range; helps enrich the entire area of Periyakulam and beyond by run  as a perennial river Varaganathi. The catchment of the dam is a combine of rain and small streams of Kodaikanal hills and the release of water from Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal.

Grand vista of the dam and misty Kodaikanal hills at rear

The Dam at its full storage capacity of 2.831.m.cum might be a wonder and thriller to watch it overflow via the high spillway, but I could only image the scene since the monsoon got postponed that year of 2009, left the reservoir at its base.  The road to the dam is enchant by the groves of mango on both sides leaving mangoes hang out of fence, at a height of hand’s touching and could pluck even from the moving car.

Front view of the dam taken from floor bridge

We first reached the top of the dam by the road on the hill beside and got a refreshing view of vast green on the mango groves and a patch of concrete at a distance which is obviously the Periyakulam town. The road extends beyond the check post – near the gateway above the dam, and along the reservoir the road leads to a small hamlet on the hills called Agamalai, which is restricted for private vehicles to enter.

Rear view on the dam from a distance elevation

But the guard at the check post somewhat allowed us to drive on road along the reservoir, knowing our interest on forest and though we couldn’t find any animals as it was dry everywhere we got a great sight of the  dam rear and views beyond. The guard told us the road exists only for a few km on Ghats and after that it’s only on horseback one could reach the hamlets on the hills.

Close to bottom of the dam

The name Sothuparai is a combine to two Tamil words meaning ‘food and rock, and it is said to derive from the habit of people here who once used to take food on the rock boulders along the flow of river Varaganathi. The water released from the dam through an irrigation canal runs like a stream among the rocks and boulders during our visit since there isn’t enough water in dam… the water runs like a stream is distillated for drinking purpose of Periyakulam on its way.

Water flows from the dam via irrigation canal

Sothuparai is the second highest dam in Tamil Nadu, following the Sholayar  Dam of Valparai which comes first, and for more details on the dam check the photo below I captured on the board of information kept there. The dam has a small tunnel and irrigation canal and only during the heavy inflow the shutter seems to open large… and interestingly the care takers of the dam has left a  fishing hook above the canal to catch fish.

The dam is isolated from tourist or the general public; it has a small simple garden with beautiful lampposts and a floor bridge to cross the dam, to get a complete front view of the dam. The time we checked the dam, a log had took refrain on top of the spillway, which is supposed to be washed away during the flood and it decided to stay there. It may need another overflowing season to come down.

A small garden in front of the dam

First travel of the year – Javadu Hills

My first travel of the year happened on the weekend and we did a trip to Javadu Hills; which is a part of the shattered Easter Ghats Mountains, rose between the Vellore and Thiruvannamalai Districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Being a low-lying hill station among the others visited, it wasn’t too cold but being winter there was moderate cold at night, comfortably. And it was the reason for me to choose this time for experiencing some cold, and as I expected the morning was immense refreshing with atmosphere foggy or mist. But it doesn’t wonder me, because it was almost same the way sensed on plains once we touched the highways, out of city and home.

This is not from a hill station, but the hills beyond the Chengalpattu town among the fog.

It wasn’t like every day morning: for me regularly the morning means only after 8 or 8.30 am, the usual time I wake up whether it’s cold or hot no matter what. But I try my best everyday to wake up early and if not the passion for traveling, I wouldn’t be checking sunrise at all or unless bladder filled up to wake me early, that too not much less than the usual time. We experienced a fog of Kodaikanal or any other hill stations on the morning of Saturday and the fog visibly makes invisible the distance buildings, trees and towers and even the Kolava Lake of Chengalpattu lose its trace in gray white. Unlike the usual sight of stunning sunrise over the lake during our early morning rides and the fog lasted until 9.30 or 10am. The roads after Chengalpattu were state highways, which are my favorite lanes taking via scenic countryside’s that hardly visible through NH.   

Jamunamarathur is the capital village of the entire mountain range of Javadu, which has two ways to reach – one via Polur and Alangayam; and Jamunamarathur was the only place to accommodate on the hills, that too the government provided BDO (block development office) guest house. There are many towns close to the foot hills easily accessible via road and railways which also holds many hotels and lodges to accommodate. Gladly we took the Polur route which has a long ghat road section with half a dozen hairpin bends passing through forest division. Before taking the ghat or uphill road, someone needs to sign at the forest check post writing a reason to visit.

A lake near Uthiramerur

It took more than an hour to reach Jamunamathur from Polur and thanks to the GPS in my galaxy player; it was very easy for us finding routes on Google maps. We already booked rooms at the BDO guest house, seeking their phone number at the Thiruvannamalai district govt. website, the guest house had been handed over to a private person in charge who maintained it well. We requested for a ground floor room and also before reaching there we contacted the person in charge on the way, but initially he told someone had haired the ground floor and later discussing with the other describing my state, they decided to shift the room so kindly and humble. Thanks so much to those unknown kind hearted and the wise man who arranged the rooms for us.

(To be continued…)

Periyakulam – the mango city

Two years back I visited this picturesque municipal town in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India and at an elevation of 282 meter; the place offers a wonderful weather overall the year. Located at the foothills of Kodaikanal, the Western Ghats offer a splendid wall to the city and at night its a delightful sight to check the lights on Kodaikanal hills.

An unknown peak of Western Ghats captured from the room.

Periyakulam is also known as ‘Mango City’ and it’s a major supply of mangoes throughout the state and its greater support was the perennial river ‘Varaganathi’, which runs in east-west direction dividing the town into equal half namely Vadakarai and Thenkarai – north and south bank. The river start at the foot of the Kodaikanal hills and joints with the Vaigai River is known for its sweet water which flow from the Berijam Lake in Kodaikanal.

The Mango groves near Periyakulam

The name Periyakulam is referred to two Tamil words equivalent to Big Tank of this town. The former Chief Minister and present Finance Minster of Tamil Nadu, Mr. O. Paneerselvam hails from this town... which has 100 years of municipal history and its one of the oldest town in Tamil Nadu.

One of a Horse cart on the Periyakulam main road

It’s been sometime I want to write a post on Periyakulam and I spent two days visiting around its places and I share here few picture captured then and it is a town where still horse carts exists for transportation. There are few interesting and popular places around this town... and let see more on it further down in posts.

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Colorful Street Shopping

I didn’t shop anything there and this is a scene outside the Bryant Park in Kodaikanal and these shops sell mostly t-shits, sweaters, handbags and hats. The road along the Kodaikanal lake has many shops alike selling colorful things to attract tourist. 

Have a nice week ahead 

Coaker’s walk and Pillar rock!

I’m swing in bliss, because its mist.

For everyone kodaikanal mean something and for me it’s totally mist, and lately the beautiful lake. One morning I went on wheels through Coaker's walk and it was completely covered in mist in a disappointing way to everyone in getting views, but I really enjoyed a lot like on one and leisurely moved with cold mist. Entering either way, the small tea stall at entrance greeted me with memories of having cuppa at couple of times in past, the taste and warmth comes to sits at my tongue. Further moving into the path way that goes along the edge of mountain and half a km in distance, it was quite bliss with cold breeze and mist like ever sensed before.

Along the way there’re countable pavement shops selling fury toys, wooden decorative items and photos adding on cups… but nothing interest me like mist, except few wooden cars in a shop and baked peanuts.

Coaker’s walk always interest me at leisure and passing through this lane is simple pleasure and unvaried sill. The panoramic view of beautiful valley, with clouds floating sometime, to far away towns, lakes and hills are indeed splendid on a cloudless day and it’s a view point unlike others almost covered in mist. Telescope tower at one end of the path gives a chance to see far away places at close distance, but I wonder why do people pay and look through the lens when white screen confined there views in mist. The flowers grown beneath the slopes in red and yellow are very pretty to see, including the hanging flowers in white and pink at one end. The Coaker deriving its name from Lt. Coaker, who discover this footpath in 1872 and drew map to kodaikanal, cleared my query at last.

After wander at Coaker’s walk our next stop was at Pillar rocks. At 400 feet height, three rocks stand proximately is one of nature’s wonderful formations. The chamber between the pillars is known as devil’s kitchen – a hallow cave, also known as guna cave. The pillars are often covered by mist and as usual the clouds played hind and seek with us leaving little space to cover the splendid. But what disappointed me a lot was the situation of pillar rocks lately, with many shops shifting the place completely leaving behind a hard sign and sight of pillars. I see how people are such follies to turn over the significant of this place, and I just wanted to ask those shop owners, do we came over here to see the arrangements of your shops blocking the pillar rocks?

Kodaikanal, being one of the important tourist place in country, it’s damn what the government is doing than cleaning these encroachments. I would say princess of hills losing her beauty to encroachments of buildings and shops, and ones the pristine beauty is polluted now somehow.

RGB Monday

Today’s post will have something more colorful, connecting two peace loving countries. Yes, I see the relationship between the Tibet and India exhibit through these photos and how well they coordinate to do their business.

Below is an image carrying colorful flags above a row of Tibetan shops on the Kodaikanal Lake road.

The shops that sells woolen clothes seems to have a fixed rate for their products, forming a Tibetan welfare association they work in a way of supporting  each other. You could see a name board placed above the shop, thanking India for supporting the Tibetan causes with the images of the fathers of both the nations.

Above is another set of shops from the same array, bearing the board of their association and being a hill station most of their products are woolen blankets and scarfs to keep the nights warm and comfort. 

Kodai celebration (Theakkadi)

Natural views form Theni to Kambam route

Our travel towards Theakkadi was awesome. Two side of sky touching mountains with clouds spreading on it (they are west continue hills) and green fields was really cool for my eyes. I was telling to my dad, if we live, we should live here (in the surrounding of Theni or Kambam (Theni is a district in Tamil Nadu). I don’t know how to explain what I feel, it was a dream come true to travel on these place, where I saw in movies and craved.

Theakkadi Lake

I have crossed the bored and went to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, but first time I went inside the Kerala, I was sad when we were coming down form the hill, but when they said the Theakkadi was in the top of hill, the happiness come again. The Theakkadi was a big lake, which leads to Peariyar Dam. It was 4.00pm when we reach Theakkdi, the climate was very cool, we are the last passengers to buy ticket, if we come 5 minutes late we have missed the boat. It was a doubly deck boat, I went near the water in the wheel chare and shifted to chare. My uncle, brother and our car driver carry me inside the Boat. The boat ride was continued for an hour, the boat went slowly, so ever one can watch the animal on the shore.
I expect to see Elephants and tigers, but saw only dears, one Forest Bull, and a crocodile lying on the shore. The travel on the Boat was unforgettable; the broken tress in the middle of water, the boat, and the lake, which was surrounded by beautiful mountains, chili drizzle ect…. We expect that the boat will go near the Dam, but they have turned. We were searching for animal in the Binocular, suddenly every one was shouting elephant elephant, when we go near only realized they are forest officer wearing black raincoat, it was a big joke. After finishing the boat ride and arrived Kumli (town near Thekkadi) the heavy rain started, my mom went to buy pepper in the near shops, the pepper will be very pure in this place and we had a tasty coffee there in the rain, drinking some think hot in the rain is Wow!

Kumbakkarai Water Falls in Peariyakum

After we come down form the hill, we met our relative who was a break inspected in the boarder of the Kerala, he booked a room for us in Kambam (one of the boarder town in Tamil nadu) and we stayed there. Next day we come to know after we come down form the hills there was heavy wind and trees broke down and blocked the traffic, good time we retuned soon, or else we have been caught in the middle of the forest. On Tuesday 30 on our way to chennai, we went to Kumbakkarai Water Falls in Peariyakum, the water come to this falls is form Kodaikanal, the water has medical conduct, my cousins enjoyed taking bath in the falls. This was the last place we visit and our vehicle headed to Chennai while returning our driver drew the car very fast and arrived our home at 9.30pm.

Princess of hills

Portrait by Jeevan (click image for enlarge)

I just find her very pretty

wrapped around in scarf
and like a beautiful flower
she blooms a smile
as mysterious as mist;

Taking a step at back
and holding hands across,
she gave an impressive pose
with a little charm on face
which I still feel adorable;

The picturesque lake of kodai
in mist backdrop, enhanced…
leaving aside a small shrine
and least visible on water lilies
embrace a sense of spiritual.

The elegant outfit
and the worn around scarf
resembles a style of Kashmiri
unlike the crown of Himalayas
she’s the princess of hills.

Footnote: The one looks so favorable to shoot was none but my sweet (cousin) sister Dhana! She is always charming, and esp. during our vacation in Kodaikanal - which is called Princess of Hills, she was enchanting and I captured this one while she was standing casually on the lake pavement.  I thank her for giving me such a lovely pose seeing me shooting at her and I must say it is one of a beautiful and best portrait I have done.

RGB Monday

 

While the farmers were busy washing, and packing carrots in sacks (what you saw in my previous post here) I found this little temple peacefully located adjacent to the activity of farmers, adding quiet to the afternoon.  Leaving back others at  Kukkal lake bank, where we picnicked last year July during vacationing at my uncle’s woodhouse near Kodaikanal, my cousin and I drove down the road from the lake just to see what lies beneath and was pleased to spot this temple in a fresh coat of paint. Google maps mark this as Amman (goddess) temple and I get no details other than that. But I guess it's a popular temple among the village people from an image I saw in google where people throng in average numbers. 

PowerShot Sunday - Fresh Carrots

Here are a couple of photos I shot at Kukkal, a terrace farming village on Kodaikanal hills. We find few farmers washing their unearthed carrots dumped near the Kukkal Lake and after finish washing using the lake water that exit though a small shutter. The carrots are loaded into jute sacks and left on the road side for loading in a truck. These photos are shot last year, when I visit Kukkal first time and even we visited this place in June there was similar showering. 

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One pleasant noon

It’s quite calm after we come across Barijam junction in kodaikanal, except few vehicles pass on, its more nature and we. In search of nice place to have lunch, we stopped somewhere to wonder that it was the same place we had our breakfast a decade ago. It’s a piece of grass land and green bush surrounded.

The wind blows so cold and pleasure; and we parked our vehicle beside and spread the mat. More than having lunch, it was the place that impressed me and wanted to finish lunch soon and to move few distance along the road. It was quite pleasure and I was on wheels, along the pine shrubs and eucalyptus trees for sometime. There was a pristine stream then and it still exists. But sadly it was surrounded by waste wrappers and dumped litters today.

On the way I saw this guy training his horse by sitting on its back, riding fast and on paces in kodaikanal. The horse sounds like worn horseshoes and seems like it was on sever training by his owner and thus the horse obeys his order, bearing the whips he gives. The strike just resonates still in my sense and the sound it response to his sudden brake, like a car strikes. I just wonder, how much strain does those horses that merrily goes around the Kodai Lake, should have born to bear visitors on its back to sustain and kind being!

With less than couple of rounds, he rides away... and we get packed and moved, after sometime being relaxed.

A visit to Bryant Park

One evening we went to Bryant Park in kodaikanal and it has very nice footpaths now; to sustain smooth movement to check the beautiful flowers in clusters to various types, colors and fragrance. The Flowers on exhibit has many lovely roses on the right side, looking away the fully bloomed and damaged, the little ones draw me a lot.

The Bryant Park on the eastern side of the Lake is one important tourist attractions in kodaikanal and this park was planned and built by H.D.Bryant - a forest officer from Madurai, in 1908 and was named after him. The 20.5 acres of landscape garden has 325 species of trees including century old and conducts annual flower shows are in month of May.

There nothing attracts me like the flowers and being crowd less there’s no pressure of disturbance. The way it all arranged, simply observes. The dahlias seem so tiresome and head falls, and only to think so it was even-tide with minutes to go dusk, and looking away those purple flowers stands alike sticks, strikes me when I see it near to realize those are leaves that turns purple and pink when elevate.

The park has green gardens that elevates with few conical trees and one tree has its part to attract to take few snaps with no fair back-ground. The other side of the park has thick grass floor to play and roll, and it has some designed structures of fruits, being cut down to sit around the white pillar, painted national flag and emblem on the top. I sense much cold here with tall trees closely surrounded.

It has an artificial pond looks alike and the flowers on exhibit looks pretty cool from the higher place. The park also has glass houses that said to have saved mist to keep some flowers exist and taking photos have been prohibited here, the steps doesn’t allow me to visit though. We spent sometime chatting over there on garden and enjoying the cold weather with clouds getting together to look alike yet to rain.

There was a young couple, seems like came over to honeymoon, brought a camera man along with them and takes varies shots around the park, and comes up with some romancing shots lying on either laps. Everyone at present turns a quick look at them and few express in envy to have not such opportunities in there life at there early marriage. There was another guy lied down by facing the pillar, with hands as his pillows seems like thinking about his future and his mate sitting beside busy with cell phone.

PowerShot Sunday – Easter Eggs

No, these eggs are not prepared for Easter but I find it appropriate to post today. Since Easter is celebrated everywhere and eggs are a part of this festival, I tried connecting it here. These eggs are actually boiled while we picnicked near Kodaikanal, on the bank of Kukkal Lake, during last year vacation. It was truly fun the way we made certain things under shower (rain), eggs were one of side dish along with chicken sixty five we cooked on Lake Bank. Thinking now is quite fun and cool!  

PowerShot Sunday is a series I begin with this post now and I have number of photos to share under this title, perhaps come out solely and photos I could not arrive with specific post, will be posed here. PowerShot is the name of the camera model I use from Canon. I have two PowerShot cameras in 8 and 12 megapixels and lately I mostly use 12mp (sx220 hs) rather 8mp (sd850 is) which has some lens problem, but macro is fine. 

Like always the photos here will be posed through Flickr (copy paste the code) and I used this mainly for easy uploading and getting pictures without lose its richness. I opened Flickr account along with blogger but I wasn’t active there unlike last few years which enhanced more now. Blogging is something could not match with anything! 

Backing the Memories

Friend Balar has tagged me to write about my eight-summer holidays. Here is mine (a big post!!)

Summer holidays are very expected times that too in our school and collage days. For me holiday is as usual like others its grannies house. My grandpa house is just 2km from my house, in my childhood days I go there in weekends and come, but on holiday times only I could stay their and I enjoy with my sweet aunty. I used to roaming behind my aunty wherever she goes, we both go to her friend’s house, beach, and cinemas... Bro and me would like to fight with her with pillows and some times even with broomsticks hehe… Playing with the tube water, spraying on each other, bathing in the water tank at grandpa bull shed are the days that never comes again. After aunty was married our visit to grandpa house has reduced, but it’s really fun if the grannies houses have a terrace. We usually spend our times in the terrace by leaving kits. In this my bro fly kits well, we also used to put maanja (no English meaning) for the thread, not like using glass piece or rust, with the Kolamavu (the powder used to draw kolam) and color calcium power that used for whitewashing house.

Visiting grandpa’s village is another fun, the green fields, playing in vayakkal (canal) and bathing in pump set is a wonderful enjoyment. In our village visit there was this interesting sight kattukku porathu (going to forest), to pick cashew nuts. Going there is very thrill as the forest was under government, its risk to go inside, but we go with our uncle to pick cashew fruits and nuts; we kids collect the nuts that was spills and bring it to field. Then we burst the nuts in fire and my uncles distribute our shares. After eating nungu (Palmyra fruit) we create this adventure vehicle called nungu vandi (Palmyra vehicle), I love to drive this vehicle. Taking two nungu and connect with a bough and another stick to push it is called two-wheeler and single wheeler is taking a bending stick and connecting with it. To add more fun, we take the dry plam leaf and stick it with big thorn and drive in the village streets, it gives this tap tap tap sound.

In one of my holiday to my relative village, my cousin and me were walking inside the Savukku grove (the trees that use for burn fire) that we always do to reach the lake. That day in the middle of the grove we were shocked to see this cow was died, and being alone we screamed in the fear, and my cousin run from that place quickly, as I was running slowly I couldn’t see him near. I was crying in fear and confuse which way to go and the thoughts of the ghost rumors were threatening me and with a different sound from the grove was more shivering with me and only I could reach the house after roaming sometimes inside the grove. After this I have little fear on the groves.

The most excite expectation was to visit my small grandma house near Chengalpattu. They live in a calmness place with little house and hills surrounding, it’s the place for us to enjoy well with my cousin aunty (she is a year elder than me) and uncle. We spend much time to story taking (kadhai peasa) and playing dice, going to their garden. Sitting behind the cycle with uncle and rounding all places is our main work, and escaping from my bro who cries to come with us. Going to Thirukkalukundram and visiting temples, going around the hill on full moon days is what I like, esp. to eat sundal, pongal that was given by houses around the hill.

My first long time travel for the holidays and very enjoyable one was to Ooty. That was a big story till we start and end our trip. We had this big travel in the small Maruti car with 5 adults and 3 children (that time i was 11 years old), including the bags. Climbing the hill was so pleasant the chill wind experience is awesome. Rolling in the green grass at botanical garden, being with my little cousin the trip was enjoyable. Driving on the Ooty-Mysore road was a jungle safari; near mudumalai sanctuary we find dozens of elephants, monkeys, dears... The cool breeze, in the calmness road we making noise esp. shouting Veerappa ennga irukka (calling the sandalwood smuggler veerappa, where are u), that was the times veerappan were involved in kidnapping, that was funniest :D Going to the great Mysore Palace, beautiful and the tired waking on Krishnarajasagar Dam to watch dancing water. In that trip the more adventures and fearful place was this Hogenakkal. Traveling in the Parisal (Coracle) in the 60-foot deep water, the bathing in the falls and the canal, hot fish fry on the banks are superb.

My first time holidaying in kodaikanal (my most favorite hill station) was very stressful, even thought with some kind hearts I managed to enjoy with pain. The place we stayed was like an old bungalow, but mornings were very different, with rose flowers blooming around our house. Last year we were with our whole family to kodai, with the help of wheel chair I could go everywhere, the mist filled sight in Coaker walk, drizzle rain allover are awesome season. The road leads to kodai to thekkady was great sense, the both sides are sky raised hills and green fields, different language. The boat ride in Thekkady was shivering joy.

Its 10 years since this summer holidays we visit Ooty, very happy to write the memories again here. First pic was from Ooty, with my family, the boy in violet coat is me:) the 2nd one was the car we travel to ooty. Thanks for giving time to my big post!

I send this tag to one and only Thooya:)

PowerShot Sunday - Bubbles

Bubbles are fun elements blown through breathe, using a chemical liquid or soap and dipping a straw at one end and blow it through the other. I hope everyone would have enjoyed blowing bubbles in their childhood and even later at age, like I still used to rope up chances whenever to blow bubbles. We also used to look after other, who blows a big bubble and number of bubbles in a blow.

I blown bubbles lately during our vacation in Kodaikanal (a popular hill station) last year, buying bubbles containers from one of the vendors wandered around the Kodai Lake. Apart having fun blowing bubbles, I also did some photo shoot pointing on the bubbles blown by my cousin and the one posed here bear some edit focusing on the bubble.

Bubbles transport us to childhood, whether we blow or look at other were nostalgic. During my childhood days I have blown bubbles number of times and whenever visiting T. Nagar (shopping hub of Chennai) I used to get bubbles sold in front of the Kumaran Store or walk into Ranganathan Street.  I have also used hair shampoos to blow bubbles, but the number would be at least unlike bottle of bubbles brought from street vendors. 

RGB Monday

I see more than a shade of red, green and blue there!   

(Click pic for enlarge)

The picture was shot at Kodaikanal pointing at a shop that sells cloths along the Lake Road, and looks like the salesman was looking for customer. It was late evening when I shot the photo, while waiting opposite to the shop to have some tea in the cold weather and the shop was illuminated  and the cloths where enhancing to shoot in different colors. Being a hill-station the shop sells dresses that suit for cold season and you could see t-shirts, sweaters, jackets and jerkins there and he also sells colorful scarfs to wear around the neck. 

Albatross Elaichi Luxury Suite, Yelagiri

Trip to Yelagiri, Day 1 Arrival, follows:

Although the check-in time was noon, we arrived at the Albatross Elaichi Luxury Suite in  Yelagiri at about 4 p.m. We ordered tea as soon as we arrived, and it was a welcome break from the journey and a way to digest the late meal we had eaten before climbing the hill. 

I love their trendy villa sign.

The Albatross is a beautiful and comfortable place to stay in Yelagiri. They offer luxury villa suites at a reasonable price! There are many accommodation options available at Yelagiri, and our preference was an individual cottage away from the center of tourist attractions as we wanted a calm stay. 

There were fewer cottages in Yelagiri that met our expectations (accessible in a wheelchair and elevated no more than a step or two) at a reasonable price. While there are resorts and hotels with easy access, our budget and expectations differ, so we choose the one that makes us feel the most at ease. 

From the front gate, a GoPro shot of the villa in super-wide mode. 

We saw the Albatross villa suites first on Airbnb and subsequently obtained their phone number from their website. The owner was kind enough to respond to our inquiries and send us images of the property, which we promptly reserved. The property has a modest lawn in front and backyard but is beautifully maintained; each suite has a flower bed outside, and I loved the hibiscus and roses that bloomed to add charm to the villa. 

The beautiful front yard and driveway, as well as me. 

I liked everything about this place that looks simple, clean, and welcoming. 

Each suite has a living room and a bedroom with an attached bathroom; both the rooms have a queen-size bed, plus a television, couch, and dining table in the hall. They also offer free wifi, which we didn't bother to check as we use our mobile data, and a/c in the bedroom. 

Bright winter sunset at Yelagiri

Being a late winter season, the weather in Yelagiri became cold after sunset, just as the day had begun for us in Chennai with fog. I can feel the cold, which is half the temperature of Kodaikanal or similar to Thandikudi, where we visit (and stay at my uncle's woodhouse) regularly until 2019. 

We had no plans for that day because I wasn't sure about other places (accessible by wheelchair) besides the lake and nature park that I had seen on my previous visit. I wasn't interested in seeing those places again, and I had no plans for the trip other than to see what unfolded along the way. 

Another specialty of staying at the villa is the delicious food cooked and served by their chef, Manikandan. They gave us complimentary breakfast for the two days we stayed there, and for the first-day dinner, we ordered dosa and uthappam. As a side dish, he gave chutney sambar and chicken gravy. Though it was very spicy, it treated the taste buds. 

Night, we slept in the living room bed while my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew slept in the bedroom. Although the night was quiet, we got to listen to various bird sounds at dawn and dusk because the property is just across from Yelagiri Bird Park. I couldn't get to the bird park even if I stayed directly across the street since the surface was not suitable for wheelchair access. 

Albatross is an excellent place to stay, especially for families. They don't allow bachelors, and you can't drink or smoke, so I recommend it. The rooms are simply decorated with wall stickers and painted frames to cheer us up during our stay. The gated villa offers car parking on the premises, and it feels secure with CCTV. The staff who are staying next door are on-call round the clock.