Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Sunday, October 08, 2017
Knocked down Butterflies
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Exploring Kodai-Kumbakkarai Route, the very first road to Kodaikanal
The view of narrow winding road from the Adukkam village towards Kumbakkarai falls, which we didn't take. |
The pristine mountains and valleys... you could see a lone house (in white color) at a distance |
Awesome view of mountains and ridges across the valley |
Here's a view on the Adukkam village nestled in the valley and below is a close up on the same |
The village is surrounded by hill banana plantation |
The red coffee beans, what the old woman said no to capture! |
Friday, August 04, 2017
Lovely Sky Watch I
The above two were shot around Ulundurpet |
Friday, July 21, 2017
A brief on my vacation
A new woodhouse being build up by the uncle at the Serene Woods |
Winding though woods and forest |
One of the scenic roads i traveled |
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Mulaipari - A technology to choose right seeds!
Monday, July 20, 2015
RGB Monday (doors and frames)
Sunday, August 06, 2017
Green Hearts
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Fence and Flowers – Pinto Premium White to Rose
Linking this post for Good Fences by Gosia and Floral Friday Foto
Thursday, August 20, 2020
A Weather, Reminder of Mountains
The weather has been pleasant and cools these days (in Chennai) and it wasn’t raining either but still, the clouds, continue to seize the
sky, kept low the temperature that lures me to dream of mountains. Though not
exactly, I feel a mild cold in the air to embrace me and my mind cling to the
memories of the same feel. It’s been more than a year I visited mountains or stayed
overnight other than the home esp. this cool weather is impossible to restrain the
thoughts of Smokey Haven or what I call a bird paradise – Thandikudi – nestled
in the lower Palani hills of Kodaikanal. It was a place that wasn’t too cold as
Kodai or hot as plains but comfortable weather to stay all day out exploring
the locality of coffee and pepper plantations and listening to birds in woods.
Glad my uncle built his wood houses there,
so it was always a hassle-free and home-like stay for us and it would be fun if
two more families of my uncles join the stay. I too used to the comfort of the
woodhouse or to say my uncle had built the house easily accessible by the wheelchair
so that I could visit it anytime without difficulty. He knows how I enjoy
staying into nature or travel to hills and the woodhouse was first executed
for personal use before the idea of renting happen. The weather is one pleasing
thing about this place and no matter what the season was, it never drops out of
comfort and the weather in Chennai right away is something that makes the mind think
about. Perhaps due to Aadi (the season with high wind blow, falls between
July-August) is believed to bring a successful year of rain and these cloudy
moments brings hope as the southwest monsoon had smashed this year.
I leave you with some nature and cool images
for the glimpses of the locality from different times of the visit. I love
being there any time of the season and it has something to please or offer with
the arrival of differences in nature like the migration of birds, flowering
environment and wind.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Herd of Sheep
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
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. |
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.
Monday, July 08, 2013
Firefly
enough for
invisible particles
is a real life fantasy
and indeed fun.
Tuesday, April 03, 2018
From my Trip to Mountains
My uncle's woodhouse called Smokey Haven |