On a Jaunt to Kodaikanal A family-outing on the Kodai Hills

Sun, Sep 13 2009 01:05 PM
The Palani Andavan temple stood majestic on the hill as we passed it on the way to Kodaikanal. The temple looked serene atop the hill despite the hustle and bustle of devotees and the hill seemed like a pedestal tailor-made made for the temple to stand on. The rope car, locally called as 'vinchu', was slowly chugging uphill carrying devotees.

We were a gang of eleven, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins taking our usual family trip. We wanted to visit a hill station and the choice was between Ooty and Kodaikanal. Ooty had been visited many times, so Kodaikanal it was. We had started at the crack of dawn with bags loaded hurriedly in the nooks and corners of the Sumo van. Our breakfast bag wasn’t fitting anywhere and it was the heaviest of our luggage. We take eating seriously! The music was put on full blast and we kept pestering our driver to change songs all the time. He was a patient man but he must have cursed the day he agreed to take us.... Read this destination

If Winter Comes

Sun, Feb 15 2009 11:05 AM
It’s snowing. It’s cold. Trees and streets are covered with snow. The days are short and cold and nights, chilly and stormy.  Folks, it’s winter out there.

Portrayed mostly as a season of miseries and monotony, winter is usually coupled with some merciless metaphors in literature: Winter’s frosty hair, weird winter, bleak, pale, foggy, dreary... The bards seldom liked winter.

But the heavens seem to love it. Jesus Christ and Buddha came to the earth in winter. Santa Claus arrives every winter, flashing his fluffy snowy white beard and squirting snow all around as he moves past.  It’s the season of starry nights and snowy days, and days fit for feasts and fiesta.

Those times are gone when people curled up in thick woollens by the fire. Those times are gone when people curled up in thick woollens by the fire. Now winter is just like any other season to get around... Read this destination

In the savannahs of Blue Mountains

Mon, Dec 15 2008 07:35 AM
Painted green inside with seat coverings in olive, the bus owned by KSRTC, was cleaner than we expected, was warm and seemed as much a part of the rain-soaked greenery outside.

A diffused green glow filled the whole atmosphere with in and outside the bus; the sweet aroma of the jasmine on the long interlaced hair of a dark beautiful Tamil girl sitting in front of us and the rain did the rest: the music. The KSRTC* buses don’t play music and the general impression is that they make a long journey endless! But there are times when you really love these dull red and yellow buses. They are silent, spacious, let you to be in your own world of dreams and they are never in a hurry!

And if you don’t have a vehicle of your own, board a KSRTC bus to Munnar and enjoy the jumbo ride in the Aana Vandi...
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Tryst with monsoon from Kerala

Mon, Dec 15 2008 07:35 AM
On a hot sunny day, I was heading towards Wayanad, the verdant district located in North Kerala. The rain clouds were hiding behind the blue skies until I reached Lakkidi, the place once renowned for registering the highest rainfall in the state for years. A two hour drive from Calicut takes you close to the nature and its splendors. The mountain trail has its own wonders through out the journey. Rocky streams, meandering roads, mist clad tea gardens, rustling leaves in the cool breeze. Driving through the lanes of Lakkidi en route to Kalpetta, headquarters of Wayanad, I could spot dark skies pregnant with rain clouds heralding the arrival of monsoon.

On the way, I stopped to get a view of the majestic Chembra hill, one of the highest peaks in Western Ghats and for some refreshment. A blowing cold wind and a roar! All of a sudden, the overcast sky unfurled its clouds... Read this destination