brahma kamalam

 

What a big gap-How time flies!

It was indeed a thrilling experience when i went to chennai recently to attend my closest childhood friend's daughter's marriage. i met their entire family. there's is a huge family i had seen many members when they very small. i suddenly was introduced to a 40 yr old lady with 2 grown up kids i had seen her as a small girl. Her face had not changed a wee bit. i realised how time and tide waits for no one.my friends kept introducing met to each and every member in an animated manner everyone were thrilled to see me .i feel everyone should keep in touch with close friends ,relatives.i feel more than anything people are important.we go through so many emotions in our span of life but we should cherish good experiences and time heals all bitter experiences.when we meet after a long time every thing changes for the better.We have only one life to live and lets live it to the very best.

Mahabaleshwar trip.

Eleven of us innerwheel club members of Hyderabad Central left for Pune on the 6th evening by the Mumbai Express. we decided to have a pot luck dinner in the train.5 of us were in one coach and 6 others in another coach.As it was a vestibule compartment we kept going from one coach to the other as though we owned the entire train.All of us sat together enjoying the dishes prepared by each member with lots of care and concern.we kept chatting like college students till we realized there are other passengers who would like to call it a day.The next day early in the morning we reached pune and we found our agent who arranged this trip waiting for us with huge van.so off we left for our actual destination Mahabaleshwar.It was raining cats and dogs. we checked in to Bharat hotel. we had four rooms with three members in each room.Though it was foggy and raining a lot nothing dettered us from exploring the hill. when we reached the Harrison point and the Kate point we could see nothing except fog,mist and we were walking between the clouds as Mahabaleshwar was 3000 ft high.we next went to the table point we hire 3 tongas The horses galloped on the mire though scared i enjoyed the daring ride in the rain.
In the shopping area we found huge colourfull umbrellas This area stretched to 2kms
we find lots razais,blankets,woolen clothing a shop full of wooden stuff,.a shop full of cane items.
next day we went to Panchgani. This hill station is famous for strawberries,juices and jams The varities of chikkis can never be found any where. we were soon greeted by the wonderful smell of corn heated in the fire
There is a huge strawberry farm .We could not see it as there was heavy downpour.Though this was not the typical tourist season we want to enjoy every bit in this rainy season getting soaked to the skin, trying to share umbrellas etc.
We came back to Pune . There we found lots of Alfonso mangoes sold by vendors. One of my friends took a whole crate of it back home.i bought lots of juices.We carried all the nice stuff and along with it wonderful memories back home on 10th morning.Every season has its own charm we had a great time holidaying in the rainy season.

Munnar tea estates

Munnar trip.

We left for Munnar from cochin we reached there dinner time we had booked our hotel at the highest point where it was not possible to go by our mini bus.the hotel people sent us a jeep to climb the very narrow ghat road which was very dark. It was like an adventure for us. we had reserved two cottages as we were 11 members.The next day we went to the Munnar lake and took a spacious motor boat .Some members even ventured on the speed boat, I would’nt dare to. .We, then went on an elephant ride and had great fun. Every hill stations have some points to see we saw 2 to 3 big waterfalls one was called Vallari falls.It was a wonderful sight on the way to Devi kolam.we find vast areas of tea.estates.We even went to a big spice store. Kerala is famous for its spices , fresh banana chips and tapioca chips.We were there just for a day but I would like advice readers of my post that when one wants holiday in Munnar one should go for 3 days . Kumargaon is famous for its canals where people ride in boats through these canals It is near Allepey. Idikki is another important place .We were unable to go to these places.due to shortage of time.We had spent some time in Cochin too.

sunset scenery

scene from Cochin houseboat