After the awesome chilly cool weather of Nilgiris, we came down to the jungle. Halfway down the hill, the heat hit us we wanted to go right back up to Destiny.
We had booked for the night in Safariland in Masinagudi. It was pretty easy to find the place as it was on the main road itself. we went there about 3pm, pretty late for lunch but they had kept lunch for us. We had it. It was not great but ok. The property had a complete bamboo garden. Then immediately after lunch the guys at the place told us about Moyar Road, that is the parallel road to the road from Masinagudi to Ooty. You have to take a left at Masinagudi junction. He asked us to drive in that road a little slowly and not to get down from the vehicle whatsoever. We were also pretty cautious as we had kids in the car with us. We saw a lot of peacocks & peahens, deer, and Sambar. We also saw a red indian fox as soon as we entered the road. If one of the other guides from the vehicle in front of us had not slowed down, we would have completely missed it or ignored it thinking it was just a dog! :-). It was sitting on the compund of an abandoned building.
We went further into the jungle on that road and we saw a sambar waiting to cross the road. It literally did a stuckoo dance to cross the road and gave us a good sighting.
We went till the end of the road and found the most amazing reservoir - Moyar reservoir. It was a beautiful, breathtaking place. sad we did not take any pictures. they would have been nice clicks! coz we thought we are going back tomorrow morning to that place. The wind was teeth-clattering cold there.
Then we went back to the resort. they had organized a camp fire. We sat around it for sometime and then had dinner and were putting the kiddos to sleep when one of the employees of the resort came to us with a plan. He said he will take us on the safari to the interiors of the jungle to some of the watering holes. If we are lucky, we will atleast find some elephants. We got up at 5am in the morning, woke the kids up and went in the jeep he had got. They took us for a 2 hour drive into deep jungle but alas! we were not lucky even to find a single deer let alone elephants :-)!!
But the drive was beautiful and all through the journey the kids slept :-)!!
we came back to the resort at 7.30, had breakfast and lazed around for a bit. We left from there at 11.30 back to the concrete jungle :-(! But we were a little dejected coz we did not even see a single wild elephants. after coming till the road to Gudlur, all of a sudden my hubby came up with a bright idea and took us up to Gudlur as this route also is a part of the dense jungle. We then saw a set of elephants but not wild. We went all the way to Gudlur and then took the route to Sultan Bathery, Kerala to come to Gundlupet through the Mathunga wild reserve - dense forest. It took us 2 hours and 60+ kms more than the original route But the winding roads, mountains and the view was out of this world. We had not done this stretch earlier.
We stopped in Sultan Bathery for lunch. Left for Mysore 3pm. On the way in the Mathunga wild reserve, we finally spotted a herd of elephants ;-) it was actually a family of elephants. They were crossing the road and took quite a while to do it. We had a great oppurtunity. we kept going a little distance and then take a U-turn, go back in the other direction. We did that for a quite someting and Neethi was a little anxious trying to hide near my foot in the car :-D!! saying what if they chase us, stomp our car etc., etc., :-)!! But after this sighting we were all content and thanking ourselves for taking the longer route!!.....
We came back to BLR @8.30pm without any other major incident!!
It was a great trip for the kids and a nice little break for us too...
Already waiting for the next one thats going to be in May :-DD!!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wanderlust!! - Part !
I have these urges to get out of this concrete jungle atleast once every 3 months if not less!! I was getting restless by end of March as my last trip was in december 2011- a little over 3 months already.
My daughter started with her summer holidays on 29th of March and off we went on a small trip on 30th March.
I had planned all this before hand :-)! Had included S&M, asked them if they and their little one V would also join us on a trip. They agreed and we had S's nephew, P also coming with us.
I had heard a lot about this place 25-30 kms after Ooty. A friend of mine had also visited earlier and only had praises for the place - Destiny Farm Stay, Ooty. I called them and booked 2 rooms for us. The idea was, we would do 1 day in the Nilgiri mountains and the next in Safariland,Masinagudi jungle.
We left on the 30th early morning. They came to our place at 5.45 in the morning. We stopped in Mysore for breakfast @8in Aramane restaurant. had a hearty breakfast. Then we were on our way again. We stopped again at 9.30am in PugMark restaurant in Bandipur ( Jungle Lodges) this is usually our pit stop every single time we have gone to Ooty in the last 4 years that now it has turned almost into a ritual. ;-)!Then we were on our way again to Ooty at 10am. We reached Ooty at about 11.15.am. We stopped again in CCD in ooty for another hour. Then we took the long route to the Destiny farm, went around Ooty. By the time we reached their office, we were tired and almost sick. but the drive was an awesome on nevertheless.
We reached Destiny only at 2pm. As soon as we saw the place, we forgot all or tiredness - the property was a piece of heaven that slipped to earth by mistake. The view was breath taking. We had left our vehicle in their main office as the road leading to the property is not pliable in our own vehicle unless it is a 4-wheel drive.They had animals - horse, cow, sheep, hen, geese, duck, rabbit. They have their own vegetable patch and grew all kinds of veggies. The food was delicious as it was prepared with fresh ingredients from their own farm. After lunch, we went down for a walk till the lake down far below- It was almost like a trek with the 2 little ones. They enjoyed it immensely. We just sat down in the lawn, played kiddie games :-). They had a camp fire and also a disco. The kids wanted to dance, we took them inside and they both danced and enjoyed a lot. We also became children and lost ourselves in the moment. We had oodles of fun! In the morning we got up, had a leisurely breakfast and left this place at 11am to go to Masinagudi. We stopped in Ooty town for some chocolates. Ooty was nice and chilly but as we started descending down the mountain, the heat hit us in waves and we wanted to go back up again. The view on the way down also was amazingly beautiful. We stopped on the way down for a cuppa of Chai and it was yumm! The right reddish brown color - which is my gauge for a perfect tea. I had 2 cups of the same and then we descended to Earth!
There is a second episode on our adventures in Safariland which is yet to be updated so do come back for Day-2 update.....
My daughter started with her summer holidays on 29th of March and off we went on a small trip on 30th March.
I had planned all this before hand :-)! Had included S&M, asked them if they and their little one V would also join us on a trip. They agreed and we had S's nephew, P also coming with us.
I had heard a lot about this place 25-30 kms after Ooty. A friend of mine had also visited earlier and only had praises for the place - Destiny Farm Stay, Ooty. I called them and booked 2 rooms for us. The idea was, we would do 1 day in the Nilgiri mountains and the next in Safariland,Masinagudi jungle.
We left on the 30th early morning. They came to our place at 5.45 in the morning. We stopped in Mysore for breakfast @8in Aramane restaurant. had a hearty breakfast. Then we were on our way again. We stopped again at 9.30am in PugMark restaurant in Bandipur ( Jungle Lodges) this is usually our pit stop every single time we have gone to Ooty in the last 4 years that now it has turned almost into a ritual. ;-)!Then we were on our way again to Ooty at 10am. We reached Ooty at about 11.15.am. We stopped again in CCD in ooty for another hour. Then we took the long route to the Destiny farm, went around Ooty. By the time we reached their office, we were tired and almost sick. but the drive was an awesome on nevertheless.
We reached Destiny only at 2pm. As soon as we saw the place, we forgot all or tiredness - the property was a piece of heaven that slipped to earth by mistake. The view was breath taking. We had left our vehicle in their main office as the road leading to the property is not pliable in our own vehicle unless it is a 4-wheel drive.They had animals - horse, cow, sheep, hen, geese, duck, rabbit. They have their own vegetable patch and grew all kinds of veggies. The food was delicious as it was prepared with fresh ingredients from their own farm. After lunch, we went down for a walk till the lake down far below- It was almost like a trek with the 2 little ones. They enjoyed it immensely. We just sat down in the lawn, played kiddie games :-). They had a camp fire and also a disco. The kids wanted to dance, we took them inside and they both danced and enjoyed a lot. We also became children and lost ourselves in the moment. We had oodles of fun! In the morning we got up, had a leisurely breakfast and left this place at 11am to go to Masinagudi. We stopped in Ooty town for some chocolates. Ooty was nice and chilly but as we started descending down the mountain, the heat hit us in waves and we wanted to go back up again. The view on the way down also was amazingly beautiful. We stopped on the way down for a cuppa of Chai and it was yumm! The right reddish brown color - which is my gauge for a perfect tea. I had 2 cups of the same and then we descended to Earth!
There is a second episode on our adventures in Safariland which is yet to be updated so do come back for Day-2 update.....
Superficial (Artificia)l World!!!!
I am really worried that we are getting our children into a very superficial world where they are learning that looks are of the the upmost importance!! we are not teaching them these things but they are learning all the wrong values...and thinking in their young minds that it is 100% true
Our parents thought us all the right things that looks are not what matters but the heart & the soul within!
I am not sure If I can do half as good a job as them in bringing up my daughter then I will thank my lucky stars!
I was watching Splitsvilla 5 - Strictly by no interest of mine and that is what they are trying to teach the mindless youngsters participating im the show.they were voting out each other on the basis of how fat, thin or flat someone was...someone was getting voted out because she was the most healthiest of them all (meaning fat) and some one else because she was so flat?? Hello?? is that how our GEN- Y thinks? how my daughter will think a few years down the line? I dont know what it is about these reality shows that youngsters follow and participate in it like a herd of sheep?? I may be biased or reaaly old but the idea of participating in these mindless shows doesnt really jel with me. I WILL NOT Send my daughter into one of these...NO WAY!
Now, I am getting paranoid about what my 5 year old is watching on the world wide media & web when I am not around to monitor her... what is she learning?? all the wrong values?? The other i bought her a very cute gypsyish frock - the style was a purple floral designed loose fitting frock. She wears it comes to stand in front of me to say - (I am quoting her here) - "ma! you should have brought me a smaller dress!" I raise my eyebrow questioningly and she says - " I am looking fat in this dress!!" for god's sake she is just a little over 5 years!!
Our parents thought us all the right things that looks are not what matters but the heart & the soul within!
I am not sure If I can do half as good a job as them in bringing up my daughter then I will thank my lucky stars!
I was watching Splitsvilla 5 - Strictly by no interest of mine and that is what they are trying to teach the mindless youngsters participating im the show.they were voting out each other on the basis of how fat, thin or flat someone was...someone was getting voted out because she was the most healthiest of them all (meaning fat) and some one else because she was so flat?? Hello?? is that how our GEN- Y thinks? how my daughter will think a few years down the line? I dont know what it is about these reality shows that youngsters follow and participate in it like a herd of sheep?? I may be biased or reaaly old but the idea of participating in these mindless shows doesnt really jel with me. I WILL NOT Send my daughter into one of these...NO WAY!
Now, I am getting paranoid about what my 5 year old is watching on the world wide media & web when I am not around to monitor her... what is she learning?? all the wrong values?? The other i bought her a very cute gypsyish frock - the style was a purple floral designed loose fitting frock. She wears it comes to stand in front of me to say - (I am quoting her here) - "ma! you should have brought me a smaller dress!" I raise my eyebrow questioningly and she says - " I am looking fat in this dress!!" for god's sake she is just a little over 5 years!!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
One More Year! The Same Old Me!!
OMG! time sure ticks like a time bomb, ready to explode and say your time is up! It feels like i just celebrated my last birthday and next one is already here :-). I am sure turning a year older but wiser?? i am not sure! I have crossed one more year may be just may be turned a little bit wiser also. from last one to I have learnt a lot and still am learning. The only thing in life that is constant is change. So, may be i have changed for the better or may be worse?? that is for others to say....
From the last birthday to this one! I have made quite a few good friends and good meaningful relationships that are not petty and dont sore if you are not in touch for long...you have that comforting feeling that they are there in the background.
should I be happy that I have grown a year older or sad??
but whatever said & done....I am always going to be 16 in my heart!!!
From the last birthday to this one! I have made quite a few good friends and good meaningful relationships that are not petty and dont sore if you are not in touch for long...you have that comforting feeling that they are there in the background.
should I be happy that I have grown a year older or sad??
but whatever said & done....I am always going to be 16 in my heart!!!
Happening weekends!!
My dearest better half has been traveling quite a bit over the weekends for the last few months. We hardly get to go out anywhere. after almost 2 months of traveling over the weekends he was at home 2 weeks ago. That weekend was awesome!
Weekend 1
On Friday, I finished sometime during the afternoon (S, D & I decided we wanted to go to a movie and it was also a long time since we had all met). I sent my office boy go pick up the movie tickets from the PVR. After work, I walked to S's house & waited for her husband M & my C to come home. Then also D & her husband P came. We had got the tickets for "Extremely Loud, Incredibly close" - a Tom Hanks & Sandra Bullock's movie for the 9.45pm show. P had got his gypsy and we all went to the movie in it with the top open. Had dinner @ transit, watched the movie which both C & M did not like much. The movie got over at 12.30am & we had to have a cuppa of hot tea. So, we went searching for it from Shopper's Stop till Accenture but no luck. We finally came back to S's house around 1.15am sat in the gypsy till 2pm and then S said she will make tea for us. :-) We went in, had Tea sat till 3am in her house then came back home.
Next morning on saturday, my daughter started early morning saying she wanted to go to V's house, V is S's son. So when I called S for a plan she said she was going to her sister's place as it was her nephew's B'day. In the evening we went to their house - again had an awesome time. came back home at 12.30am ;-). On Sunday, it was J's birthday and we had to go to their house in the evening and wound up @ 10.30pm with Monday blues :-)!!!
Weekend 2
This was the last weekend! Gosh! I cant believe the next one already is around the corner ;-)
did nothing on friday - When I called M to ask if they would come to "Jodi Breakers" - he said no way!! but we can go to "John Carter" on Saturday.
So, Saturday came and it was again a packed one! Saturday morning, i had some errands to run for my mum so, was with her till evening. Then Took my daughter & went to S's house again! ;-) with D& P.It was also M's Birthday that day. Already A & Poo were there @ S's house. P had other plans so he just dropped us and went on his way. A, D & me went and bought a cake for M. We made him cut it and wished him a very Happy Birthday, fed the kids and rushed to the movie. It was nice 3D movie and we did enjoy a lot. came back to M & S's house. There was a little incident after which M was very upset :-) & angry!. P had come back by then to pick D. He made awesome tea for all of us. We again came back home @ 3am & yes with the kiddo!!!
Again, Sunday was my parents anniversary & my dad had called some of his friends for breakfast. had to get up at 6 after sleeping literally at 4am and walk to Mom's to help her in the kitchen.
Came back home at 9am and again after hubby got ready took him to mum's house for breakfast.
Then he has some errands to run and we met again at S's house. The boys & the kids had lunch at their house.Then we put the kids to sleep, left the men to watch TV and went off to Pizza & pasta Stop @ Delmia Circle( Poo, S & me). Had yummy thincrust pizza & aglio olio pepperenchino - it was yummilicious!! We made it back home only @ 10pm Phew!!!!!
Weekend 1
On Friday, I finished sometime during the afternoon (S, D & I decided we wanted to go to a movie and it was also a long time since we had all met). I sent my office boy go pick up the movie tickets from the PVR. After work, I walked to S's house & waited for her husband M & my C to come home. Then also D & her husband P came. We had got the tickets for "Extremely Loud, Incredibly close" - a Tom Hanks & Sandra Bullock's movie for the 9.45pm show. P had got his gypsy and we all went to the movie in it with the top open. Had dinner @ transit, watched the movie which both C & M did not like much. The movie got over at 12.30am & we had to have a cuppa of hot tea. So, we went searching for it from Shopper's Stop till Accenture but no luck. We finally came back to S's house around 1.15am sat in the gypsy till 2pm and then S said she will make tea for us. :-) We went in, had Tea sat till 3am in her house then came back home.
Next morning on saturday, my daughter started early morning saying she wanted to go to V's house, V is S's son. So when I called S for a plan she said she was going to her sister's place as it was her nephew's B'day. In the evening we went to their house - again had an awesome time. came back home at 12.30am ;-). On Sunday, it was J's birthday and we had to go to their house in the evening and wound up @ 10.30pm with Monday blues :-)!!!
Weekend 2
This was the last weekend! Gosh! I cant believe the next one already is around the corner ;-)
did nothing on friday - When I called M to ask if they would come to "Jodi Breakers" - he said no way!! but we can go to "John Carter" on Saturday.
So, Saturday came and it was again a packed one! Saturday morning, i had some errands to run for my mum so, was with her till evening. Then Took my daughter & went to S's house again! ;-) with D& P.It was also M's Birthday that day. Already A & Poo were there @ S's house. P had other plans so he just dropped us and went on his way. A, D & me went and bought a cake for M. We made him cut it and wished him a very Happy Birthday, fed the kids and rushed to the movie. It was nice 3D movie and we did enjoy a lot. came back to M & S's house. There was a little incident after which M was very upset :-) & angry!. P had come back by then to pick D. He made awesome tea for all of us. We again came back home @ 3am & yes with the kiddo!!!
Again, Sunday was my parents anniversary & my dad had called some of his friends for breakfast. had to get up at 6 after sleeping literally at 4am and walk to Mom's to help her in the kitchen.
Came back home at 9am and again after hubby got ready took him to mum's house for breakfast.
Then he has some errands to run and we met again at S's house. The boys & the kids had lunch at their house.Then we put the kids to sleep, left the men to watch TV and went off to Pizza & pasta Stop @ Delmia Circle( Poo, S & me). Had yummy thincrust pizza & aglio olio pepperenchino - it was yummilicious!! We made it back home only @ 10pm Phew!!!!!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Weekend Plans;-)
2 days ago hubby dearest told me he is traveling to Pune this weekend on business...I am like wow!
I have one friday evening, whole of saturday (my mom's birthday) and sunday (just to chilax)...which I hardly do these days :-) My daughter & I are going to stay at mum's place which I have hardly done in the last year and a half ;-);-)
I called 2 of my close friends. The third one is not in this country now...asked them if we could meet up Friday evening and they were like YES WE CAN!! yet to decide where we will go...for a couple of drinks, good food and the of course interesting conversation which will keep flowing and I am sure we will the ones creating a lot of ruckus ;-)
Saturday there is going to be a lot of things on my to do list, which i need to tick off one by one.
also is a dinner party with the family - minus my hubby
Sunday is a school friend's wedding - not yet decided whether I will go, need to check with R as well :-)
Women's Day!
I want to start off this post by wishing all you wonderful women - mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, a very happy Women's Day...
This post is a tribute to all the women who have touched my life in any way possible and have left their mark in my heart. From whom i have learnt a little more and evolved to being a little better at what I am & what I want to be...
.
My Mother: who brought me into this huge world bearing me within her for 9 months without her I would not be what I am today...I learnt a lot of stuff from her, like how to be a mother :-). Even though I took quite a few years to understand her value in my life and that she brought me up in the best way possible. The same things I hated in her, now I love. I understand why she did the things she did to me and the same learnings make me a better human being.
My Little Sister: Who came into this world to teach me sharing & caring is the best thing. I still remember the day she was born, like yesterday :-). I was sent off to watch the movie, Shankarabharanam so i did not have to wait. I came back to the hospital and they handed me this little pink bundle to hold and i was so scared & also awed by the tiny life in my hand. from her i learnt that there was true joy in sharing. It is always good to have a sibling of the same gender with whom you can share your little secrets and go on shopping trips & to have a fight. (In a corner of my heart i wish my daughter had someone too... but then you know....)
My Three Close Friends: who have already received mentions on & off on my blogs. All three of whom I have known for over 20 years- R, N & S ;-). All of us have kind of lived in each other's pockets for so long.. I choose the exact time to call them when they are having lunch (telepathy you say...I say so too). I have been on trips with them, I have sat on the porch with them, not had a single word but come out satisfied like we have had a meaningful conversations. We have had our share of fights too when I have asked them not to breath down my neck!! (yes I have! havent I ladies??) they have been through thick & thin. We have discussed about almost all topics under the sun but we still dont have enough of each other...it will remain the same until I become one with mother earth.
Good Friends (S&D): These are friends i have made in the last 7-8 years. We meet every other weekend, most of the time with husbands on toe but sometimes on our own. we go catch a movie, go shopping or try out a new restaurant. By now, we know each other very well indeed that we kind of know whats going on in the other person's mind and we finish sentences for each other.
Important Women(R, C & M): These are women I have met during my career. They have thought me how to survive in the corporate without getting hurt or irritated. I have learnt a lot from these women - determination, strength, perseverance, patience, how to handle difficult people :-). Come whatever & what may, I have seen them keep their calm & wits about them not going to pieces. And learnt a great deal.
All of you - thanks for just being there...dont ever change come what may as you are what you are because of those qualities :-)
Happy Women's Day Ladies!!!!
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