[laluks]

Originally Posted by thoma

Oh my, when we wished for a drizzle, you granted a thundershower! So many snaps. The last few pages could be among the forum's heavy-to-load pages.

Thanks to your post on Meenmutty that now I know it is part of a govt. undertaking. Indeed it is the Kallar eco-tourism. Do you know at what rate is a forest guide available at the place?

I guess PPGs mean power puff girls? And junior PPG seems to have enjoyed the most among all of you.

Have you had mutton omelette or beef omelette from the Indian Coffee House? I rate it as one of their delicacies.

The guide will come along if you request, there is no fixed price as such. He is there to check that you have paid the entry fees, count the number of IN and OUT trekkers, etc. He will offer to help you by coming with you if you wish. You can pay him based on your interactions. It is a 1 hour trek, moderate you can say in rains, else normal.

PPGs are indeed Power Puff Girls. They are known in my travelogues like that

I could not get to any Indian Coffee House this time :(

[amit]

Lovely set of pictures. Can you tell me the place where you stayed on Ashtmudi lake? (The first set of pictures)

[laluks]

Originally Posted by amit

Lovely set of pictures. Can you tell me the place where you stayed on Ashtmudi lake? (The first set of pictures)

The resort is Back Water Retreat in Ashtamudi

[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

We woke up early and got everything packed up. Had a very nice breakfast together and by 08:30AM started the drive on to Kollam.

A family pic for the album


The final chit chat and bye byes


We are ready to drive out



We decided to drive via Kottarakka instead of taking the very irritatingly congested NH47 via Attingal.

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[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

A little before Chadayamangalam, there is a rock called Jatayu Para.

http://www.jatayusculpture.com/html/sculpture.php

Local legend links the rock with the great Indian Epic Ramayana. The place where Lord Rama found the dying Jatayu was named as Jatayumangalam, now known as Chadayamangalam, is in the Kollam district of Kerala. A huge rock in this place is named after Jatayu as Jatayupara

We parked the car near a rubber estate.


We are ready for the trek



Rubber being tapped




Rubber Estate


We were searching for a walk way to the rock. But could not find any. Some discussions with the localites they told me how to climb to the top. We need to cut across certain fence and start climbing up through the previous trails led by trekkers. It was adventurous and fun!

Clearing the fence


Trek to the top


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[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012


PPGs pleading that no more trek like this


We relaxed for a while








We continued the trek






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[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012


The breeze and views were amazing, hence the number of breaks. Not due to the terrain

Some more rest


Sr. PPG enjoying the breeze


Views were nice


Jr. PPG trekking on


Wifey carefully trekking amidst the tall grass


Sr. PPG on the final leg of the trek uphill


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[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

The complex was still under construction




A small temple dedicated to Rama




Some views from the top






We enjoyed the breeze for a while and we trekked down.

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[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

The trek back


The trail wasn't hard at all


Jr. PPG getting herself a souvenir




Wading through the tall Grass








Steep inclines


Wild life at last!


We could see our Civvy




By 11:45AM we slowly started from there towards Kottarakkara. Our plan was to have a great lunch at a KTDC Motel at Kottarakkara.

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[rknair]

Originally Posted by laluks

We woke up early and got everything packed up. Had a very nice breakfast together and by 08:30AM started the drive on to Kollam.

We should appreciate your parents too for letting you go on these adventures. Whenever we visit Thiruvananthapuram, we would have a long list of relatives to visit. Even if we have one meal by ourselves or plan for a short trip somewhere, it is met with lot of protests.

[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

By 12:15PM we stopped at KTDC Motel Aaram near Kottarakkara




Everyone was tired after the trek and waiting for the lunch to be served


Lunch - Wow, all lunch should be like this


Fish Fry too


Priceless Moment


No more pictures .... , I got too busy chomping on the tasty food....

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[laluks]

Originally Posted by rknair

We should appreciate your parents too for letting you go on these adventures. Whenever we visit Thiruvananthapuram, we would have a long list of relatives to visit. Even if we have one meal by ourselves or plan for a short trip somewhere, it is met with lot of protests.

Absolutely.
Breakfast and Dinner is non negotiable most often. Rest of the day is for us to roam around, its been like that

[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

After a nice lunch we started our drive to Sasthamkottah, my mother's place, where I have spent quite a lot of days in my childhood on vacation. The freshwater lake, the temple, the monkeys near the temple, the cashew nut trees, the endless time spent in the lake, the cycling around, the place evokes a lot of nostalgia. PPGs have never seen where their dad used to go for vacation, and I was gleaming with happiness that I am taking them there finally.


We took Poovattur route to Bharanikkavu and then Sasthamkottah from Kottarakkara.

Poovattur Bhagavathy Temple


We reached Sasthamkottah by 14:00 hours. We went directly to the famous Dharma Shastha Temple.

Some pictures from Dharma Shastha Temple


















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[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by rknair

We should appreciate your parents too for letting you go on these adventures. Whenever we visit Thiruvananthapuram, we would have a long list of relatives to visit. Even if we have one meal by ourselves or plan for a short trip somewhere, it is met with lot of protests.

Originally Posted by laluks

Absolutely.
Breakfast and Dinner is non negotiable most often. Rest of the day is for us to roam around, its been like that

I am sure you guys enjoy all the attention despite the feeble protestations here.

If not please do enjoy that when you can for some day you will long and pine for it (like I am doing now) :(

Not that I did not enjoy it (parental dotting over) when it was there, I had pleanty and enjoyed evey bit, but now that its not there I really miss it. I suppose that is human life.

Best Regards & Drive/Ride Safe

Ram

[laluks]

Day 04
31st October 2012

I was always used to see a temple elephant whenever I had visited the temple in my childhood. This time too it was not different.

The temple had a cute young elephant this time








He was indeed happy to see us all


Jr. PPG did not want to comeback, she wanted to touch him Since the mahout was not around I did not let her go near him.




I had to literally force Jr. PPG to come back from the tusker.

We got back to the Civvy to get to the Lake




Now a days auto rickshaws and Cycles have given over to Nano to sell lotteries



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