[Mysticeyes]

1. Casted right leg for one month after injuring ankle during badminton - recovered
2. Five month compulsory rest due to ‘Chondromalacia’ caused by severe tearing of left knee muscles as an aftermath of elephant chase - recovered
3.Bed rest for back spasm - recovered
4. Lose of focus/ strain on right eyes due to accumulation of fluid deposit in right retina (as per Doc, it’s still among the ‘unexplainable’ list of ailments) – recovering

“Don’t trek, don’t climb over rocks, don’t strain legs..”
“Don’t look at monitors much, don’t read much, don’t look at TV much..give as much rest to eyes as possible”.

Those were the mild words doctors told to follow over last one year. Well, those words were obeyed, but at the cost of missing out many treks, long trips etc. etc. The travel bug was biting with so much intensity that the doctor was ‘bribed’ by forcing him to allow to be taken for a trip to an exotic spot so that he could understand what all were being missed out with my ‘obedience’. Finally his words came “Ok..got the point. Don’t trek, don’t walk, but you can be where a 4x4 can take you, but don’t strain your eyes too much into camera viewfinder”.

Health had taken a toll over last one year, making online visits to TBHP or even the Facebook a remote event. But as wise men say, everything has its reason and during the ‘break-time’, I did have the chance to know the mother earth better, roam around, talk to people who could be really called ‘manninte makkal” (son or daughter of soil), divert more time to farming and gardening. I’, sorry that I missed out so many posts/ threads in TBHP due to my health and gradually, I hope to be sifting through the travelogues. I wish to thank those who had went through my previous threads and requested for more pics. Sharing some of nature’s glories I had come across during my recuperation period.

A beautiful world out there and I'm reclaiming it. Mist, mountain, rain..


An intricate maze, may be symbolic of the maze I had passed through


Unveiled..


'Homecoming' - back to the place that had always haunted me and I wonder how I could keep off for months.


There 'it' is - the 'haunted' one (http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...rivandrum.html), the one that had kick-started all those mad treks and repeated returns to the same place over and over. And this time too, it had an intriguing red writing on one of the walls. Was it blood? was it paint? but the words those were written were meaningful, so was a red spot near the writing


Two souls on the left fringe of the frame- tribals (adivasis) presented a symbolic picture of those who were pushed to the edge literally. Dislocated for building a dam, they were never to get settled and once a while, they return to their rightful land. Seen here is a father & son, fishing together. What would have transpired between their hearts silently. Nature seemed to be at it its reflective best


A morning on the edge of western ghats. Light breeze, overcast sky..


Bloom time, at times it makes one feel "ahh..this is what life should be for - for enjoying the nature"


Enjoyment - 100%, passion - 100%. You don't need to be inside the four walls or inside the confinement of a screen/monitor to have 'Joy'


Curtain-down for a beautiful day

[RoadTrippin]

Those are some outstanding pictures and hope you're feeling good now.

[Traveller Nayak]

Hope you are feeling well after the trip

There is nothing like being with mother nature. The pictures are lovely. I liked the sunflowers and the kids jumping into water the most.

Which camera did you use?

If there are other pictures do post those as well.

Stay well. If not already recovered, I hoping you soon recover completely.

[Mysticeyes]

hank you for the well-wishes friends. I'm on the recovery mode and as such, I'm still restrained from using laptops on a continuous basis.

the daily morning news.. too 'hot' to handle


a cart-load full of memories to take back home. During a break at Thenkasi


Sunflower fields at Sundarapandiyapuram.. Would SRK be hiding in-between them?


The smile as radiant as the beauty of the blooming flowers. She was the lady behind the unending stretches of the sunflower field


Reminiscent of the heydays or Bharathiraja/ Ilayaraja movies/songs


"The fly who chased me"


Splash of life.. at the nascent stage of a prominent river that skirts Trivandrum


The woods are lovely, dark & deep


In search of solitude


Whoever selected this spot for the building more than 150 years ago had a sense of aesthetics. Behind the mist are one of the richest forests in India

[mobike008]

Note from Mod : Thread moved from Assembly Line to Travelogues Section. Thanks for sharing

[CliffHanger]

Dropped into the log seeing the handle, MysticEyes. You did not disappoint.

Soulful rendition of the places.

My wishes for your speedy recovery and more travelogues.

[ampere]

Amazing places around Thenkashi. Again I hope its the monsoon season? The greenery is very refreshing since all I see now is the colour brown.

Whats the camera gear?

[mpksuhas]

Another superb travelogue with great pics, waiting for the rest.

Originally Posted by Mysticeyes

1. Casted right leg for one month after injuring ankle during badminton - recovered
2. Five month compulsory rest due to ‘Chondromalacia’ caused by severe tearing of left knee muscles as an aftermath of elephant chase - recovered
3.Bed rest for back spasm - recovered
4. Lose of focus/ strain on right eyes due to accumulation of fluid deposit in right retina (as per Doc, it’s still among the ‘unexplainable’ list of ailments) – recovering

Man, your list can get you a 'frequent flyer' card from Hospitals. Get well soon.

[mallumowgli]

Poetic as usual. Hope there is more

Originally Posted by Mysticeyes

2. Five month compulsory rest due to ‘Chondromalacia’ caused by severe tearing of left knee muscles as an aftermath of elephant chase - recovered

Chased by an elephant?? At your favorite Bonacaud?

Recover fast from your eye strain and take care

[pahwa]

Now that is exactly the type of travelogue which you read and immediately want to pick up your car and travel. beautifully written and shot.

Which is the camera you used? Some more info around the route and accommodation would really be helpful.

[a_bharadwaj]

Originally Posted by pahwa

Now that is exactly the type of travelogue which you read and immediately want to pick up your car and travel. beautifully written and shot.

I totally agree. Just feel like starting my car and setting off!!
Great TL. Nice musing while recuperating.
Great pics.

[Thumping Soul]

Welcome Back Sir and with aplomb! These pics speak for themselves. These pics stir a strange emotion and i wish to just get into my car and cruise to this very place. Awesome is the word.

And wishing you a Speedy Recovery Sir.

[Joe M]

Wonderful pics, and nice locations, mate. That cool, refreshing monsoon air itself is more than enough to bring you into the fast recovery mode.

Wishing you an express recovery, and waiting for updates on the thread!

[NPV]

Excellent pictures, you've been to some great spots and good framing/timing

Take care - here's wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Mysticeyes]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Man, your list can get you a 'frequent flyer' card from Hospitals. Get well soon.

Well, I found out that hospitals can be the best investment option

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

Chased by an elephant?? At your favorite Bonacaud?

Not Bonacaud this time. We were having a bath at a waterfall inside a private estate that borders the forest. We went there after getting confirmation from the estate that it was safe. However, pachyderm had other ideas and it seemed to've lurked around out of our eyes. We were there for around 45 minutes and as we were packing up to go to our vehicle, we spotted fresh dung few feet from where we were. Based on our prior experience, we didn't want to end up in front of this guy and withdrew to an alternate route which one among us knew. But he was right in this path, we slowly backtracked as he advanced a bit his trunk, but not moving. We decided to run and unfortunately, I tripped over a fallen branch. Thankfully, others could pick me up and I managed to run and went back through the original route to the vehicle. The condition of leg deteriorated afterwards.

Originally Posted by pahwa

Which is the camera you used? Some more info around the route and accommodation would really be helpful.

Originally Posted by ampere

Amazing places around Thenkashi. Again I hope its the monsoon season? The greenery is very refreshing since all I see now is the colour brown. Whats the camera gear?

Nikon D 3100 with the 55mm kit lens and 55-300mm lens. The trip was carried out through monsoon season mostly along the edges of western ghats which were familiar to us. @Pahwa - you can reach the Ambasudram/ Thenkasi/ Shenkottai by taking right diversion at Panakkudi in NH44 (new). It would take you through some of the most rustic rural areas and its best for a trip between July-December. Rooms would be available at the TTDC hotel at Thenkasi, which you can keep as a base to explore the areas around including Kuttalam waterfalls.

Originally Posted by Joe M

That cool, refreshing monsoon air itself is more than enough to bring you into the fast recovery mode. Wishing you an express recovery, and waiting for updates on the thread!

Definitely. Nature heals.

Once, Trivandrum was known for the spectacular tea-estates and now, curtain has been drawn over all except one estate. Sharing some pics from an estate that was the last to enter into the 'closed' category.

Mystery beckons as you drive through the SH-45 on the Ponmudi route


A small right diversion from SH-45 route would take you to the estate


You can see some spectacular landscapes on the way


Perplexity of humans and nature - Nature does make a comeback as humans retreat from places which were naturally nature's once..if you're a nature lover, you would enjoy the mist and greenery that are slowly engulfing the man-made. But as you go behind the veil of mist, you'd find the life of many who have been left to find out a way on their own and fail.


The path invites you for exploring more


Up close with the century old factory


Once, a bustling estate township, the area is becoming a ghost-town reminiscent of the aftermath of 'Gold-rush'


Many of us would still remember the finger rubbing on the good ol' Ambassadors/ Padminis/ 800s. Rain, at times brings out the kids in us