[laluks]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Fantastic house (& dog) you got there Laluks. Now that you have put it online, I think you should buy one of those "Rakshasa" masks & put it prominently outside the house to ward off my evil eye

Smartcat - I'll buy some of those teleshopping nasar suraksha kavach and hang it on all the trees and windows to ward off your evil eye

Originally Posted by jacs

Lalu, .....

BTW is that a butterfly or a moth? Some experts here, just an incremental knowledge to all of us. Seen many in our Bennarghatta National Park.

Thanks jacs.
You're right - They seem to be moths than butterflies.

Originally Posted by joecherian

it is nice that you have a maid who does the pet care job. For me, since I have a pug at home, whenever we go out of town, he has to go to his pet boarding facility. Last time, when we left him at the boarding,when we were about to return, couldn't resist the sad look in his eyes when he saw us leave. Wanted to take him with us but then such a long journey (to kottayam) and that too to the scorching sun made us decide otherwise.

I know how sad it can be. Since we did not have some one at home the entire 2007, we never took any holidays. The only trips were to my hometown, and she was with us.

Even now when we leave her withy the maid, she whines when we are about to leave and that is a very painful situation.

[laluks]

Day 3, April 4rth 2010 continued...

Nelliyampathy

On the way back we stopped here to smell the coffee flowers. It was awesome, what fragrance - I love it.







More birds on the way back. Dont know this fellows name.














A cutie calf




Reached the resort back by 13:30PM. We had a feast on a Kerala proper meals with papad, avizhal, sambar, poriyan, ellissery, etc..

All other families had checked out by then. It was just us and the 100 odd acres of resort from now.

After lunch had a nice nap till 17:00PM and set out to climb the hills again.




continued...

[MX6]

Originally Posted by laluks

Smartcat - I'll buy some of those teleshopping nasar suraksha kavach and hang it on all the trees and windows to ward off your evil eye

Just take a print out of Smartcat's mug shot in his honeymoon (Where he's shown 16 of his teeth).
That should suffice to ward off his evil eyes. You may need to exorcise your dog later if he gets frightened looking at the photo though.

[laluks]

Day 3, April 4rth 2010 continued...

Nelliyampathy

After the evening tea, it was just me climbing the hill. I saw Gaurs this time. I was almost chased by them, and luckily they did not hit me, it was just that they were upset about me just landing up there and startling them.











Saw more birds.


The white bellied Treepie.








I dont know this guy, but he always looked puffed up with a needle like beak!







These are the trees on which the fireflies danced







Returned to the resort by 19:00PM.

continued...

[laluks]

Originally Posted by MX6

Just take a print out of Smartcat's mug shot in his honeymoon (Where he's shown 16 of his teeth).
That should suffice to ward off his evil eyes. You may need to exorcise your dog later if he gets frightened looking at the photo though.

That'll scare the hell out of my dog.

[laluks]

Day 3, April 4rth 2010 continued

Nelliyampathy

Sat down in the verandah of the cottage, and in a shortwhile it was the Fireflies show.

It was just us in the resort, We switched off the entire lights in the resort.

Before switching all lights off.



All lights off, its fireflies show time











After an hour of photographic stunts, I kept away my camera for good, and just enjoyed the show. In another hour we decided to do a night drive to the mud roads.




Swift waiting for the night drive








We saw a herd of dark coloured big deers, and some small brownish deer in the size of barking deer. Saw more owls and hares. Switched off the lights and enjoyed more fireflies.




Returned back to the resort by 22:00PM and had dinner with more kerala delicacies. We were freaking out on mallu nonveg food!!




By 22:30 while we were returning to the cottage this fellow scared us!

A Scorpion





After shouting and howling with fear, we reached the cottage and watched more fireflies. By 23:30PM called it a day.

[ampere]

Very nice set of snaps esp the birds. Also you got a forest at your home!

Lalu I also noted that your kids dont wear (or they dont like to wear) shoes while on a trek. Is that OK?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by ampere

Very nice set of snaps esp the birds. Also you got a forest at your home!

Lalu I also noted that your kids dont wear (or they dont like to wear) shoes while on a trek. Is that OK?

Thanks ampere.
These treks are moderate ones. Hence so. Further they also dont like it much. Me too.

[laluks]

Day 3, April 4rth 2010

Nelliyampathy

Some more pictures from my Power Puff Girls.


Enjoying the hills and calmness



Having a chat



A bug



Tea gardens



Winding roads



Kesavan para with Pothundi dam view




Wifey eagerly looking at what I am upto near the edge of the cliff



Kesavan Para - see the edgeof the cliff?


Cutie Calf



Me with Swifty



Some views of the cottage.

[hvkumar]

Lalu, that was a scary encounter with the gaurs? Where were they - on the road, near the cottage? Are sightings common in Nelliyampathy? What about elephants? How does one get to Kesavan para? And can you also go down to the Pothundi Dam?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Lalu, that was a scary encounter with the gaurs? Where were they - on the road, near the cottage? Are sightings common in Nelliyampathy? What about elephants? How does one get to Kesavan para? And can you also go down to the Pothundi Dam?

The Gaurs were on the hills just behind the resort. As per the owner they are very common there.

Elephants are also plenty. The week before we reached a herd of elephants had walked down to the place behind our cottage and was there for a day, till they bursted crackers and scared them off. Some type of leaf they are fond off, was in the resort. Now the owner had cut all off them off.

The Jaguar (karimpuli) and some leopords were also sighted near his place. And the black monkeys which are famous are also sighted - We were not that lucky.


I have mentioned about a Junction which is the centre of Nelliyampathy. If you come up from Nemmara side to this junction, Kesavan para is 2 KM to the right from here, and Seethargundu is around 6Km straight ahead. The mud path to Kesavan para is opposite to AVT tea office on your left which will act as a landmark. Before the mud road, there is a temple also.


You can goto Pothundi Dam. Just a few meters near the checkpost, there is an entry to the Dam gardens.

[khoj]

Hi laluks, The senior power puff girl seems to be a natural with the camera. Loved the composition of the winding roads and the bug. Also the way she is placing the subjects (off centre) while capturing the larger landscapes in the same go is very very nice. Especially the 'Having a Chat' then you walking along the edge and the one where she has captured all three of you in the same frame really stand out.

Oh do give Dashy a few extra pats from my side.

[MX6]

I showed this travelogue to my wife. She immediately identified Nelliyampathy and Valparai. I'm damn peeved with her now. She's been to these places when she was a kid. But she never told me about nelliyampathy. So I've told her that she owes me a trip. She's busy brushing up her driving skills. I'm gonna ask her to drive me to Nelliyampathy!

[laluks]

Originally Posted by khoj

Hi laluks, The senior power puff girl seems to be a natural with the camera. Loved the composition of the winding roads and the bug. Also the way she is placing the subjects (off centre) while capturing the larger landscapes in the same go is very very nice. Especially the 'Having a Chat' then you walking along the edge and the one where she has captured all three of you in the same frame really stand out.

Oh do give Dashy a few extra pats from my side.

Thanks Khoj.
I'll pass on your appreciation and feedback to her.
Also some extra pats to Dashy

Originally Posted by MX6

I showed this travelogue to my wife. She immediately identified Nelliyampathy and Valparai. I'm damn peeved with her now. She's been to these places when she was a kid. But she never told me about nelliyampathy. So I've told her that she owes me a trip. She's busy brushing up her driving skills. I'm gonna ask her to drive me to Nelliyampathy!

- Let us know when the trip happens, so that we can pester you to put up a log.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by laluks

- Let us know when the trip happens, so that we can pester you to put up a log.

One Khoj is enough sir. I've put my weekend travels on stop till May 22nd! On 23rd, I'm off to meet HVK! It's so tight that no time for logue-ing.