[KESriram]

Wow! yet another 5* thread from you Lalu. I cannot believe I missed all these wonderful places on my Valparai trip. Wildlife you've captured is a treat to watch - deer and peacock in the same snap and the elephant snaps are my favorites! Going by your pics, am expecting to see the elusive leopards of Valaprai clicked by you as well 'll stay tuned

[laluks]

Originally Posted by KESriram

Wow! yet another 5* thread from you Lalu. I cannot believe I missed all these wonderful places on my Valparai trip. Wildlife you've captured is a treat to watch - deer and peacock in the same snap and the elephant snaps are my favorites! Going by your pics, am expecting to see the elusive leopards of Valaprai clicked by you as well 'll stay tuned

Thanks Sriram.

I must disappoint you that I did not see any predators this time. All I chanced to see was a sambar deer hanging from the tree, left by some elusive leopard.

But stay tuned, I'll get you some nice panoramas

[KRRaj]

Lots of ground covered when I couldnt log in the weekend. Great snaps as usual lalu. I recollect my trip back here from your photos.

Originally Posted by laluks

Our first stop was Kannimara Teak. The largest teak tree in the world.
30 such kids touching each other or 7 adults with both hands extended can form a round about the the tree. Hope you get the scale now

When we came here, we actually did that. We were a big group and my friends stood hands extended to form a round around the tree.

We went for a trek and saw the Thunakadavu Dam from above. Marvelous snaps they are.

We actually did not have time for trekking to Karimala Gopuram, but the guide said we have to start from 6am itself to trek there. So an overnight stay is required.

We were supposed to stay at the Veetikunnu Island guesthouse you mentioned, but due to delay and other adventures, we couldnt and had to stay at the Guest House in the village itself :-(

Your photos bring back memories and make want to go back there.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by KRRaj

Lots of ground covered when I couldnt log in the weekend. Great snaps as usual lalu. I recollect my trip back here from your photos.

When we came here, we actually did that. We were a big group and my friends stood hands extended to form a round around the tree.

We went for a trek and saw the Thunakadavu Dam from above. Marvelous snaps they are.

We actually did not have time for trekking to Karimala Gopuram, but the guide said we have to start from 6am itself to trek there. So an overnight stay is required.

We were supposed to stay at the Veetikunnu Island guesthouse you mentioned, but due to delay and other adventures, we couldnt and had to stay at the Guest House in the village itself :-(

Your photos bring back memories and make want to go back there.

Thanks Raj.
The Teak tree is a one of its kind one.

Karimala Gopuram is a days hard trek, and yes you need an overnight stay.

So there is an excuse now to go back to Veetikunnu

Personally I would like to do the tramway trek, Karimala trek, stay at Thellickal and at veetikunnu So if you plan to go as a gang of trekkers - ping me. I'll huff and puff and follow you guys.

[sj_koova]

Good thread and pics Lalu. We need to talk. I am planning for a Valpari trip soon.
I am hardly getting any opportunity to use my camera!
Lets catch up if you are "in town" this weekend.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by sj_koova

Good thread and pics Lalu. We need to talk. I am planning for a Valpari trip soon.
I am hardly getting any opportunity to use my camera!
Lets catch up if you are "in town" this weekend.

Hey SJ,
Nice to get your compliments .

I am in town. We'll plan a meet offline.

[CRV2010]

@laluks

How are you converting those images into like a artistic paintings one?

BTW enjoying your triplog :-)

[laluks]

Originally Posted by CRV2010

@laluks

How are you converting those images into like a artistic paintings one?

BTW enjoying your triplog :-)

Thanks CRV.
Try HDR and Tone Mapping for those effects

[CRV2010]

Originally Posted by laluks

Thanks CRV.
Try HDR and Tone Mapping for those effects

thank you, will check those things

[Soccerfan]

did you travel the valparai -chalakkudy route? Im planning a trip to valparai next week and wanted to know

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Soccerfan

did you travel the valparai -chalakkudy route? Im planning a trip to valparai next week and wanted to know

I did not take that route this time. But check the meet section, 1 week before my travel Bangalore meet happened there . They took that route.

[laluks]

Day 03, 21.08.2010
Parambikulam WLS


I woke up disturbed with sound of pouring water. Looked at the watch, it was 07:45AM. WHAT ? ? We were supposed to have a wake up call by 05:30AM and tea by 06:00AM, and were supposed to go for bird watching and eco meditation.

What happened? Did we not hear the wake up calls? Confused I walk out of the tent. It was pouring like any thing. Heavy rains. I looked around to the other tents, almost all people were sitting outside sipping coffee.

My guide sees that I am outside and rushes to me in the rain and says - "Sir, we did not disturb your sleep since it was raining. Do you wish to go for the trek in search of sloth bear after tea? Trek in rain would be fun if you want to do it".

I was disappointed that bird watching did not happen, the guide understood it and said he'll take me through a place where some birds will always be visible. I was ok with that. Also he said if it is raining, birds sighting will be less.

Took another half an hour and got ready for the trek. The intensity of the rains started reducing.

This is the place were food will be served for the guest in the tents


Wifey near the canteen


Junior Power Puff Girl with her bunny to fool the bear


By the time we finished our breakfast, it was 08:30AM, and rain reduced to just drizzle. So we set out in search of the sloth bear.

But the sky was over cast, blueness missing giving it a gloomy look. Almost all photos will have the sky white, giving it a gloomy look. It was a nightmare to get the photos right. I guess I need to learn more to take good photographs in such conditions of light.


We had to cross the trench to get to the forests behind. The ladies had a toughtime crossing the trench bridge made of logs.


We came across a watch tower.


The seeds from this palm tree was used by the tribals in earlier days to make food and survive.


The place was full of them - the Cicadas. Their cries was so loud. Silent valley does not have them, and hence the name.


The bark of this tree ressembles crocodile skin


As promised the guide takes me to a place to see birds.

Peacock dancing welcoming the rains




Parrots all around. But not so beautifully green. Wild parrots are like this?








Saw another guy. Who is this?


This fellow has an expression of envy. Who is this?


Saw some crows and another birdie


This fellow is called Brain Fever


We saw an Owl


We were satisfied with the birds and decide to get into the vegetation in search of the sloth bear.


continued...

[laluks]

Day 03, 21.08.2010
Parambikulam WLS

Just before entering to the thick vegetation we notice this.

The clouds everywhere, the leaves seen in between the clouds. Island of trees up in the sky





I almost stepped on him. He's camouflaged to look like a stone.

Froggie


Another camouflage - look at the large eyeshaped design on its wings



This fellow almost were to get stuck on my face




Spiders





Power Puff Girls trekking on.


The foot print of a wild boar


Some wild vegetation.


The bottom last fruit is used to catch fish. It makes the fish drowsy it seems. The middle one in the bottom is dangerous. If you touch it then the body will start itching like crazy. The top first is a wild orchid.

We saw this tree and got scared. Looks like a leopord had been on the top recently. See the claw marks.


We were silent. Can say a bit scared too.

The guide shows the place dug up by sloth bear in search of termites.



Now we are like - Oh!

We reach an abandoned building.



Guide shouts in a peculiar voice. Throws some twigs to the room. He is unhappy. The sloth bear used to be in this house to shelter himself from the rains. Since we took time to reach here and the rains stopped the bear had already left the place. Better luck next time.


We move on and spots a house made by ants



After a few more trek we reached the road side.



We crossed the road and gets to the other side of the forest




continued...

[laluks]

Day 03, 21.08.2010
Parambikulam WLS

The other side had a small canal running across. This is coming from Thunakadavu Dam to the Tunnel entry, which will take this water to Aliyar Dam down of Valparai.

The canal


A small check dam on the canal


Power Puff Girls trekking alongside the canal


Guide shows us the skin of a cobra


Some people were fishing from the canal. We stopped by to see the fishes caught.


A beautiful view of the canal and the mountains


Junior Power Puff Girl stopping by to smell a flower. See the collection in her hand, she even has wild gooseberries.


A nice little flower caught my attention


We almost finished the trek and got on to the road


KSRTC bus plying from Parambikulam to Palghat


We reached the Orientation Centre back by 13:00PM, which makes it a 10KM, 4.5 hour leisure trek with the kids. The Power Puff Girls had a nice trek!



The entrance to the reserve, near the Orientation centre




We reached our tents by 13:15, quickly freshened up and checked out by 14:00. This is 2 hours after the usual checkout time, they politely reminded me about it too. I went to the KFDC reception to get my next guide for the Kuriarkutty stay. To night we will be staying on Sambar Machan in Kuriarkutty. More of that coming up.

continued...

[khoj]

The house made by ants looks like a fruit or flower that has sprouted from the tree itself and by the way the wild boar whose hoove marks you have shown does it wear specs, sports a moustache and wields a DSLR by any chance