December 25th to December 29th 2014 Forest “O” Heaven!

Forest "O" Heaven!

On December 25th 19:15 Shanti Nagar Bus stand boarded bus to CHALAKUDY.

December 26th 6:30am it was dark when 3 of us got down from bus looking for rishaw around. Somebody guided us to walk a km to find one, thats it we found auto for us,he looked he looked like he was waiting for us. He dropped us to guest house near Indian coffee house. This Guest house had specialty that every room had good quotes hanged. One goes like this -"Soft words can break hard hearts". It took me slow to understand the exact meaning .Well had our Tea and headed for breakfast in Indian Coffee house. We ate bullet proof idly. There comes Dr.K.H Amitha Bachan Sir and His Wife Fasi Madam and Little Champ Neha Small introduction in Indian Coffee House and packed our bags loaded inside car .All Set to start the journey to Mallakaparai. On our way visited Athirapally Falls which is also known as "Suren Chellakutti Falls".

From Left Amitha Bachan Sir, Madam, Neha, Ani, and Gana.

Anthirapally Beautiful Falls,Everyone expressed common WOW at first front 3D look of the falls. Famous Aishwarya Rai Danced here in movie Guru.

Way back trekking high on rocks we spotted beautiful birds one with white and yellow combination and same bird with white and grey.First time I saw a Giant Squirrel gorging on without posing for a picture. hmmm thats ok,I still have one of your picture clicked without your eye on eye on my camera Mr.Squirrel.

Different beautiful birds captured on our way back.

    

Giant Squirrel (Mr.Squirrel)

Trekked back on rock and huge steps connecting to main road, relaxed with lime juice and headed to Vazhachal river flow. Beauty Again!

                                                         Vazhachal water falls

On our way to Mallakaparai, Gana and Neha started to play word build, And Neha gave excellent words very competitive and smart kid.

Took Journey Break and got down the car and spotted beautiful valley of Western Ghats. It looked like lump of Greenland floating on melted Ice.

 Started again ,On our way to Mallakaparai, A Tree ceased our 20 min time, fallen on our way up the hill .Group of strong men helped breaking them and making way for all the Cars queued up which was on halt.

Oh Oh Finally Reached Tata reg estate house /Mallakaparai Office

 View from the house looked artistry. Had wonderful wise, tuned in nature related conversation with Amitha Sir. There comes Anitha Chechi and Ali (member of hornbill foundation) entering the entrance. Welcoming them we introduced each other and headed for a tea walk up the hill, taking short cut to Mallakaparai Town.

Tea with Amitha Sir was memorable one we discussed on education system, social evolution of north east INDIA .I remember when he quoted this unknown teaching unknown than known teaching unknown very true !with respect to our education system.

All of us had awesome dinner prepared by Chechi & Madam.

Played Chess with smarty Neha-She was such a smart kid, Surprising with this 6 yrs.’ old kid is she knew the Chess rules. Yes she did!

A Long day journey and trek to Anthirapally falls dragged us to rest and our brand new Decathlon Quechua Sleeping bags came in use (hahahha promoting our shopped brand).

December 27^th Day 3 2014.                            

Got up and ready for long walk with our friend Ali. Myself, Gana, Gokul .Ali Started to walk till check post  to check on the nearest bus stand to board bus to Valparai ,Tamil Nadu after coming from island the next day.

Watching Tea estates around us, we lately realized that we are 3000 ft above sea level. What a view! I Say!

Spotted this Art Work near estate. MASTER PIECE! (lol)

December 27^th 2014 12:45pm 2014

Packed our bags in lite condition and shared luggage equally and waited for super express bus which came near our stay. (Amitha Bachan Sir, Madam, Neha, Gana, Gokul, Ali, Anitha Chechi, Ani, Mupaa (senior most). Took Bus till the view point of island, about 20 mins we all had nice workout inside bus which was swinging across the hill round and round down the hill criss and cross.

Got down at the view point and started getting down the lakeside to board bamboo raft. It was forest around I could see elephant shit dried up and asked Sir, is it safe we could see elephant shit in here.Sir replied, this isn’t fresh Anitha, this looks old for about a month nothing to worry. Lakeside shore had left with Many clues of Animal presence, my eyes looking around for more clues, I was scared and we are now waiting for Kadar heads to come and pick us .watching them coming from other end of shore with our binocular, having random topic conversation With Sir .Sir is Very informative and Very nice Hearted person .Well Ali and Mupaa Left to Get one more bamboo raft since it looked shortage .Finally they took around 2 hours to reach lake side and started to attach all bamboos  to make it one big raft . I am Scared again , Sir comforted me and assured that Bamboo will never sink so Keep calm and jump in to experience best of bamboo sailing . All Set and now I could feel the best ever bamboo sailing experience, it was enigmatic (Lifetime experience and I was lucky). Gana, Gokul, Anitha Chechi Neha, Myself and luggage with heads of tribe directing our raft .And on another Raft it was Sir, Ali and Mupaa leading us with huge Cannon Camera Capturing Mother Nature-The Beauty.

Sailing on Bamboo, Mupaa (the handsome)-the Head of Kadar tribe community on right bottom of pic

Landed on SWAPNA MUDI

December 27^th 5pm 2014

SWAPNA MUDI- SWAPNA Means DREAM and MUDI is TOP of the Hill.

For me this was Island of Dreams. Dream come true experience.

Coming back to us, we cleared and made space to build our tent. Amitha Sir Started building and all of us joined hands while Cold covering the place Mupaa and others got some fire switched on! 

Anitha Chechi Started boiling hot water and prepared Black tea for us, Me and Gana looked around the place, While Gokul and Ali Went Away to download (Nature Call) and Ali I missed to mention he is an Artist (Best in Sketching) Settled down in shore listening the roar and enjoying evening mist capturing beauty of mother nature in his book, While Appu (Gokul) Swimming in the Valley enjoying the Cold and Embraced the nature love and care.

Swapna Mudi , Heavenly place ,Birds started signally while Sun coming down ,Cold covered the area,Nilgiri languor making more sound ho ho hooo hooo hoooooooo (He alerts others in forest).

Anitha Chechi, Suresh Anna, Mupaa and others Started preparing Dinner ,We found 3 dogs in island. This was brought in by other members of tribe for protection, they are trained. Neha liked the pets. While Appu started playing with them. Myself and Gana munching fried ground nuts.Gana and Madam Ji wanted to get in water so we went down to play in water in dark,

Enjoyed and back for Dinner, had Awesome Rice and tomato curry and we made places to sleep inside our tent. Boys Managed outside the tent, we gals rested warm inside tent.

Gang is here- From Left Madam, Amitha Sir, Anitha Chechi, Ali, Gana, Ani,Gokul.

A Night in Forest Listening to sounds in midnight, 4am: Sir got up and checked around with torch light .Rain started at 5 am and boys got up and switched on Fire. Early Rise and we all got up and started looking for place to download (Morning programs executed very well with natures support).

Anitha Chechi Prepared Upittu and tea for breakfast, it was time for us to leave from Swapna Mudi, to catch bus near the view point where we got down other day. Conveyed regards to Amitha Bachan Sir and madam ji, Neha, Anitha Chechi.(Missed them all so much ).

Missed everyone while leaving the shore. Ali Guided and Mupa took over the direction we reached other end of shore, reached early so waited for Bus, While Appu busy removing small thorns in his feet.

Took a pic with Kadar community Heads and headed to Mallakaparai with Ali ,Wrote thank you note in Visitors book and Left to town area , picked up auto till sholayar Dam to leave valparai Tamil nadu for our next venture towards parambhikulam national park.

Closing this here but Never I would forget wonderful people of (www.hornbillfoundation.org).

Whom I met in this adventure trek and thank them for writing such a wonderful pages in my life journey. Everyone was special and I learnt from each one of them. Love and respect for you guys always!! –Ms. Cerebella!

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