Christmas 2015 at Kumali

This Christmas, we were on an expedition to Kumily exploring Kurishumala. My cousin Johnson was the leader and guide during the expedition. The climate was cool and pleasant. I believe, a daily trekking to Kurishumala is more than sufficient for anyone to be physically fit. The place is so rejuvenating both the body and soul.

The last station

To Kurishumala, it is a long winding climb having 14 stations representing the Sleeva Patha (Way of cross). From the peak one can have a bird's eye view of Kumily and Thekkady. From there, we saw a 10 storied resort being built by a prominent politician in Kerala.

View from Kurishumala

It was evident from the amount of fur present everywhere that the place was frequented by wild animals.

Johnson is playful with the fur collected from the vicinity

The place is surrounded with cardamom and coffee plantations.

Ripe coffee beans

Rosmi inspecting Cardamom

Johnson is quite well-known in the place. Because, for some time, he was looking after an estate belonging to a relative there.

Johnson with Subramanian, a worker in a cardamom plantation

On day 1, we stayed with one Davasiachan's family with whom Johnson had maintained a life-long warm relationship. They treated us as if we were an extension to the family. 

Johnson had another friend Fatima, who was very hospitable. On day 2 we stayed at her resort. Her husband is a German who has business in Germany and estates in Kumily. She knows many languages including German as she has regular visitors from abroad apart from her children. Fatima's place is a sanctuary for some of the wild birds as she feeds them regularly. We saw a Hornbill on her courtyard. To my disappointment it flew off by the time I could grab my camera.

Fatima

Marathakali (a fruit tastes like tomato) at Fatima's place

At Fatima's resort

From Fatima's resort we could see tourists taking Elephant journeys, which appeared to be a niche area of tourism in this part of Kerala. The crowd was huge.



The two-day experience in Kumily was enjoyable!

Punalur rail route, a trip down memory lane

Punalur is an old township with a grand legacy of British architecture and labor activism. The thirteen arch railway bridge and suspension bridge are gateway monuments to a memorable past when trains on the meter gauge rail route between Kollam – Punalur and Punalur – Sengottai chugged along the scenic mountain terrain for over a century. They are still there, neglected and usurped.

Our visit to Punalur early in October was short. The climate was hot, humid and hardly bearable. Amid the buzzing confusion stood the suspension bridge like a monument.

The bridge and surroundings are now cluttered with constructions and development activities, which emphasizes the lack in preserving our precious memories; or are we trying hard to leave them behind? Are they haunting us? The silly colonial, oppressive memories.

View of Kallar river from the bridge.

 Another view of the Suspension bridge. I would have loved to take a journey  over this bridge in that lazy but wonderful train.

Not far from Punanlur is Thenmala where we went to see the 13 ring bridge. The bridge stood with dignity reminding us of an era when life was chugging away in a siesta with no modern nuisances to interfere.

Peepal tree at Thenmala junction, a beautiful place but for the modern shanties around. 

The 13 ring bridge, one of the tourist attractions in Punalur.

If you have not watched please watch the YouTube video "Ormmakalilekku Oru Ottayadipatha", I highly recommend it.

The 13 ring bridge, another view.

From the top of the bridge. Did I hear a steam trumpet from the curve behind?

More about Punalur: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punalur 

24 years this side

A reunion. It has been 24 years since we left NSS College, Chethtala, behind

Aanakkoodu (Elephant Cages), Konni

On our way to Gavi, we learned from a local that only 30 vehicles per day were allowed to pass through the jungle. For that too, one must reach the check post early in the morning. He suggested (rather insisted) that we visit Aanakkoodu (Elephant cages) at Konni instead, which was not far from there. It did not disappoint us. The visit was a memorable one. Sprawled over a huge landscape were beautiful buildings in typical Kerala traditional architectural style, well-laid-out pathways and gardens. The majestic elephant cages and shelters stood among these, bearing a history of over 100 years. One wonders how many elephants of generations manifold were trained and nurtured here. where all they went, what festivals, carnivals and processions they took part! How many of them died in harness, killed their mahouts or were mistreated and neglected to death.

When we visited the place, the mahouts and elephants were busy doing their chores. A cute little infant elephant who got stranded in the woods the previous day was the main attraction. The mahouts and veterinarians were giving special care to it. We could only glance it through the bars. It was scared, restless and the presence of visitors did not help any better.

We went to see the other elephants. They were of different ages. Some photos.

Visitors at the infant elephant's cage

 Indrajith (17). He was swaying all the time. 

 Surendran (17). They got him from Rajanpara, Konni. He was brought here in 1999 when his mother died.

Krishna(4) taking bath.He was so obedient that the mahouts had only to say where he should spray the water and what to do.

Krishna returns to his shelter after the bath

This shelter was empty. Soman (73), a retired pensioner elephant was supposed to be occupying it.  

One can learn more about Konni Aanakkood from this Wikipedia link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konni,_India.

Father and Son

A fisherman and his son return home after the day's toil - from Poovar beach

Vizhinjam

The smelly but quiet and beautiful Vizhinjam fishing harbor, awaits its destiny to become a major port in Asia. Where will this beauty be in the next 5 years?

The aquarium at Vizhinjam

If you are visiting Trivandrum, the aquarium at Vizhinjam/Kovalam may be of interest.

Heron and the lighthouse

A heron at Vizhinjam unaware of the development that has befallen.

Soul searching deep beneath

Poovar, Trivandrum

Poovar, despite its natural settings and scenery, is over-hyped for tourism. But it is yet another beautiful place in Kerala, especially the beach.

My friend Vinod's pet.

She is fierce for her size!

ചില വേമ്പനാട് കായൽ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ (From Vembanadu/Perumbalam Backwaters)