All the while writing about Munnar and my recent trip to the place, I had this wierd feeling of writing this as a review rather than a Diary. In the end my rebellious mood made me write it as a diary - it was my trip, So here it goes down in my Diary! ;)
It was a short 3 day trip down memory lane to a place where I was born and brought up. It was a torture to me recalling my feelings in those days. More like an award / documentary movie. A crow cries - thats the only sound you get in 10 minutes to hear. You look out of the window and you are mebbe lucky to find a person walking a road through the hills / tea plantation. Gees! that was my life I hated then - but that I now yearn for living in a place like Bangalore! After all they are extremes when compared.
Most of Munnar is marked by the brand of Tata - for, they own most of the tea plantations around Munnar. The worlds largest solely owned tea plantation. Recently in the new for the getting the Jaguar brand in the kitty. Its a note to rememeber UKs Tetley brand of Tea which the Tata's own today.
Coming back to my Trip, (
Day 1) I went to such a plantation mentioned where I was spent most of my years of a childhood. 13 kms of gruelling ride - the roads were still untarred - I swore all the way. Unbelivable! even after say 12 years, the place was just untouched - except for mebbe the church which was rebuild. Time really had stopped. I ran from rock to tree. Everything seemed intact. The next day (
Day 2) was stark contrast to this, Munnar and sight seeing route - which all tourists are taken. I felt it a bit out of place compared to my Day 1 trip. Good roads paved way to a comfortable ride all the way. The route and tourist spots were commericalised with hawkers, rides, scenery points. I felt Munnar has changed after all. But it was only a small part and it was good to watch tourism industry fare well. Visited the school where most of my schooling happened - it looked untouched too - really felt happy for that. (
Day 3) Destination Devikulam (Godess's Pond/Lake) - I had stayed here the prev. nite. I got a pair of wheels and went of siteseeing. It was just great of whizzing around the curves and speeding downhill. Reminded me of the Old MRF K1000 Rally route. Around noon realising it was time to catch the ride back to Bangalore, we rushed back. There is KPN bus - favourite among tourists travelling to Munnar from Bangalore - leaving around 4 PM.
Well, the green moments are still etched in my mind and I take every opportunity to share it with everyone around me. I was not surprised when I suddenly started writing it on my Diary here. Sorry! for those who found this a bit boring - I could not stop myself from writing about this beautiful place - any place else to beat it.
Ciao! Till I get the itch to write again ....