Monday, September 10, 2012

As a tourist in my home-town

The little one was chuffed right from the time she saw the bags out. She knew in her heart we were going to do something really exciting. We were going back to Vadakencherry (hubby’s home) and she was going to meet her paternal grandparents after a 6 months long interval. 

Smera had been undergoing a week-long rigorous training to learn saying Ammachi (Grand Mother) and Appachha (Grand Dad). But that ended up as Ammeis and Appais. While saying Ammu and Chinnu (Smera’s cousins) was a piece of cake for her.

Smera loves going back to India. Vadakencherry or Delhi she just loves to be with her grandparents. She has met Ammeis Appais only a couple of times this year but when they re-unite it just feels like yesterday. This vacation was even more special with Ammu and Chinnu at home.

Day 1 was overwhelming for Smera feeling wary of her elder sisters’ affection towards us. Observant child turns then herself into a human magnet in my arms. Bursting with emotions of jealousy, anger and insecurity little Smera also wanted to play with her sisters. Things got better between as days passed and Smera felt more comfortable. For the first time she spent some quality time sisters and sometimes it became really difficult for her to keep enthusiasm within limits.

After a lot of wheedling and buttering-up I managed to get Appais to take time off to come down to Trivandrum. The grandparents, parents and the three kids then catch a midnight train that was part of my pre-planned break. Travelling in a train was a first time for all the three kids. The euphoric Smera had to be eventually reprimanded to lower her decibel levels.

We arranged for my mum too joined us at Trivandrum. This time we wanted to do what tourists would do in Kerala, headed straight to Kovalam and unloaded ourselves at the Taj Vivanta. Spent the next few days gorging on gourmet food, splashing into the pool, early jogs on the beach, boat rides on the backwaters, watching kalaripayattu, to making chocolates at hotel– we had an exceptional time.

Boat ride on the backwaters



To be honest we have never ever done the touristy things back home in Kerala and this was a first time for all us including our parents.

Jogging track next to the Kovalam beach



I never knew of this beautiful place called Pomudi which is about 60 kms from Trivandrum city. If you were off to Ponmudi you would typically take your first stop at the Meenmutty falls. The forest department would assist you with a guide, to take you on a 2 km trek through the dense forests to reach the falls. I reached the falls with great difficulty, I have to admit trekking is not something I really enjoy but the falls were spectacular. While my father-in-law aged 68 and my mum carrying Smera managed to trek with great ease than me and my athletic husband.


Meenmutty Falls

After the falls we drove though the narrow winding road on the way to Ponmudi, a scenic green hill-station with pleasant weather year-round. If you have motion sickness then you might want to skip this part by taking a nap, as there are 22 hairpin curves on the way.

Ponmudi


And to finish off our stay at Taj we decided to get our parents a little surprise - the must-try ayurvedic spa treatment at the Jiva Spa. My mother-in-law though got a little shock as she signed of the bill but it was definitely all worth it, while my father-in-law slept off half-way through the massage.

Few days break came to end with grand-parents and nieces taking the train back to Vadakencherry, while I and my husband quietly escaped to Sri-Lanka depositing our angel with my mum.

More on that in my next post.

Cheers!

51 comments:

  1. A very endearing post Sangeeta, and brings back a horde of memories of exploring the backwaters and the beauty, not to miss exploits of sweet Smera:) A visual treat and await for more!

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    1. Thank you Rahul - you've just made my day ... I am glad you've enjoyed reading it :)

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  2. Picturesque memories well complimented by the snaps.It surely brings back to memory lanes.Well written post.

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  3. Looks like a fab holiday. I love the look of the falls and the Kovalam beach, someday they will grace my photo albums :) Awaiting the SL tales, in person!

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    1. I have to admit my pictures don't even do half the justice to the nature's beauty .. You must visit Kerala ... I can arrange the logistics you want :)

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  4. Being an Indian, i regret I have not seen even half of India yet....even the most touristy places like Kerala, Goa and the list goes on......but in the list for sure and Kerala too some day :))
    Thanks for sharing the lovely pics.....please make it a little bit bigger for the next post! Pictures have to be big :)

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    1. True prachee .. both me and hubby have decided to explore every vacation ... NE on my mind for our next vacation maybe ipsi should give us some tips :D

      P.S. - thanks for the suggestion, have made them big :)

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  5. Lovely write up and beautiful pictures... It's still a part of the world I'm yet to explore but very tempting.

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  6. Amazing pictures, such a beautiful place. you are so lucky..!

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  7. Sweet homecoming reflects in your post & the landscapes are out of the world,thanks.

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  8. As usual great post Sangeetha! You took us along to the places....loved the journey as much as you did!

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    1. Your comment has made me so happy ... Glad you've stopped by at Sangrywords ..

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  9. wow sucha nice holiday...beautiful pics... nice to read your posts again Sangeetha !

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    1. Thanks Akshay .. I intend to be more regular ..

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  10. The pics on this post are gorgeous. Kerala is always my love. Real cute chronicles of your baby :)

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    1. Thanks Archana .. Yes little Smera absolutely loved her stay back home ..

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  11. Wow, I have never been to Kerala though I have heard a lot about it! Always wanted to visit! And you're right, sometimes its so much more fun simply to do touristy things isn't it? :) Lovely pics and I am sure you guys had a lovely time too!

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    1. Deepa then you must visit Kerala soon ... I could even up an itinerary for you if you want :)

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  12. wow...I had been to kerela and totally loved it but it was munnar, kumarkom we covered, we didn't touch trivandrum at all!!! thanks for the heads up on ponmudi.
    and, i totally knwo how ti feels to be like a tourist in a place you have lived :D we used to stay in shimla and we also felt like that whenever we had to take any guest anywhere!!! we always stand out especially with the language!!!

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    1. :) Swati you know what I have never been to Munnar yet !! Btw Ponmudi has a KTDC hotel .. you would need to book in advance though

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    2. oh great coz we went for ktdc tour only...thanks for that :)

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  13. beautiful pictures I must say, that waterfall and all lush green .. its been a long long longggggggggg time since i last was there .. would love to go again for sure very soon ..


    Bikram's

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    1. :) Thank you so much Bikram ... hope you have been doing well

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  14. beautiful pictorials, with engrossing read. A lot tempting destination.

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  15. Beautiful snaps of God's own country :) Interesting and gripping commentary!

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  16. Thanx for the post. I have recently moved to Kerala will definitely plan it for a weekend... tanx again

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    1. Ajeeth brilliant you must definitely plan this and make to sure tell me how it went :D

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  17. wow
    Kerala can be this beautiful?
    God's own country hasnt lost it s touch i guess

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    1. Yes it is.. such a refreshing break from the concrete jungle that I live in :)

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  18. I have just returned from Kerala and ur pics give me nostalgia

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  19. Undoubtedly God's own country!! I have seen munnar, wynad, allepy, ernakulam..and have had the joy of seeing the backwaters, the edukal caves, and most of the lovely locales u've mentioned here! lovely pics that you've posted here!!
    My visit to the backwaters had inspired me to do a post on it ... http://titli15081977.blogspot.in/2012/02/sunset.html

    next on my wish list is ponmudi and meenamutty after that beautiful description of yours!

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    1. Do let me know how your trip to ponmudi and meenmutty turns out to be .. :)

      Cheers,

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  20. Surprise Surprise :D :).
    http://sweetsomethingz.blogspot.in/2012/09/yawn-im-alive.html

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    1. Princes where have you been ??? thank you so much for the award ... Glad you are alive ..

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  21. Your snaps are amazing!!
    Now I understand why it is called God's own country.. I've always read about Kerala's
    beauty in books. I wanna visit it soon..

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  22. amazing u have mentioned almost evry1 but me .. :'(

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  23. Nice pics and nice piece of information about Ponmudi.

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