Cool cool Kodai...Kodaikanal trip

This annual family trip to Kodaikanal was in June 2017 but am writing the blog in March 2018.

Stay : The Hammock - We had hired the whole home stay for the 10 of us.  About the Hammock - good stay, good food - would definitely stay there again. They also help in organizing the car/van for sight seeing and also for pick up/drop to/from the nearest airport/railway station.

On day 1 we went to Manavannur - nice drive from Kodai to Manavannur. Nature lovers would love Manavannur...calm, pristine lake, less tourists.  The only drawback is that there are hardly any restaurants in & around Manavannur.  In the evening, we spent some time in Kodai lake, boating, cycling, shopping. It is such a pleasure to cycle around the lake.

On day 2 we visited the local sight seeing places & the mandatory chocolate shopping.

On day 3 (the day of our return), we started for Vattakanal - the trek downhill was enjoyable but the return was exhausting yet fun...one needs to be very cautious while on the dolphin's nose in Vattakanal.  Excellent food in Altaf Cafe in Vattakanal and then had some fun time in the falls before heading back to Hammock for a quick check out and proceed for our return journey.

Kodaikanal in June is worth visiting with less traffic & wonderful weather (have heard about the traffic snarls during April/May).

Manavannur

Memories

Your memories on Facebook from 1 year ago it said. 
Memories, beautiful memories, 
are etched in the mind & heart 
which keeps flashing now & then. 
Some memories are captured in a photo 
while many memories aren't captured
all are nevertheless treasured memories
all are nevertheless cherished memories

The Abu Dhabi & Dubai trip

Pictorial trip to Abu Dhabi & Dubai in the last week of Dec'16 & first week of Jan'17 :

The bestest and most memorable of course was the visit to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Roller coaster ride in the most fastest and most longest, was breathtaking - omg - just cant put in words the exhilarating experience.  One must definitely visit the Ferrari World for all the wonderful rides and shows.

Also visited MotionGate (Hollywood theme park) & Bollywood theme park - wonderful time again - second best after the Ferrari world.  The food we had in the Chinese restaurant here was awesome.

Visited Al Ain too (Jebel hafeet, zoo (must visit), hot water spring).

Then of course, the mandatory visit to the gold souk, shopping malls, Dubai Shopping festival, Bhurj Khalifa, Miracle Garden, Corniche, ... it was a great family get together...

Also visited the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

My bro had planned the perfect itinerary for our trip.  He is awesome...not because he made this trip happen, for us...but because he is my bro !!! 😎


Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Bhurj Khalifa:

View from Bhurj Khalifa

View from Bhurj Khalifa - its own shadow !

Abu Dhabi desert safari: (After going in the roller coaster rides, nothing will seem to be exciting).
This is a half day package with pick up & drop, food, camel ride (5 mins), dance shows & of course the jeep safari - if you have been in the roller coaster ride, then this will not be all that exciting (yes, the jeep safari - dune bashing - is fun).

Dune bashing

Miracle Garden in Dubai

Others

I, me, myself 

Buried sorrow

No one knew the sorrow
behind his stern face

while people thought him to be
absent minded,
he was engrossed in deep sorrow
his tears were unseen in the sweaty face

when people felt he was indifferent to
things around
he was absorbed in profound sorrow
his tears were unseen in the raindrops

no one knew the sorrow
behind his stern face
coz it was buried in his heart
& finally buried with him in the grave

Nature's fury

Nature's fury hath no mercy
when the rains lashed and battered
while the winds thrashed and clobbered

the winds came in a destruction mode
and everything in its way did explode

the rains came in a ravaging form
and devastated all in the storm

the outbreak unleashed pent up rage
and failed we did, to gauge
the effects of its rampage

& they lived happily ever after in the backdrop of musical strains

in the backdrop of
rousing waves and rustling leaves
chirping birds and cackling kids

hand in hand, gazing at each other,
they spoke their heart out
a thousand words in silence

the words uttered in the mind & heart
did easily reach  & convey what it meant

in the back drop of
swaying trees and singing bees
whispering winds and wandering minds

hand in hand, gazing at each other,
they spoke their heart out
a thousand words in silence

unceasing tears revealed the joy & pain
warm hug expressed the care & love

in the back drop of
gurgling stream and giggling girls
mellifluous song and melodious music

hand in hand, gazing at each other,
they spoke their heart out
a thousand words in silence

and yet in this noisy milieu
they spoke their heart out
a thousand words in silence

Happy & Peppy

I noticed a spring in their step
and naughty glint in their eyes

I heard a lot of giggles and cackles
and peals of laughter all around

I found everything oh so nice
and people all over, joyous

is it because I'm happy
and everything seems peppy

is it because I'm on cloud nine
and so there's no reason to whine