3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 3 - Dec 2015

Continued from the previous blog post : 3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 2

25 - 28 Dec, 2015

It's been more than a month now. The photographs and painting from there works like a switch; just a glance and I would be taken back to the place.

Day 3 was a resting day. Woke up late, had no plans of doing anything. Hogged on the breakfast, sat around the dining area reading some books, she wanted to complete the pending sketch and I went ahead with the camera to see if I can get any better frames.  It was our last day at the home stay, I had already started feeling the need to extend this 3 day holiday. The pleasure of doing nothing was so overwhelming. Most of the guests had already started leaving the home stay and many were packing for the evening departure. We had planned to ride back on Monday morning, so we still had 1 night to stay around.

The morning scene at the estate

Late in the evening we checked with Mr.Suresh if we can have a camp-fire somewhere around and he directed us to a spot about 500mtrs far from the home stay. I suppose that is the camping site for those who would like to stay in the tent. This place had much better view than the home stay over the coffee plantation. I quickly gathered the dry firewood and made a pile. I still remember my first camp-fire during the Bandaje trek about 3 years back, the nearest village was 15KM from our camp site.

Another portrait of a Sunbird

The camp-fire was on, the darkness was slowly creeping over the sky, the stars started popping up here and there, the mist started setting over the place, the birds silenced themselves, the frogs and the crickets had started there symphony and just 2 of us together against the warmth of the fire. It is a feeling to cherish long.

With few good photographs, a lot of bird sightings, many  record shots and couple of sketches/paintings, we felt our trip was accomplished. We promised ourselves that we would come back to this place very often.

8AM, Monday morning and we were back on our way to Mangalore. But I still had one place to visit, Sri Krishna Bhavana, which I had found out from another blog. A small eat and get out place for the tastiest breakfast. You can ask for idli-sambar or sambar-idli, vada-sambar or sambar-vada (if you get what I am trying to say ;) )and pongal, chow-chow bath, bisi-bele-bath, poori, coffee and tea. The owner is blunt and he would probably scream at you if you use the mobile phone while inside the hotel, he is busy but a friendly elder person. Trust me, it is the best pocket-friendly breakfast. If you are in Coorg, do check this place, it is at a walk-able distance from the bus stand.

Sri Krishna Bhavana - Madikeri

Some of the birds I got to see around the estate. Couple of them were my first sighting. Bird List - Few of the Kannada names are from kanaja.in

1	Black Eagle	ಕಪ್ಪು ಹದ್ದು
2	Oriental white eye	ಬೆಳ್ಗಣ್ಣ
3	Hill Myna	ಕಾಮಳ್ಳಿ
4	Purple Rumped Sunbird	ಖಗರತ್ನ
5	Purple Sunbird	ನೇರಳೆ ಸೂರಕ್ಕಿ
6	Scarlet Minivet	ಚಿತ್ರಪಕ್ಷಿ
7	Golden Fronted Leafbird	ಎಲೆಹಕ್ಕಿ
8	Velvet fronted Nuthatch	ಮಕ್ಮಲ್ನೆತ್ತಿಯ ಮರಗುಬ್ಬಿ
9	Coppersmith Barbet	ಕಂಚುಕುಟಿಗ
10	Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher	ಬೂದುತಲೆ ನೊಣಹಿಡುಕ
11	Heart Spotted Woodpecker	ಚುಕ್ಕೆ ಮರಕುಟಿಗ
12	Lesser Flameback Woodpecker	ಹೊಂಬೆನ್ನಿನ ಮರಕುಟಿಗ
13	Grey Wagtail	ಬೂದು ಸಿಪಿಲೆ
14	Yellow Wagtail	ಹಳದಿ ಸಿಪಿಲೆ
15	Black Drongo	ಕರಿ ಕಾಜಾಣ
16	Ashy Belied Drongo	ಬೂದು ಕಾಜಾಣ
18	Bronzed Drongo	ಕಂಚು ಕಾಜಾಣ
19	Greater Tailed Drongo	ಭೀಮರಾಜ
20	Yellow Browed Bulbul	ಹಳದಿಹುಬ್ಬಿನ ಪಿಕಳಾರ
21	Emerald Dove	ಹರಳು ಚೋರೆ
22	Vernal Hanging parrot	ಚಿಟ್ಟುಗಿಳಿ
23	Blue Winged Parakeet	ಮಲೆಗಿಳಿ
24	Asian Paradise Flycatcher	ರಾಜಹಕ್ಕಿ
25	Black-lored Yellow Tit	ಹಳದಿಕೆನ್ನೆಯ ಚೇಕಡಿ
Prinias, coucals, warblers and other common birds

Until our next travel story, bye :)

Photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/23rmWxje76YGdz4m6

3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 2 - Dec 2015

Continued from the previous post - 3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 1 

25 - 28 Dec, 2015

We were like 2 veg rolls (I, king size) rolled into 2 extra woolen blankets. It was too cozy to sleep with such cold weather outside. We had decided to get up early and be out to shoot and paint expecting the early morning light to be at its best. We were up and ready by 6 and the valley was echoing with the bird calls. It was such a pleasant start of the day. I was off with the binoculars and the camera, she was getting ready with her paints and brushes.

I could hear the 'Sound of Silence'! The trees were still enveloped in the morning mist, a small gust of wind causing the leaves to rustle, whistling birds, flaunting butterflies, hint of light from behind the mountain cliff, there was a crisp smell of freshness around and the sound of the small stream somewhere between the jungle. I had walked about 8KM and that had made me feel better. I had my first sighting of many birds (Bird list to come up in the next blog). 

A portrait of a sunbird

I was hungry and craving for breakfast. A simple, hot and tasty spread of breakfast was refreshing. She had scribbled some sketches and I had my experience to share. We were off to paint and shoot again after a long chat.

Spot Painting

A quick splash of colors

We met couple of travelers on day 2. Ben, a master's student in urban planning and development, travelling in India for a 4 week holiday. His thoughts on travelling  and his experiences in India were worth listening. A group of 4 friends who were travelling in India for 6 months had a different story to share. Josh, an English teacher, who had come down to India to attend a friend's (fat-Indian) wedding and he explained about his project in a remote city in Taiwan. And there were the weekend tourists clicking selfies and roaming around the estate. It is so amazing to hear the stories what people have to tell.

Honey Valley has many trek trails around the estate (they have a small printed guide if you are interested in exploring by your own or you can ask for person who can guide you through the trails) but we were not yet done with the surroundings, to explore the other trails. She sat down to complete the painting and I started wandering around. Huge piles of coffee fruits were set off to dry, which would take about 12 days to dry and then it is peeled to get the coffee beans.

Coffee set off to dry under the sun

Shades of coffee

The glittering coffee beans

It was like a perfect love story in the evening, the moon behind the mountain had just begun to rise above, the twinkling stars started to fade in front of the moon's bright light, the flowing clouds were lit with a hint of light, the cool breeze, the silence all around and just 2 of us. Lovely isn't it ;) Just in few minutes the entire valley was moon lit. We will cherish this time forever.

This is how it would look if I dream about it

The moon rise behind the mountain

I took couple of bird related books from the rack until the dinner was ready. The cold and the sight of food made me more hungry and the foodie in me was jumping and screaming and rolling inside my belly. We had a chance to thank the chef-couples from Kerala who made the food so good. By the time we sleep the moon was peeping through the glass tile from the roof. She slept like a millipede rolling herself in the blanket and I like a giant Pill millipede :D I guess I had some really sweet dreams that night and also probably snored in peace like a pig, but I cannot recall any of them now!

I recall 1 line which Mr. Suresh had mentioned, which he told me that he would say this to every customer who would call him inquiring about the home stay and gets surprised when he mentions that there is no TV, internet and only intermittent mobile signal; "If you consider TV (internet and mobile) as everything, then there is nothing here". This again was a small twig which caused ripples in my stagnant mind. There was a kind of character in him which pushed me to go talk to him, probably it is his experience which is taking forms of words. 

To be continued in : 3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 3

3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 1 - Dec 2015

"The luxury in today's world is his own time"

So true, isn't it? This was quoted by Mr. Suresh Chengappa, the owner of the Honey Valley home stay during our small chat. It looked like the motive of travelling was accomplished, there was a kind of enlightenment, a kind of fulfillment. I was as happy as I had got one nice photograph that day (now, that is how I define super-happiness). This thought occupied my head for the next 2 days and I developed a kind of self realization of few things (no, nothing philosophical here, I only meant I enjoyed it).

25 - 28 Dec, 2015

These 3 day experience do not fade at all! Honey Valley was in our list from a long time. Spoiled by options for the 3 days of Christmas holiday, honey valley just popped up when we were discussing about where this time. It all looked like the perfect place for both of us and so we called them. As expected, it was a 'NO' from them. We knew that they allow pitching tents in their coffee estate and so we called them again, this time hoping for at least a tent to stay. There was a backpackers room vacant and we delightedly said yes. Sent the advance money to book the place and then we were just counting days. I had my eyes on the weather report for 3 days, full moon and a temperature difference of 10 deg at night. I was excited to experience the cold weather and the comfortable home stay.

Dec 25th, 5:30AM. It all looked so perfect. This time I had made a note of the route on a small piece of paper, so that she can just read it out sitting behind. Trust me, this was easier than using the GPS. Never missed the route until we reached Madikeri. Here is the route map we traveled. The first light was like a staged scene; the huge orange sun just above the horizon, peeping through the tree canopies, providing that cozy warmth and the golden tint everywhere. Riding through was a pleasure.

Idli, vada, mysore masala dosa and coffee at hotel Santrupthi and a small break was refreshing. The second half of the journey was roughly about 80KM. The route to Madikeri is mesmerizing. Had been there several times in the bus but the bike ride did the justice to the beautiful place. The experience of seeing the open sky, the hills, the plantations, the cold wind slapping you on the face and a lot of love hugging from the behind are something only a bike trip can give. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

Somewhere after Sulia. The entire route was so picturesque.

We missed our way near Napoklu but the extra distance we traveled was enjoyable this time. We arrived at the Kabbinakad bus junction which is the last part of our bike ride and had to park it at someone's backyard. We were offered 2 ways to climb the next 4KM to reach the home stay - 1.hike 2.hire the 4X4 jeep which would cost 200Rs. My wallet said no and so we started hiking. The concrete road opened up to a small rugged trail between the coffee plantations. The jeep drivers patrolling this path tried to convince us to hire the jeep, I guess they were sure that we would be gasping for breathe after the climb. It was a easy climb for us (oh ya, we did go to the gym on the 2 previous week). One of them made us sit inside the jeep saying that we would miss the way and we do not wanted that in between these plantation. The driver was on the phone call, speaking to another guest and driving the jeep with a single hand, he seemed to be pretty experienced to par that steep climb. The fun began when he started to take a reverse to pick up a group of other guests. The driver never cared to slow down.

Malabar Pit Viper. Found near the small stream on the way. Shot with the 50mm.

The trail almost near the Honey Valley

Reached the honey valley debating whose bag was heavy! We were pleasantly greeted. Nothing posh, no luxuries of the urban life, small cottage on the hill top, surrounded by coffee estate and trees and greens till the end you can see. We were greeted by Mr and Mrs Chengappa, who were busy arranging for the lunch. We loved the place so much that probably the very first thing we asked them was, whether we can extend our stay on Sunday as well. We were suggested to see the room and then decide to extend the stay. The bag packers room was a simple set up and light on the pockets. Dumped all our bags in the room. got fresh and ran to the dinning area. Simple, hot and as tasty as home, the food did not have even the slightest hint of outside food, no extra spice and nothing fancy. The unlimited buffet at 180Rs was all worth it. We sat down near the dining area and started discussing that we have finally got the break we both wanted.

The first few shots of the Oriental White eye.

We spent rest of our day wandering around the home stay, finding spots to photograph / paint and taking some weird looking self-photographs (popularly known as selfie). I got some good bird sightings and I could not wait to get my camera and glass out to shoot. She had fixed her spots for the painting. We just sat together the whole evening enjoying the cold weather and telling how much we love each other :) Having our own time is so much of luxury :)

To be continued in : 3 Nights @ the Honey-Valley home stay - Part 2

Our first ever motorbike ride - The 300 - Dec 2015

Continued from my "Our first ever motorbike ride - First gear" post.

05 Dec, 2015

Yes, we rode almost 300KM on our first ride and it was fun. We were happy; every kilometer we passed through gave us joy. We could not speak much while we were on the bike mainly because of the helmets but we enjoyed that silence. I was happy that I was riding the bike and she was happy that she was on the first bike trip. It was a happy trip altogether :)

Google told me that it would be a 260KM ride. I thought it would be an easy one. 5th Dec 2015, 5AM, we were all set. We had almost covered about 30KM before the first light, but I realized late that we had lost our way and had rode 13+ extra distance, deviating from the planned route. We had to come back to catch the right one and saw that we had missed the small signboard towards Moodbidri. Not at all deterred from the extra 25KM, we still had a lot of energy to ride. 

We decided to stop for the morning coffee somewhere in Moodbidri. New Padiwal's, a small hotel on the Moodbidri-Karkala road, seemed to be a good stop. I badly wanted to stretch my body and have a nice hot coffee. We could not resist after looking at the steaming hot idli-sambar :) 2 plates of it, 2 coffee and a half hour break brought in more enthusiasm. 

Moodbidri had its own charm. Old temples, tight streets, beautiful architecture and the sharp morning light painted beautiful spots around. Whatever Manasa had mentioned about the city, seemed to be true. We will visit this small town again, exclusively to capture them on our frames. 

We were on the saddle again. 18KMs to Karkala, clean-butter-smooth road all along. Small deviating roads, descriptive signboards to keep us on track, small townships and the flashing sunlight between canopies of trees. We passed through Karkala, a small beautiful town. The temperature was much cooler than Mangalore while we rode towards the Agumbe. 

Narrow roads and the tree canopies - A mobile shot

We stopped somewhere before we reached Agumbe and madam had plans for personalized-customized-photo-shoot. Shot some frames, enjoyed the green tree canopy. The 13 hairpin turns of the Agumbe ghat were the best of the trip. Thick jungle, large boulders and narrow rugged roads. 

A view from the famous sunset view point, Agumbe - A mobile shot

Kundadri seemed so huge from the nearby village. Almost a 5KM climb from the base. The sun had a grin on his face by the time we reached atop. A very good view point if reached for the first light. We looked around the temple, sat down near the pond and started munching on the eatables we took along. She started painting and I was wandering around for some frames. The priest there seemed to be very friendly until he asked our names, address and phone numbers to make a note in a book saying "idu naxal area, police checking bartare". We stayed there for an hour and the 12PM sun pushed us to go away from the hills. There are other places to visit around Kundadri hills, but we opted to drive back and wanted to reach home before the sunset.

The temple atop Kundadri Hills

The temple pond at the Kundadri hills

On spot

We were rolling down the hills till we touched the foot of Agumbe. The pain had started an irresistible feeling to just get off the bike seats. I was finding little excuses to lift myself off the seat, allow some blood to flow  and get back the sensation :) She was laughing at me and I could not help it at all! Probably we must get used to the bike rides yet. Tea, samosa and north Indian tali were not very impressive for the lunch, but the break was much needed off the seats. The road to Mangalore was straight and clear. We rode non-stop and wanted to reach home as soon as possible.

She has few words to share -

"I am good at the brushes but not at words. I have tried to express my excitement and my experience here. Good luck :)

It was my dream to wander around on a bike. My only childhood fantasy was to get married to a guy who has a bike. But (my) love was deaf, dumb, blind and without a bike!! And later I was super excited when we bought our bike. 

The first ride was a dream come true for me. My only enjoyment was to scream behind the visor of the helmet. Only because of the pain we realized that we were on a bike ride until then it was flying experience. The whole ride was exciting and my better half has expressed it well above. Every pothole and speed breaker was an excuse for us to get off the bike seats.

I am waiting for the next ride. I hope I can be behind the bars this time and he sits behind me :)"

 

A very quick splash of colors on the spot. There is still a lot of room for improvements. I enjoyed doing it and I think that's the first step towards learning.

We got the much needed break after this trip. We had fun, we spent a pleasant time together and that is all we were looking from our first bike trip. The next trip is already planned and we are more excited about it. Probably we get more time to shoot and paint in the next one :)

Photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/QJpkYHpG35eQYW567