Back to Munnar, Kerala - 02/01/2008
So here I am back again with my travel tales. When I was a kid, serial used to come 'Arabian Nights' where every week a new travel tale used to be shown. After travelling so much and writing about these trips same feeling is sinking in.
The trip plan started as there were couple of holidays coming in. But this final date choice was made because of the fact that Neil was travelling onsite (which he has not done now). So we wanted it to be sort of final trip before group looses one more person. Whenever we want to go somewhere, the biggest problem is not logistics (we have become great planners now) but about the place where to go. So this trip was not different. We started looking for international vacation this time (thinking big P:) ) and the first though was Malaysia, for which we did some initial ground work then backed off. After this we thought of executing Pondicherry plan but it was also killed. After this we spend few evenings and few days checking out for Shimla (yeah something in north this time). Had almost finalised on this but per person expenditure was going over budget and also it required taking some leaves (for people like me some leaves is a very big thing). Before finally deciding on Munnar, we thought once of Goa which we dropped as it is very regular destination for us. So finally we had a place to go - Munnar. Biggest of the things is decided. Rest of the things would not take so long. So we quickly booked tickets for people who were coming and also to put pressure on others who were still trying to decide whether to join the party or not. Finally it was group of eight (8) which was going to enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyy - me (otherwise this blog would not have been there), Vaibhav, Neil, Sadashiv (isse Shetty keh ke pukaarte hain), Vinay, Avin, Divya and Swetha (nopes not the Shetty from Ooty trip, woh to onsite main hai ab. This one is different Swetha).
This trip was different from my last trip to Munnar is couple of ways. Firstly it was planned one (last time everything was runtime) and secondly because it was planned we had booked rooms in the resort :) [yeah me and Neil called up almost every resort in Munnar. That was fun too, sitting at desk from 6:30 to 9:00 in evening trying to find acco in 'decent' resort]. Also this time we were going to Alleppey, which I had not gone last time. Vaibhav got the contact and booked the houseboat.
So finally the D-day arrived. We almost reached station on time to catch the train. Avin too made somehow (we that day only realised he will be coming from the Infosys SEZ office). We were
travelling to Cochin from where we would then travel to Munnar by road. From evening (when we had boarded the train) till around midnight no one slept, because no one was in mood to sleep and we were just chatting. But later, TT told us to be quiet (because other passengers were sleeping) and we dispersed and went to our seats (which were scattered in the bogey as we had booked tickets only few days back). Me, Neil and Vaibhav sat and chatted for more time in hushed voices. By the time we were sleepy train was approaching Cochin.
travelling to Cochin from where we would then travel to Munnar by road. From evening (when we had boarded the train) till around midnight no one slept, because no one was in mood to sleep and we were just chatting. But later, TT told us to be quiet (because other passengers were sleeping) and we dispersed and went to our seats (which were scattered in the bogey as we had booked tickets only few days back). Me, Neil and Vaibhav sat and chatted for more time in hushed voices. By the time we were sleepy train was approaching Cochin. Luckily the driver was there and our journey started. Well before it really started we all had tea, 3:00 
AM in the morning, nothing different for me as here at home we have tea at 1 or 2 :P. So now the
journey to Munnar which would take around 3 hrs had started. It was all hilly terrain, so even though we were sleeping no one slept properly. Travelling early morning has its own advantage. Sunrise which you often don't see normally can be enjoyed. So from somewhere in between Cochin and Munnar, from a Sunrise point we saw the beautiful valleys getting lighted by first rays of sun.
AM in the morning, nothing different for me as here at home we have tea at 1 or 2 :P. So now the
journey to Munnar which would take around 3 hrs had started. It was all hilly terrain, so even though we were sleeping no one slept properly. Travelling early morning has its own advantage. Sunrise which you often don't see normally can be enjoyed. So from somewhere in between Cochin and Munnar, from a Sunrise point we saw the beautiful valleys getting lighted by first rays of sun. We had our breakfast in Munnar town. There was a good restaurent (have forgotten the name) and had nice tea. Afterall if you can't get great tea in Munnar, where else would you get then. In sometime we reached our resort. Well let me take some lines to explain our resort, because this is going to be one place where we spent lots of time and enjoyed the most (other being the houseboat which was next plan). So this resort is Ayur County's resort and was on hilltop. One thing to note was that this resort was at higher altitude than Mahindra's resort which we could see (as it was on opposite hill). So we had this resort on the hill and the rooms which we got were overlooking the valley. It was great sight, only valleys and forests in front of us and no human construction. There were two rooms and a big hall, quite spacious for us.
So here we were and the day has also started. We quickly had our breakfast and then some of us
took rest, me being one of them. My vacation has finally started. So first day we went as usual to the tea gardens, Mattupetty Dam, Echo point and a tea museum. Our driver was also a talkative and interesting fellow. First time I came to know how Munnar got its name from him, Munnar means three rivers and since the city is on confluence of three 
rivers it got its name. There were few changes from what I had seen last time. Some places near the lake now had barbed wires, not allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the lake. Apart from this Munnar was still at its best. So much is there in Munnar to enjoy that just a couple of hours or days are not sufficient. In evening, we stopped at sunset point which was on way to our resort. But damn, final part of sunset happenened behind the clouds :), but still it was good to see lights shutting out in the valleys.
took rest, me being one of them. My vacation has finally started. So first day we went as usual to the tea gardens, Mattupetty Dam, Echo point and a tea museum. Our driver was also a talkative and interesting fellow. First time I came to know how Munnar got its name from him, Munnar means three rivers and since the city is on confluence of three 
rivers it got its name. There were few changes from what I had seen last time. Some places near the lake now had barbed wires, not allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the lake. Apart from this Munnar was still at its best. So much is there in Munnar to enjoy that just a couple of hours or days are not sufficient. In evening, we stopped at sunset point which was on way to our resort. But damn, final part of sunset happenened behind the clouds :), but still it was good to see lights shutting out in the valleys.So after the hectic day, we went back to our resort. They had arranged for bon-fire, where we just spent some time. Finally came back in our room and gapshap went on for long long time, not sure exactly what time we slept.
Next day, we woke up aaraam se and after getting ready checked out of the resort. Destination was
Alleppey where we would be spending the night, but that we were supposed to board only by late 
evening. So we stopped in between at places, quite a few good places. Finally we were in Alleppey and we directly went to the beach. It was a nice beach and was full of kite flyers. After spending time there, we went to the backwaters where our 3 bedroom houseboat was awaiting out arrival.
Alleppey where we would be spending the night, but that we were supposed to board only by late 
evening. So we stopped in between at places, quite a few good places. Finally we were in Alleppey and we directly went to the beach. It was a nice beach and was full of kite flyers. After spending time there, we went to the backwaters where our 3 bedroom houseboat was awaiting out arrival. Houseboat was too good. How much rest I took, was sleeping most of the time :). After boarding,
they took us somewhat in water and then anchored. Night they are not supposed to travel because fishing nets are dropped all over the place. Along with us there were three people, who were supposed to take care - navigate the boat, cook and take care. Was kind of royal treatment only, that was the reason I too was lazy :). After dinner 
again gapshap started, our coordinates not known. After a while, it started drizzling. One of the best incident was Vinay asking Vaibs "Can you open this bottle" when Vaibs was not in his senses at all, looks like Vinay too was not far behind. I dunno when I went to sleep, can't remember the exact time. When I woke up in morning, it was amazing. It was raining. Also you could see houseboats
returning, all around you were houseboats only. So we sat there, enjoyed the rains and tea came :) Then anchor was taken off and boat started, also the 
breakfast was ready. What a life, want anything more!!! Eat, relax and sleep - this is what I did there. With mobile switched off (mostly because network was not that good), no tension of office work too. It was soooooo relaxing, eat, sleep, wake up and then eat and then dose off :). Went off till evening, when this amazing journey ended. This was a proper holiday :), nothing to worry and just
chill. Evening houseboat dropped us back and since our train was later in night, we went directly to beach.
Spent last moments of Alleppey watching sun set in Arabian Sea. Later we boarded our train from Alleppey station which is walking distance from beach, without any bag it is walking distance. But for Vaibhav, Divya, Swetha it was not walking distance with 8 people luggage.
they took us somewhat in water and then anchored. Night they are not supposed to travel because fishing nets are dropped all over the place. Along with us there were three people, who were supposed to take care - navigate the boat, cook and take care. Was kind of royal treatment only, that was the reason I too was lazy :). After dinner 
again gapshap started, our coordinates not known. After a while, it started drizzling. One of the best incident was Vinay asking Vaibs "Can you open this bottle" when Vaibs was not in his senses at all, looks like Vinay too was not far behind. I dunno when I went to sleep, can't remember the exact time. When I woke up in morning, it was amazing. It was raining. Also you could see houseboats
returning, all around you were houseboats only. So we sat there, enjoyed the rains and tea came :) Then anchor was taken off and boat started, also the 
breakfast was ready. What a life, want anything more!!! Eat, relax and sleep - this is what I did there. With mobile switched off (mostly because network was not that good), no tension of office work too. It was soooooo relaxing, eat, sleep, wake up and then eat and then dose off :). Went off till evening, when this amazing journey ended. This was a proper holiday :), nothing to worry and just
chill. Evening houseboat dropped us back and since our train was later in night, we went directly to beach.
Spent last moments of Alleppey watching sun set in Arabian Sea. Later we boarded our train from Alleppey station which is walking distance from beach, without any bag it is walking distance. But for Vaibhav, Divya, Swetha it was not walking distance with 8 people luggage. 
Finally as with every trip, it was over. One of the most relaxing trips have come to an end.
