Friday, July 3, 2009

Mudumalai

I dream in technicolor every time we plan for a visit back home but the reality is more black and white.


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Geniuses aren't they?


After the mandatory 3 hours in the airport which is true for any international flight, with two excited kids who could not wait to meet their grandparents and extended family we finally took off, only to be back were we started due to some drama in the air. An hour into the flight we were informed that the plane had developed some mechanical problems, one of the generators had failed and had to get back to the closest airport - none other than the one we started at a couple of hours ago.


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See the little one?


The pilot asked us not to be alarmed at the fuel that had to be dumped through the rear tail and make it possible for the plane to land. With anxiety about the connecting flight, if to stay back and start the next day we descended into the airport once again wondering what would happen to the fuel that is dumped mid air? does it evaporate? It might not be pleasant to have anybody's house being drenched with jet fuel we thought!. It took about 5 hours to get another plane ready by which time we were tired, hungry and certain we would miss the connecting flight from Frankfurt.


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Though the airline took care of most formalities the rush to inform people on both sides about the happenings had us literally on our toes the whole time with aching limbs and no mood to shop. We eventually reached home about 10 hours late via Dubai. By then we had spent a little over 24 hours in planes and airports and still had a while to go before we reached home.


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It would have been anti climatic if the train we took had arrived on time. The jinx continued and the train was 3 1/2 hours late reaching our hometown and we were one exhausted bunch. The flight from Frankfurt to Dubai was Emirates Air and they have one of the best services. On board entertainment being top notch. Sadly we do not have Emirates Air flying from our neck of the woods to Chennai. We have to go New York to board one which is never a problem while leaving but always a bit too much when flying back in.


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We went on a planned trip to Mudumalai forest. We saw a whole lot of elephants and they are majestic creatures indeed. We stayed in the government accommodations which was more practical than luxury, but the food was another matter altogether. In the ramshackle kitchen the cook whipped up some delicacies that were truly mouth watering. I was too busy eating and forgot to take pictures. The thing is whenever we visit most anything we eat tastes delicious but the consensus among family members who have a superior sense of taste was that the food was outstanding. So everybody was eager to get the recipes which the cook gave out without any hesitation. No exotic ingredients just regular every day stuff. I am eager to recreate them when I get back. The broken wheat payasam (pudding) with coconut milk was the best of them all.


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Pykara Falls


Keeping up with the forest theme we did not have power through the night and were glad when it was daylight again. We saw a quite a lot of elephants in their habitat but the more exotic creatures chose not to reveal themselves.


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In and ...


There are pythons and other snakes that live there, though common sense that these creatures live in the forest luckily we had not heard stories of them till the morning or the midnight tryst to the bathroom in the fading cell phone light would have been too scary.


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... around Ooty



Have a great Fourth of July everyone.

Picture Courtesy: DD and DH's brother

14 comments:

  1. Hi ISG! I'm so happy to see your photos from home :) I would love to see the baby elephant and the beautiful waterfalls... but you are brave to ward off snakes with the cellphone light (that made me smile) :)

    Hope you are well-rested now after long days of traveling -- enjoy every minute! Look forward to seeing more photos and your new recipes, too.

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  2. Good to hear you are safe and having a nice time.
    It is my father`s wish to go to Mudhumalai. I will have to take him on my next visit. I will take some tips from you when you are back. Excellent pictures.

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  3. Gorgeous pics, Indo!! Glad to see you had a great time. :)

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  4. Oh once travel delays begin, it is just one long nightmare until you reach the destination, right?

    But those pictures are so peaceful and beautiful. What is it about run-down guest houses and their humble kitchens producing fantastic food? I can't wait for your recreations of your meals there.

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  5. Wow!! Beautiful pics, Indo!! Loved the little elephant!

    Yours is the second travel nightmare I read in the past one week. :( Sorry you had such a tough trip. Now I'm too chicken to travel with DD in August.

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  6. Good to hear from you Indo and the pics say that you and kids are having fun.
    Travel is indeed a harrowing experience, I feel guilty that I make the parents do it ever so often

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  7. Seems u had a wonderful time..Lovely clicks, pulling me to visit once we go to India..

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  8. I kept wondering why i am not seeing any posts! I can just what an experience it must have been with the little ones!! but glad that you are enjoying.. geniuses they are & these are the kind i miss here:-).. the natural coexistence we were so used to.

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  9. Loved the photos of Mudumalai, have always wanted to see the place ! Enjoy the rest of your trip too :-)

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  10. ISG, what a nightmare that must have been being in the air for almost an hour and being told of the landing in the same airport, the fuel dumping etc.

    Hopefully you have all recovered and that you are having great time with your parents and extended family. Beautiful pictures.

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  11. Linda, thank god we did not have to ward off snakes :)

    Thanks guys, now that I think about it, wasn't too bad, the airlines took care of pretty much everything. But the not knowing and the anxiety is what kills you. Also the fact that we had planned not to fly from Chennai, otherwise dealing with a non-refundable ticket booked outside of the main trip would have been a different nightmare altogether. To top it all had to happen when it was just the kids and me with DH set to join us later this month.

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  12. I always like the visual treats you bring back from your trips home :)

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  13. Hey Indo so nice of you post about it when are u're so busy ejoying. Is it a live update ? If possible send me a mail on your contact nos. Would love to talk to you.

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  14. lovely pics..my sis went with her family just a month back and loves it. I saw the baby elephant...thanks for mentioning the lil guy...too cute!

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