Yours Consciously Sneha

Category: Travel

A Dessert: Wayanad

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks-John Muir

Having a mind that always wanders, itchy feet which cannot stay in one place; Kozhikode/Calicut was just not enough so I had decided to go to Wayanad after my friend’s engagement. I have been to Wayanad a few years ago and I know there would be still a lot more than I wouldn’t have explored.

When I was researching about Kozhikode/Calicut, Tusharagiri Falls caught my attention as there were 3 waterfalls on the same trek. It was on the same route that we were driving in from Kozhikode/Calicut to Wayanad and I couldn’t say no. As we were driving to falls, I saw these tall trees with a cup-tied at the bottom. I asked my driver and he said those are rubber plantations, it was my first time to see them. Facts of Rubber Plantation in Kerala: The first rubber plantation in India was set up in 1895 in Kerala, Kerala is still the highest producer of natural rubber in India, rubber is made out of the liquid(latex) obtained from these rubber trees. Each of these trees is tied with a cup at the bottom where the latex is stored.

The first waterfall is called Eerattumukku, the Second one is called Mazhavilchattam and the Third one is Thumbithullum Para. Although there was hardly any water in all these 3 falls and was mostly filled by locals, the trek through the forest was a memorable one. Absolute silence among the trees, birds chirping here and there, noise of water sliding through this silence, staircase formed through the roots of the trees; my itchy feet was finally dancing with joy.

Also read: Still Water | Still Time: Alleppey

The journey from Kozhikode/Calicut to Wayanad was one beautiful road opening up to mountains on both the ends, watching the sunset on the move, sliding the window pane to get some fresh air which I always crave for and now my mind that wanders was finally dancing with joy.

Also read: A city with Spice: Kochi!

I stayed in Coffea Aroma along with 2 of my friends; the name of this place was a catch as I always thought Wayanad has only tea. 5 Kms drive from the main road in the Jeep brings you to this unique place located amidst coffee plantations. As soon as we entered, we were greeted with the music of water passing around, coffee plantations surrounding us, hills at a distance waving at us, was a soothing experience staying here. As most of the major waterfall is usually filled with locals/tourists, it’s a blessing to have a private waterfall in here.

About 5 Kms from here is the Chembra peak, when I decided to trek here all I heard was it takes about 3-4 hours (2.5 kms one side) to climb up which was even more exciting. It is mandatory to take a guide along while you go here for trekking and for my luck I found a guide who could speak Kannada. Have been to Kerala many times earlier and this is the first time ever to find someone who can speak Kannada so fluently, thanks, Chandan! This is why I like traveling; never know what is in store for you. Every step you take is an adventure, every moment is filled with surprises, and every decision brings you happiness.

Chandan is a BA student who is working as a part-timer guide during his holidays and also a native who lives in a village around Chembra Peak. We were climbing up through the forest having conversations about studies, wild animals, and my blog. Sunlight would prick eyes to slow down and I wouldn’t want to give up reaching the peak, we reached in 50 minutes and Chandan was all happy that he could go home soon.

Standing up in this peak where even sky seems reachable, mountains are just a piece of cake, the breeze was the icing and the naturally formed heart-shaped lake on the hill was the cherry. I sat on a rock watching the hills, opened my book to write and the flow just went by; solitude at its best while nature was in rest.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

January 20, 2016
Discover Yourself in Calicut/Kozhikode!

I am not afraid of the darkness. Real death is preferable to a life without living.- Vasco Da Gama

Vasco Da Gama was the first to discover the route to India through ocean landing in Calicut on 20^th May 1498. This was the line I remember studying in school and the only thing I knew about Calicut, while I was talking to my colleague about going to Calicut he mentioned about Vasco Da Gama. I instantly went back to my school days, history was one of the subjects that I never liked much, but I still remember studying about Vasco Da Gama and I was all excited to know more about him. I have admired him and would wonder the struggle he had to go through to find the route through ocean back in 1498.

Although traveling to any city doesn’t excite me much, I had to land here for one my friend’s engagement. Finally with plenty of research, found about this village called Elathur which is about 10 Kms from Calicut. There is a canal that runs through this village; I spoke to few locals there who live on the income that comes from fishing.

About 5 Kms from here is the Kappad beach where Vasco Da Gama landed, there is an ancient temple which is supposed to be older before Vasco Da Gama landed here. As per the locals, it is 800 years old, I was standing here and gazing at the beach. I then closely observed that there is a heart-shaped formation on the sand. Was the nature telling me that they love me too?

For my next long travel, I have been thinking to travel only through the ocean. Never had I thought, Vasco Da Gama would be another inspiration. If he could do it 600 years ago why can’t I do it now? This is what travel teaches you, you would never know where and whose story would inspire you to keep going, keep achieving, and keep inspiring.

I had read somewhere that there is a monument showcasing Vasco Da Gama’s discovery, I should admit that I was a little disappointed with this monument which almost went unseen even after passing twice on the same road unless someone pointed to me that was the monument. If you are excited and curious to know about this monument too, don’t be. Here it is!

A little disappointment, more inspiration, more excitement; with all the mixed feelings in the brain I headed towards Beypore Fort, another beach closer to the city has two piers built till the middle of the ocean. The two old piers opening arms till mid of the ocean, waves coming over with the rush to hug them, the sun getting a little jealous watching their romance! I need not say more, no wonder Beypore Fort is one of the romantic getaways!

Sun had already set by the time I reached there and had left the traces in the sky that he was there and had just left. There were too many people around me and I was still all alone connecting to the waves, sensing the vibration in my nerves, eyes opening up widely to gaze at the brightly lit sky. I guess that’s the difference between nature and people, nature would always connect with you: however you are, wherever you are, whatever you are.

After such relishing meal filling my eyes with beach and sunset, I had to close it with a dessert and went to the SM Street to taste the very famous Kozhikode Halwa available in different colors/flavors.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

January 14, 2016
Hello! 2016, How you doing?

Fight your fears and you’ll be in Battle forever; Face your fears and you’ll be Free forever-Lucas Jonkman

Brewery called District 6 in Bangalore/Bengaluru

Started with New Year’s Eve at my home working on a blog post about the city I grew up in with beer and wine giving me company, on New Year’s rode about 35 KM’s to a brewery alone just to tick off the list that I have been to all the brewery’s in my city. 2 days have been passed since then while I am penning this post, I haven’t stepped out of my house and neither the sun nor the moon has seen me. I have just been on the bed without taking a shower, going through my favorite blog post of Shivya Nath, watching my favorite series friends, listening to some music, binging on Beer, Wine, coffee, and whatnot, working on some plan, taking a nap and the plan changes again.

Trying to shell some thought in Kappad Beach

Most of you who are following my blog posts already know that I am quitting my job to be a nomad; well it is not that easy it sounds. So I had a plan to make a plan during this holiday season and most of them who know me personally also know that I don’t like planning any of my future plans. It has always the Unplanned Plans that has worked for me. So this is where I need to have a fight with my brain, with long-term travel plans ahead I need to make a plan but my tiny brain doesn’t let me to.

My itchy feet took me to Tusharagiri Falls in Kozhikode/Calicut

In my unwary situations like these, I tend to share the rant with few of my friends. Sometimes, whom you expect to be more supportive would not even bother much and sometimes whom you least expect to be with you will open their arms to vent out. There are also some unexpected strangers from nowhere send me messages saying they love what I am doing and that is what keeps me motivated to keep going.

Solitude in Tusharagiri Falls

I have also received sarcastic comments from my friends about my unplanned schedule all the time, but I guess that is how it works mostly for Indians. When they travel they need to know which place they need to go maybe few months in advance, book a flight ticket even earlier as it will be cheaper and a lot more reasons. Well, for me traveling has always been an instinctive decision. I can’t randomly choose a place with 3-night 4-day packages and book a ticket, I would rather go to a place and stay how many days ever I want to if I like the place.

Little Adam’s Peak in Ella

When I was in Ella in Sri Lanka, I had 2 more days left to get back to India. I really wanted to visit Galle but I had to take a 7-hour bus to reach Galle and would just have 3 hours left to see around Galle and head back to Colombo to catch my flight back to India. I did not do this as just seeing a place for few hours was not exciting, I rather chose to stay in Ella and hung out in a local bar with the awesome Sri Lankan people and few other friends I met there.

View through the tire, not my lens!

Sometimes there are tears in my eyes that nothing is going well, most of the times a big smile on my face that this too shall pass and I will definitely come out of this situation very soon. If the ride is not bumpy, where is the all the fun right?

So, exactly on the 61^st day from now, I would be leaving my job! Yay! And step Into the wild! Anybody has the same plan like me, do drop a comment below 🙂

Blooming…

Wild Flower

January 3, 2016
2015: Good, Bad & Ugly!

When Hope fails, Faith holds Strong- Sneha Marappa

Something that I had never ever thought that I would attempt it is “Blogging”, even though 2015 did not start really well but it did teach me a lot! Learnt a lot about myself and how to value me more and that is where all the happiness lies in! Thank you all for the support so far, I am taking a big leap in 2016 and I hope it is going to be good! 🙂

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 650 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 11 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

December 31, 2015