Yours Consciously Sneha

Tag: travel

Fairyland: Ella!

While the journey to Ella was just so more than beautiful, I was pretty sure this piece of land would be even more beautiful and I was not too surprised. Stayed in a budget hotel and later hiked with another Austrian friend I met for about 7 Kms to Ravana Waterfalls. On the way to the falls, all we could see is valleys and rivers flowing by, green mountains standing up and cheering while we were walking.

Little Adam’s Peak is in Ella and was about 5 Kms walk from where we stayed, the next day morning we went walking up the hill and stopped over a place for a cup of tea and this was the view from there.

Also, read TRAIN LULLABY!

Australian friend whom I had met in Kandy joined us too, while we continued to walk through the tea plantations, I still remember an old lady passing by smiles and say Hello! This is one nice thing that I have to mention about people in Sri Lanka, from a young tuk-tuk driver to an old lady who is plucking tea leaves will all have a smile on their face and would not forget to greet you! On my way from Kandy to Ella, I spent most of the journey with a family who was continuously feeding me food all the time 🙂

While we started hiking up, we were mesmerized by the view that we saw everywhere. Clear skies, triangle-shaped hills, lake and waterfalls that was somewhere at a distance. Those clouds moving from one corner to other like they were passing letters from one hill to other. Those few hours I was living in a fairyland.

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Noise of the waves woke me up like an alarm

little I knew waves would be opening its arm!

I came here in search of something

you made me realize I had all in me that I was looking!

You have been knit by green wool

looking at your beauty my eyes were full!

Mist was kissing the trees

trees were dancing with the chill breeze!

You made me experience Mother Nature’s lullaby

fell asleep on your lap like a baby!

Only in dreams have seen a fairyland

you are much more than a dream to see you this grand!

PS: Thanks to a friend for lending his camera to click this beautiful island!

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
TRAIN LULLABY!

View from the train from Colombo to Palugaswewa (Galkadawala)!

Also, read Soul Search: Galkadawala

Railway Station in Kandy, first time for me to see a railway station where there is an end or should I say beginning! 🙂

I have always loved Train Journeys, there is something really special of those metal boxes which are linked to each other and run on small tires on a metal track. That noise of the engine is not annoying to me, the movements while sitting in the train is like a lullaby. I was very impressed with the railways in Srilanka; the links from one town to other is pretty good and I traveled only in 2^nd Class trains. All over Srilanka I mostly traveled in train: From Negombo to Colombo, Colombo to Palugaswewa (Galkadawala) and Kandy to Ella. All these train journeys have been incredible and the best train journeys I have been in so far. All you could get to see is trees, banana plantations, fields, lakes, lagoons, rivers and yes I saw a Crocodile too!

Kandy to Ella or Ella to Kandy is supposed to be one of the best train journeys in the world. I now pledge that it is the best train journeys I have been in so far, it is like I have been in a fairyland. Train literally passing through the clouds, rivers flowing with mostly Pinus trees around, tea plantations, waterfalls, fields, moving through more than 50 tunnels, lush green on whichever side you turn around.

Also, read Fairyland: Ella!

The trees were all in love cuddling with each other, my camera was feeling shy by clicking their pictures; my hair was getting curled up even more with the cold breeze. The mist was kissing the trees, trees were dancing with the chill breeze, trains tichik tichik noise was like a background music, audience like me were all happy and grinning with this mind-blowing performance by nature. While drizzles were dripping on my face, I had goosebumps in my brain wondering how nature can be so beautiful!

This 6 hours journey, 6 hours of my time, my lifetime is gonna be bookmarked forever.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
Rock & Roll: SIGIRIYA & KANDY!

Sigiriya also called as Lion Rock is one of the world heritage sites. There was a palace earlier on this rock and underneath. It has about 1500 steps as told by one of the locals and took about 2 hours to cover the whole place. On the way when you climb up, you get to see some amazing paintings. Also, the paw of the lion which is on the next phase while climbing up read that head of the lion was collapsed a few years ago.

This is how palace was placed on top of the rock!

Palace underneath the rock!

View from the top of the rock of the pathway leading to climbing up the rock!

While climbing up the rock, wherever you stop to take some breath you get to see trees laid like a bed all around which are surrounded by hills and few lakes. It looks like this island is immersed in a green knitted woolen blanket by spreading the warmth to the eyes.

While I was browsing through Airbnb, found these Capsule sleepers that caught my eye. I had decided that I will stay here when I am in Kandy; Kandy is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. There were only 2 reasons for me to stay here, 1 was to stay in Capsule Sleeper and the other one was to take the train from Kandy to Ella. Even though it is one of the largest cities, every shop here shuts by 6:30. It turned out to be one of the beautiful nights I have spent so far. That night met these amazing Australians who were strangers then but more than best buddies now who surprised me with the Snickers as a birthday cake.

Here is how these capsule sleeper’s looks like, it has a light, charging point and a small fan. These sleepers are placed on the roof top with this incredible view of the whole city, looks even more amazing in the night when the lights are on, I tried to click the pictures but couldn’t give justice to my eyesight.

As mentioned earlier, I love antique pieces and this fan looked really different which had bulbs instead of wings.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
Soul Search: Galkadawala!

Maulie who owns this beauty purchased land here and have this beautiful setup right in between a jungle, surrounded by a beautiful lake. We had conversations from traveling, politics, religion, food to marriages. I have an inclination towards antique pieces; the kind of art and paint on the walls, interiors in the rooms, open (firewood) kitchen everything formed to be an antique piece which is one of its own kinds.

Being a foodie needless to mention, this is the best vegetarian food I have had till date. Most of the dishes here are cooked on fire wood; every meal/snack I ate was unique and super tasty. They make Jaggery and this sweet syrup (Kitul Pani) out of this Palm tree called Kitul nut. I sipped the coffee and took a bite of the Jaggery, that’s how it is supposed to be had. Later I had this yogurt made of buffalo milk along with the sweet syrup; I just couldn’t get enough of it and requested Maulie to serve me this the next day as well.

These two boys took me around to show this beautiful lake, with the silence all around, literally one of these guys walking in front of me and other one walking behind me. It took me few minutes to get them together for a picture.

I sat by the lake and meditated for a while; peace is what I had around me. Sun was almost wrapping up for the day, birds chirping, gentle wind cooling the lake, trees moving with the flow and their reflection on the water. I was trying to figure out if the tree was moving or it was the water, there was one dry tree amongst all the green trees which dragged my attention while most of the birds were resting on it. Extreme levels of Solitude with only birds, animals, and nature around, Paulo Coelho is right: if you really want something the entire universe will help you to achieve it; yes universe was all around me and this is what I had wished for. While I was relishing on my dreams, could sense someone tickling my stomach. Oh, it was those caterpillars turning into colorful butterflies 🙂

Also, read Unplanned Plans!

Thanks to Shivya Nath’s post, I wouldn’t have found this wonderful place if not for that.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
Love at First Sight in NEGOMBO!

The airport is located in Negombo and not Colombo, Colombo is almost about 35 Kms from the airport so I preferred to stay in Negombo. The noise of waves hitting the shore was like an alarm waking me up, went for a short walk by pushing my feet inside the sand to feel the warmth and gazing at the waves. Fishermen were getting prepared to go fishing; I continued to walk around while sand was crawling on my feet.

Negombo was earlier colonized by Portuguese and then the Dutch. When you walk around the roads in Negombo, the way roads are laid and the buildings on both the sides give the Dutch vibe. A traveler friend joined along for a short cycling tour. While I started paddling cycle, sun rays striking my eyes, smelling the pollution free air, clean roads, ever smiling people all around. This place was definitely Love at first sight for me, every lapse I take on the paddle I kept smiling and smiling even more. Wings that were hidden on my shoulders were opening up, I could sense the freedom that I always wanted and I was indeed a free bird.

Negombo is famous for fishing and their huge fish markets. I have never seen these many varieties of dry fish and such a huge market which has only fish everywhere. Along with the fish market, there was also a market for clothes and daily needs which was more or less like a flea market. Later went to relish on my first meal in Sri Lanka. For Vegetarians, food in Sri Lanka would be a feast, the meal was more or less like an Indian meal with a different taste in spices where there was rice, dal, drumstick curry and ladies finger dry fry.

One of their famous non-alcoholic drinks is EGB (Elephant Ginger Beer) which can be found all across Sri Lanka. While savoring the food and the drink we spoke about India and Israel. It so happens in Israel, it’s mandatory for everyone to be in the military for 3 years which I did not know earlier. I later went for another cycle ride in the evening with an Austrian friend I met; while we were riding we spotted the sky in orange. It was sun spreading the shine all around the sky and on water, reflection on the water seemed like the sky was floating on the land.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
7 Days of Serendipity in Sri Lanka!

Negombo!

Go cycling around this beautiful city, check out the huge fish market, swim in the ocean and witness the beautiful sunset.

Galkadawala!

Get lost in the woods, experience the antique vibe in the modern era, chill around by the lake, show some love to your taste buds with the yummy vegetarian food served.

Sigiriya & Kandy!

Climb over this lion rock which was once a palace and now one of the World Heritage Site, feast your eyes with greenery laid down like a bed. Later on, rest those eyes in the capsule sleepers in Kandy.

Train Journey from Kandy to Ella!

Have seen fairyland only in dreams, well if you take this train your dreams will come true. You will be in a fairyland for 6 hours, I promise!

Ella!

While you will be moving in the train to Ella in the fairyland, when you are in Ella you will be actually living in the Fairy Land.

Also, read Unplanned Plans!

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
Unplanned Plans!

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it-Paulo Coelho

In my school days, I remember when we were asked to draw India Map; we would also draw Sri Lanka along. I use to wonder while drawing, what must be in this small place and how lucky those kids would be to draw such a simple map. Whenever I wanted to visit this place, there was always someone with a “meh” face stopping me saying it is similar to India. Guess this time, I wanted to get the answer myself that I had since my school days and I didn’t want others to stop me in doing what I want to do.

I have never liked planned or packaged trips, I cannot adhere to plans made by others and that is why I prefer to travel solo. Over a conversation with my friend Eeshani is how I randomly booked flight tickets, from booking tickets to whatever I did there; nothing was planned. As this was my first time going to a different country alone, I was of course scared! I had caterpillars in my stomach crawling all around; after I booked my tickets I didn’t bother much with my plans. It was only when there were 2 weeks close, I thot I will make some plans. But all I did was stare at Sri Lanka map, read few blog posts, shut the laptop and go to bed.

There was something in me stopping not to make the plan, I wasn’t feeling comfortable to make a plan, book a place to stay, check where to eat. I didn’t want to do any of these, all I wanted is to just go and see how things work. Everything else that happened on this trip, people I met, places I visited just worked out even better than it would have if I had planned.

My earlier rough plan was Negombo->Galkadawala->Sigiriya->Polonnaruwa->Nilaveli->Kandy->Ella->Hikkaduwa->Colombo

What happened there Negombo->Galkadawala->Sigiriya->Kandy->Ella->Colombo

As I stepped out my feet from the plane I could feel the warm air entering through the pores of my skin. The sense of happiness on my face, Caterpillars I had in my stomach for the past few days had been going through Metamorphosis.

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 13, 2015
Hidden Treasure: VALPARAI!

Not all those who WANDER are LOST – J. R. R. Tolkien

This was more of an Instinctive decision to test my guts of traveling solo to an unknown, a place that I had never heard before. It happened on one of the long weekends in March, while I was wondering where to step out my brain reminded me of a cousin who collects articles about off beat travel destinations, there were many options but this place pulled me towards it. I immediately booked a place to stay, packed bags and hit the road!

There were still knots in my stomach, and a little bit of fear in the head as it was my first time alone in an unknown place. From Pollachi which is the nearest town will have to take a bus to Valparai which is about one and a half hour journey in a local bus. Bus climbing up the hill, turning through the hair pin bends, watching the hills as sun was just opening the arms, clouds passing by as they were just waking up in the morning, an island that was like icing on the cake which later I figured out that it was Sholayar dam. As the view was quenching the thirst in my eyes, knots in my stomach were releasing and the fear in my head flew away in the air.

I stayed in River View Homestay and went around seeing the places in an auto. We were driving mostly through tea plantations and these tea plantations are covered by forest, had to walk for about 15 minutes to reach Nallamudi view point which has the rarest view of tea plantations on one side and forest on the other side.

Benny one of the hosts took me for a walk around tea plantations to see if we can spot elephants, they have even spotted leopards sometimes. Hard Luck, we couldn’t see elephants except for their dung but spotted few bison’s. It was a short trek; I have this dream to have snakes as pets. Benny was into Snake preserving and we had a long discussion about different snakes.

They also do offer night jeep safaris, if you are lucky enough you can spot leopards. As I was alone, hosts offered to take me around for a drive to check if we can spot any animals. We packed our food and headed on the road in Ghats again with really cold weather and fog all around. Hard luck again, we didn’t really get to see animals.

The next day, I visited a tea factory. It’s amazing on how different varieties of teas are made from the leaves plucked at different stages of their growth. Not being more of a tea drinker, black tea that I tasted there was one of the best tea’s I have had till now. While my taste buds were dancing with happiness, we headed to see Nirar Dam. The view from the dam surrounded by forests was surreal.

A place like this in Tamil Nadu which I had always assumed to be having hot weather, it is purely a hidden treasure and I am glad that I was able to find! I would really want to visit this place again during monsoon.

Quest in search of unknown bought me here,

with the tiny amount of fear.

I was in Solitude and so were you,

glad that I came to see you out of the blue.

Hidden treasure you are locked in the wood,

bidding adieu with a grin more than I thought I would!

Blooming…

Wild Flower

November 1, 2015
Slice of Heaven: Chikmagaluru!

A Good Vibe leads to a Good Start!-Sneha Marappa

Chikmagaluru has always been on the top list of my favorite places with the best of the climate that you can ask for, mountains stretching all around, waterfalls that you can see after every few meters on the road, the fog that hugs your body with the chill breeze where goosebumps too would feel good. I would never get bored to visit this place; my friend’s call it as my second home but I call it just like home. I have been going through a lot of blogs since many years and this travel blogger Shivya Nath is one of my favorites who had written about how to start solo traveling where she stated to start a solo trip with a known place that you are comfortable with and there you go, I knew which place to start with.

Been wanting to share this post from a really long time but there was something holding me back, maybe my conscious somehow knew I would be visiting this place again and again.

I have been to Chikmagaluru twice earlier so have pretty much seen most of the places around. As this was my first solo trip, I just wanted to feel comfortable in one place and come out of my hidden fears. I have always been scared of dark and staying alone, I really had to come out of that fear. One of my friends referred me to stay in this place, Devigiri Homestay, which had everything like I wanted. As comfortable as I want to be and as adventurous as I can be.

This is the tree house that I stayed in where there is no electricity, solar lamp is used instead and is about few meters walk in the woods from the main area. It was luckily a full moon night; there was moonlight peeping through those tall silver oak trees. I managed to walk all through gazing at the moon by telling thanks for shedding the light while I walked!

These pictures are from a short trek that I went through the estate I stayed in, got to witness the spectacular sunset amidst the mountains bidding goodbye for the day.

On the last day of any travels that I have gone so far, I have always felt wish I could stay longer. But on the last day of this one, I was very happy, there was a smile around me that kept saying this is not the last day, it is a beginning of many other travels in future. I made a promise to myself that I would never stop traveling and it will always or mostly be alone.

Green on the ground and green all around,

You made us swirl like a cloud.

All our senses had its feast,

You are a beauty and the beast.

Slice from heaven that came through rain,

You make us fall in love again & again!

Blooming…

WildFlower

October 23, 2015