Part-2 (of 2): Kerala Trip: Munnar | Thekkady | Alleppey
click here to read the first part of this story.
...The taxi driver knew only two words which we could understand. A 'Nahee' and an 'OK'. translate.google.com doesn't have an English to Malayalam translate option and we suffered a lot.
Our first point was Rajamalai; but on the way we visited Blossom park. Blossom park was not very attractive. But what I felt was, if that was made as a tourism destination, then in Karnataka, the government could make many such tourism destinations.
It was already late when we reach Rajamalai, a big troop of students had come there and the queue was very big. We couldn't get the tickets.
By that time, we came to know that all the tourism destination gates get closed by 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM. So, we couldn't visit any place that day. Guys were all frustrated. We had many pit-stops on the way back to our home stay at Adimali, went inside tea plantations and took many photos. Happy Christmas!
Tips: Always know the timings of a tourist destination. If you do not know the local language, try to get a taxi driver who knows an universal language like English.
Day-2:
Next day, we visited Top point. It was really wonderful to see clouds floating below the mountains where we were. On the way back, we visited Mattupetty and Kundala dams. Crowded, we just spent some time on the lake side. Couldn't have a boat ride. If you want enjoy the nature, one shouldn't visit places when it is the peak season- like year end.
(This theory applies to temples as well. If you really want to see god, do not go to car festivals or any festivals at temple. You can just see the crowd!)
Day-3:
At 5:00 AM in the morning we left the home stay to Thekkady. Thekkady is known for 'unique of its kind' boating, where the boat traverses a huge lake which is covered by forest four sides, you will see (terms and conditions apply) wildlife at the surrounding forest.
The boat ride is completely managed by government. There are only four trips (of four boats in each trip)s. 7:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
We reached Thekkady by 7:00 AM, but by that time the tickets for 7:00 AM trip was already sold out. There was a big crowd too, who were already in the queue. So, we spent time in the queue from 7:30 AM till 12:30 PM till the time we got the tickets for the 1:30 PM's trip! Hell, it was really tough time waiting in the queue.
Time disappointed us again. We couldn't see any wild like except few birds, pig and two elephants.
Theory: Is it really worth spending hours together just to check out something unknown? We were told that the boating (or the safari) will be unique, unique of its kind in India. We didn't know the worth of waiting. In the end, we realized it was not worth standing 6 hours. May be, it is just worht INR 1500 boat ticket. May be, such experiments can only be conducted if you are a bachelor and you don't have any other tasks. It is just an experience, worth nothing.
Day-4:
Alleppey.
This was a good day indeed (If I omit the part-how I reached Alleppey). We had pre-booked a boat house. So, there was no last minute confusion, we enjoyed nearly 3 hours boat ride, from 9:15 AM to 12:15: PM.
Boats everywhere and that peace of mind you get, awesome! Excellent place, I should say.
Since we had our trains at night, we visited Alleppey beach, Alleppey light house. Enjoyed the sunset.
...The taxi driver knew only two words which we could understand. A 'Nahee' and an 'OK'. translate.google.com doesn't have an English to Malayalam translate option and we suffered a lot.
Our first point was Rajamalai; but on the way we visited Blossom park. Blossom park was not very attractive. But what I felt was, if that was made as a tourism destination, then in Karnataka, the government could make many such tourism destinations.
It was already late when we reach Rajamalai, a big troop of students had come there and the queue was very big. We couldn't get the tickets.
By that time, we came to know that all the tourism destination gates get closed by 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM. So, we couldn't visit any place that day. Guys were all frustrated. We had many pit-stops on the way back to our home stay at Adimali, went inside tea plantations and took many photos. Happy Christmas!
Tips: Always know the timings of a tourist destination. If you do not know the local language, try to get a taxi driver who knows an universal language like English.
Day-2:
Next day, we visited Top point. It was really wonderful to see clouds floating below the mountains where we were. On the way back, we visited Mattupetty and Kundala dams. Crowded, we just spent some time on the lake side. Couldn't have a boat ride. If you want enjoy the nature, one shouldn't visit places when it is the peak season- like year end.
(This theory applies to temples as well. If you really want to see god, do not go to car festivals or any festivals at temple. You can just see the crowd!)
Day-3:
At 5:00 AM in the morning we left the home stay to Thekkady. Thekkady is known for 'unique of its kind' boating, where the boat traverses a huge lake which is covered by forest four sides, you will see (terms and conditions apply) wildlife at the surrounding forest.
The boat ride is completely managed by government. There are only four trips (of four boats in each trip)s. 7:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
We reached Thekkady by 7:00 AM, but by that time the tickets for 7:00 AM trip was already sold out. There was a big crowd too, who were already in the queue. So, we spent time in the queue from 7:30 AM till 12:30 PM till the time we got the tickets for the 1:30 PM's trip! Hell, it was really tough time waiting in the queue.
Time disappointed us again. We couldn't see any wild like except few birds, pig and two elephants.
Theory: Is it really worth spending hours together just to check out something unknown? We were told that the boating (or the safari) will be unique, unique of its kind in India. We didn't know the worth of waiting. In the end, we realized it was not worth standing 6 hours. May be, it is just worht INR 1500 boat ticket. May be, such experiments can only be conducted if you are a bachelor and you don't have any other tasks. It is just an experience, worth nothing.
Day-4:
Alleppey.
This was a good day indeed (If I omit the part-how I reached Alleppey). We had pre-booked a boat house. So, there was no last minute confusion, we enjoyed nearly 3 hours boat ride, from 9:15 AM to 12:15: PM.
Boats everywhere and that peace of mind you get, awesome! Excellent place, I should say.
Since we had our trains at night, we visited Alleppey beach, Alleppey light house. Enjoyed the sunset.
*****
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