Whispering Pines…

We had a wonderful sleep at Chrissie’s Hotel. At 6 in the morning we were woken by chanting from the nearby yoga room. A thermos flask of hot water had been left outside our room, so we could make coffee. It certainly felt idylic.

A quick pack up and breakfast. Fresh sourdough, homemade jams and fruit. Param joined us and the world felt good.

A car journey of about 3 hours towards Kottyam. With a few stops on the way. As soon as we left Thekkady we started moving through Munnar, the tea garden of India. The earliest known entry for planting of tea in Kerla is 1875. The tea plant requires a warm and humid climate, with plenty of rain. Kerala ticks all these boxes. On the slopes of the Western Ghats, the elevations of between 300 and 2,300 metres makes for perfect growing conditions.

The bushes thread across the mountinside, blanketing the slopes, with little paths that the pickers can navigate around.

We stopped and walked up a path and saw tea pickers in action and asked to take a photograph. We asked people if we can take their photos while we are here, everyone has been very gracious about it and often ask to have photos with us! I also made Pete and Param pose by an early tea machine.

Round windy roads our next stop was at the impressive St Francis Mount Monastery. Nestled in the hills of Pambanar, Peermade in the Idukki area of Kerala. One of the people theresaid that there had been a vision of the Virgin Mary in the early 2000s but I haven’t found any infomration about it.

We also stopped at a small town where I got some reading glasses, I broke mine a few days ago and really struggled. We also stopped for a drink, with a view that was breathtaking.

Arriving at our hotel, Abad Whispering Pines, we were met with the same hospitality as we have received in most of the places we have stayed at. A chilled drink and a warm smile. The hotel is located on the banks of the pristine Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest lake.

We had a bit of break. You can see how happy Pete was.

Then had a private boat tour round the lake, which was a lovely peaceful experience. We saw lots of bird life.

But I was particulary excited to see an otter, sliding graefully into the water. A good indicator of a heathy aquatic ecosystem. Whilst this is fantatsic it has also led too more contact with humans and apparantly there have been noted quite a few attacks on residents and fishermen alike.

After this we had a swim, pool to ourselves! Followed by free coffee and pakora. We have to remember to include curry leaves in ours, as the introduction very much heightens the taste experience.

A change of clothes and an opportunity to lounge and listen to traditional music.

This was followed by an evening meal. We hadn’t eaten since 8,00am in the morning, so by this time we were utterly starving. So not many photos. Really tasty chilli cauliflower and yummy puddings.