I would like to introduce my #bff Junaid before going into the post, because this post revolves around his place :-P It started during my 7th end semester examinations. The day before the last exam was as usual too exciting for our brains to concentrate on preparation. I couldn't apply myself to it and kept chatting with people, in the middle of which my friend #Guru proposed this idea of going on a random trip (without any plan) to some random place during our winter vacation. After improving on it, we have finalized to visit #Kerala and surprise #Junaid. Though the surprise didn't work, we finalized the trip to his house for 3 days and to celebrate new year's eve at his place. At last, I and my other friend #Srinivas only could make it to the trip.
I had too many plans for this trip and I sure bugged Jun a lot for that :-P I kept reading so much about kerala and it's ancient culture and traditions, made a list of items to shop, bought the tickets and then ready to go :D
Day 1: The day started with a beautiful sunrise in between the coconut fields in kerala. The Malayalam slang has begun :-P With much awaiting eyes, we kept gazing at those beautiful scenarios of the villages as we pass by. As we got down the train we met Jun there and then started to his place, around 20 minutes from the city. I started cramming few malayalam sentences, in order to wish Jun's mom. <Sukhamaano?>
While Srinivas was more bothered about the scenarios, I couldn't wait to get to his home and try out all kerala dishes, coconut oil (made at his home :D) and other traditional items. As soon as we arrived at his home, his parents gave us a lovely beverage made of coconut, followed by breakfast, pathiri with chicken curry. I also caught Jun's younger brother #Jassu's attention by offering him chocolates and my mobile to play Subway Surf.
We then roamed around in his town, through the lanes, into the river and the beautiful paddy fields. We also explored his house, they have a huge backyard with several coconut, areca-nut, sapodilla and other small plants.
After getting the #feel for his town, we went back home for lunch - Chicken biryani :D :D It was sooooo yumm!!! I can spend my entire life savouring it :D The special part of these receipes is the usage of coconut and coconut oil, which imparts that flavor. In the evening we went to S. M. Street for shopping and then to Kozhikkode beach. We also visited a pet show in front of the beach where many species of fishes, birds, dogs etc were displayed.
Back to home, Dinner - Butter naan and chicken curry :D
Day 2: Junaid planned to take us on a long drive along with his kerala friends. We drove the car to wayanad. We visited Chembra tea estates and went for trekking on Chembra peak (tallest in wayanad), one of the beautiful hills I had ever seen. The total distance was around 4.5 kms and was quite an adventurous trek. There is a heart shaped lake (natural lake) on the top of the hill, which is believed to have never dried up and sits as a major tourist attraction here. This lake is known as 'hridhayathadakam'. The weather was cloudy and the enthralling beauty amazed me. I would say that if you are an admirer of soothing beauty and if you love adventurous trek, Chembra peak is your place to be.
After lunch at a decent hotel near by, we went on to visit Soochipara waterfalls ('Soochi' meaning 'Needle' and 'Para' meaning 'Rock'). The way to the waterfall is superb and you will just love the drive which is lush green and full of tea, coffee, supari, Black pepper plantations. This a sentinel rock waterfalls and is a popular spot for picnic and trekking. At Soochipara, water falls from a height of 20 metres and forms a pool before gushing away as a small stream. The pool at the foot of the falls is ideal for a quick dip. The more restrained can have equally good fun just taking in the scenery. The walking path is well maintained with paved walk way and wooden benches along side. This is a place to enjoy fun with water.
After the long drive back home, we had fish curry (kerala spl) and rice for dinner :D Then started the new year's eve. Well, quite late though :P, I and junaid's sisters had plans of making earrings by quilling. Quite an artwork, but those 2 are well skilled with it. Srinivas, I and Jun's sisters sat together and started working on them, while Jun was busy texting and talking on phone initially:-P (busy person ;) ), later on he was tempted to make some attempts and tried out some star shaped weird single earring :P (#WiredJun). After wishing each other for new year, we went back to rest ourselves. New Year, New Place, New Friends (Jun's sissies) :D
Day 3: Such a sad day :'( I didn't want it to come, I wanted a longer night, so that I could stay for longer time there. I couldn't believe that I will be leaving kerala in few hours. :'( After having my favorite kerala breakfast (Appam + coconut milk :D ), I and Jun went to help his father with arecanuts, while Srinivas was busy trying to befriend #Jassu :P I was struggling to take selfies with that cute little lass and finally got few. We had fish and choru (rice) for lunch and then packed up everything to leave :'( Jun got me a quilling kit which kept me little alive :-P We went back to the station to get into the bus to Chennai. Within few hours, we started hearing tam voices, and back to routine :-|
I would love to stay back at that place for rest of my life, enjoying the beauties, delicious foods, rich culture and mainly Jun's home :-P Overall, I gulped a lot at his home :D :D A lot! lot!
God's Own Country! Jun's Own Place :-P My Dream Land! ^_^
I had too many plans for this trip and I sure bugged Jun a lot for that :-P I kept reading so much about kerala and it's ancient culture and traditions, made a list of items to shop, bought the tickets and then ready to go :D
Day 1: The day started with a beautiful sunrise in between the coconut fields in kerala. The Malayalam slang has begun :-P With much awaiting eyes, we kept gazing at those beautiful scenarios of the villages as we pass by. As we got down the train we met Jun there and then started to his place, around 20 minutes from the city. I started cramming few malayalam sentences, in order to wish Jun's mom. <Sukhamaano?>
While Srinivas was more bothered about the scenarios, I couldn't wait to get to his home and try out all kerala dishes, coconut oil (made at his home :D) and other traditional items. As soon as we arrived at his home, his parents gave us a lovely beverage made of coconut, followed by breakfast, pathiri with chicken curry. I also caught Jun's younger brother #Jassu's attention by offering him chocolates and my mobile to play Subway Surf.
We then roamed around in his town, through the lanes, into the river and the beautiful paddy fields. We also explored his house, they have a huge backyard with several coconut, areca-nut, sapodilla and other small plants.
After getting the #feel for his town, we went back home for lunch - Chicken biryani :D :D It was sooooo yumm!!! I can spend my entire life savouring it :D The special part of these receipes is the usage of coconut and coconut oil, which imparts that flavor. In the evening we went to S. M. Street for shopping and then to Kozhikkode beach. We also visited a pet show in front of the beach where many species of fishes, birds, dogs etc were displayed.
Back to home, Dinner - Butter naan and chicken curry :D
Day 2: Junaid planned to take us on a long drive along with his kerala friends. We drove the car to wayanad. We visited Chembra tea estates and went for trekking on Chembra peak (tallest in wayanad), one of the beautiful hills I had ever seen. The total distance was around 4.5 kms and was quite an adventurous trek. There is a heart shaped lake (natural lake) on the top of the hill, which is believed to have never dried up and sits as a major tourist attraction here. This lake is known as 'hridhayathadakam'. The weather was cloudy and the enthralling beauty amazed me. I would say that if you are an admirer of soothing beauty and if you love adventurous trek, Chembra peak is your place to be.
After lunch at a decent hotel near by, we went on to visit Soochipara waterfalls ('Soochi' meaning 'Needle' and 'Para' meaning 'Rock'). The way to the waterfall is superb and you will just love the drive which is lush green and full of tea, coffee, supari, Black pepper plantations. This a sentinel rock waterfalls and is a popular spot for picnic and trekking. At Soochipara, water falls from a height of 20 metres and forms a pool before gushing away as a small stream. The pool at the foot of the falls is ideal for a quick dip. The more restrained can have equally good fun just taking in the scenery. The walking path is well maintained with paved walk way and wooden benches along side. This is a place to enjoy fun with water.
After the long drive back home, we had fish curry (kerala spl) and rice for dinner :D Then started the new year's eve. Well, quite late though :P, I and junaid's sisters had plans of making earrings by quilling. Quite an artwork, but those 2 are well skilled with it. Srinivas, I and Jun's sisters sat together and started working on them, while Jun was busy texting and talking on phone initially:-P (busy person ;) ), later on he was tempted to make some attempts and tried out some star shaped weird single earring :P (#WiredJun). After wishing each other for new year, we went back to rest ourselves. New Year, New Place, New Friends (Jun's sissies) :D
Day 3: Such a sad day :'( I didn't want it to come, I wanted a longer night, so that I could stay for longer time there. I couldn't believe that I will be leaving kerala in few hours. :'( After having my favorite kerala breakfast (Appam + coconut milk :D ), I and Jun went to help his father with arecanuts, while Srinivas was busy trying to befriend #Jassu :P I was struggling to take selfies with that cute little lass and finally got few. We had fish and choru (rice) for lunch and then packed up everything to leave :'( Jun got me a quilling kit which kept me little alive :-P We went back to the station to get into the bus to Chennai. Within few hours, we started hearing tam voices, and back to routine :-|
I would love to stay back at that place for rest of my life, enjoying the beauties, delicious foods, rich culture and mainly Jun's home :-P Overall, I gulped a lot at his home :D :D A lot! lot!
God's Own Country! Jun's Own Place :-P My Dream Land! ^_^
