Munnar trip

We went to Munnar in the first week of October, Gandhi Jayanti being on a Tuesday provided a perfect opportunity for making it a long weekend trip. As has been a habit now, all the preparations had been done. This was going to be a long drive. Checked the current road conditions by querying in teambhp, got fantastic feedbacks. Also came to know that another member is having similar itinerary and same destination Club Mahindra, Chinnakanal.

We started bit late around 5:30 from Bangalore and stopped for breakfast at GRT grand Salem. Took a snap while cruze was still looking clean:)

Roads were excellent and traffic was less, we covered lot of grounds quickly after breakfast.

Ishaan and saanvi both buckled up. Saanvi was also fast in turning pages of Amar Chitra Katha, she finished valmiki Ramayana before reaching Munnar. Luckily for her Ishaan allowed her to read.

Sky was clear and nice. Slowly we started seeing mountains. The route we chose was to go through highways in Tamilnadu and enter Kerala almost near Munnar. This was the route while going :
Bangalore -> Krishnagiri -> Selam -> Dindigul -> Theni -> Munnar. Road conditions from Dindigul to Theni was a nightmare with lots of diversions, we knew this beforehand.

Saanvi's photography

The climb started after Theni, we will soon be above these clouds. Original plan was to have lunch at Theni but we reached there by 12:00 PM and were not yet hungry, we decided to have lunch at Munnar.

Pilot!

Reached CM@Chinnakanal at around 2:00 after a nice drive through scenic ghats. Munnar is another 45 mins drive from here.  Check i nwas quick as always and were provided a nice room with great views. Plan for rest the day was to rest and move around the resort.

CM Munnar resort is nice and deserves its gold crown.

View from the our Balcony.

Magic show was arranged for kids in the evening at the resort. Here is Saanvi as Volunteer.

We had 3 days in munnar,  plan for second day was to hire a local cab and cover all the places in munnar and to repeat the places which we felt were good leisurely on the third day. We hired Lizu's Logan at a reasonable price. This was a good decision, there was huge crowd everywhere, even Lizu was surprised. Traffic jams everywhere and parking was not available.

Harrison Malayalam tea estates.

Family Snap

Say Paneer!

Flower garden

Kannan devan, tea estate

Mattupetty Dam

Echo point

None of our voices echoed at the echo point. But there was a clear echo for Saanvi's shrill voice.

We had been to Munnar 9 years back in 2003.

Another view of the tea estates.

A little elephant waiting for us at our room. Very nicely done.

There was a fish too.

Another gorgeous view from our balcony.

Kathakkali at the Reception

We decided to leisurely spend third day leisurely at a few selected points and to go to top station.

From another view point.

Ishaan became mummy for Saanvi.

Tata House

Another view from Mattupetty dam

Kundala Lake

Being a Monday, there was far less crowd everywhere and we spent our time leisurely at the lakes and dams. We then went headed towards top station. we witnessed some spectacular views before reaching top station. There was almost a trek of more than a kilometer before reaching actual view point at the top station. Although we went there carrying Ishaan, it is a strict no no for parents with kids, not worth it. You can return from the top station entrance, you would have got 80% of the views from the road side.

Another view of kundala lake

View of top station from the road

Top Station, Munnar

Observe the small lines, those are small roads and you will get the size perspective.

Today swans were waiting for us.

We started back on the fourth day through the scenic Udumalpet route.

Chinnakanal -> Munnar -> Udumalpet -> Salem -> Krishnagiri -> Bangalore

Dirty Cruze - Badly need a wash

This route is very scenic it is impossible to drive through without stopping many a times.

Chai chai every where.

We can imagine waterfalls everywhere in the rainy season, but today we could see only this. We reached Bangalore in the evening. One more successful trip. Scenic place, great resort and nice food. We enjoyed three days of buffet breakfast and dinners as there were no other options nearby. We missed going to tata tea museum as we did not know that it would be closed on Monday. Next time then ..

Saanvi's Birthday

Saanvi is eight years old today. Time is flying fast and our daughter has grown from baby in our arms to a sweet, tall, intelligent, adorable eight year old. Both of us are very proud of her, she also means the world to her naughty little brother Ishaan.

Saanvi's friends were invited to celebrate her birthday in the evening. As usual she had decided earlier not to accept any gifts.

Fire in the mountain .. run .. run .. run

Boys having fun.

Girls showing off the tattoos.

Eight candles for the eight years.

Traditional Aarti

After the cake cutting starts the cake smearing.

Smile please!. Everyone enjoyed the birthday party, had snacks, danced to the music, played games and went home happily.

In the morning Saanvi went to school in a colour dress indicating she is a b'day girl.

As usual Ishaan is behind akka.

OK pappa is also growing old with increasing tummy size and number of white hairs. I celebrated my birthday a week before with my family by taking them out for lunch.

With lots of hair he is looking cute, we have not cut his hair so that he has enough for a mushroom cut.

Naughty Ishaan.

Ganapati Bappa - Morya

Ganapati Mantap is decorated and ready for arrival of lord Ganesh. Mantap was ordered and transported from Sangli. After assembling Ishaan wanted to sit in it. I made another temporary one for him which he broke in 2 minutes.

We brought Ganapati bappa home in Mohan Mama's new Volkswagon Vento. Everyone was loud this time with Ganapati Bappa -- Morya, Ek don teen chaar - Ganapati cha jai jai kar. etc. Even Ishaan joined in with full energy. Girls complained that Vicky dada was saying mourya instead of morya you cannot escape from these girls.

Pooja and Archana were ready with Aarti to welcome Ganesh.

Ready for Pooja.

Saanvi and Poojatya

 Next Day Morning Pooja

Saanvi and Ishaan with Chennabasanna

Mangalmurthy morya

 Sit infront of Ganesha for sometime and you will get all the peace.

Naivedya

Finally - send off to Ganesha. Ganapati Bappa morya - pudhchya varshee lavkar yaa.
Saanvis friends had all gathered for Ganesh Visarjan. Ishaan played with water a lot got completely twice.

Independence Day 2012

The national flag was hoisted at HMWC by a senior citizen on independence day.

Patriotic songs by HMWC residents.

Archana participated in a dance.

We had arranged a fire drill for all the residents on independence day, in this snap Saanvi, with her friends Amoha and Teesha, demonstrating 2 hand lift.

Archana using fire extinguisher during fire drill.

In the evening we all went to Mainland China in Jayanagar to celebrate Mohan Mama's birthday.

 Wish you many many happy returns of the day.

Food especially the starters were yummy.

Cellphone snaps

A rainy afternoon view from my window. Birds having fun in the HM backwaters :). Hopefully we have landscaping completed by next year.

Snap taken from the sunroof of my car at a traffic signal. Now a days I am trying to take snaps through the sunroof. Sometime you curse for traffic signal becoming green too soon.

This snap is taken from my phone, while going towards Jamboti from Belgaum.

Although we missed rainy season trip to Malnad region, this trip to Belgaum covered a part of it. Nice rain washed roads and beautiful paddy fields and green forest. Thanks Manj.

This is another shot near Shinoli, Belgaum.