Kodaikanal beckoning
A plan long in the making
Last-minute booking check
All decent places are occupied, heck!
“Greenlands Youth Hostel” we finally decide
Recommended by “Outlook Traveller’s Guide”
For its location and quietness
We prefer it over the city-ness
30th Dec 9.30 evening KPN Travels bus seems best option
31st morning 8.30 it reaches Kodai station
Bus ride is such a dampener
But, Kodai is an instant freshener
We walk our way to Greenlands
Near Coaker’s Walk is where it stands
Super location, we agree
Cut from a hillock it looks to be
For Rs 1200 per night, a super-deluxe room
Looks decent we are ready to vroom
A quick nap we take, coffee, toast and jam follows
From our balcony, we adore the valley hollows
Our excursion starts with the Coaker’s walk
Vendors and tourists flock
Icecreams and glass earrings we pick
Clicking pictures through the mist thick
We head to the city next for lunch at Hilltop
Special chicken and rotis we gallop
Walk to the lake follows
So sunny it is, our walk slows
Head back to the hotel to rest
3 hours pass in our cosy nest
We wake up to a misty evening
Dark, serene and only crickets buzzing
New year’s eve party at Hill Country resorts
Loud crowd but good food and property of sorts
The year ends with phone calls
And we head back as the temperature falls
A lazy brunch at “Tibetan Brothers Restaurant”
Ginger-honey-lemon teas, soup, Tibetan bread and fuyong
A cab next to La Saleth Shrine, Upper Lake View and tourist points plenty
Horse ride in the pine forests catches our fancy
We reach the lake in the evening, spot cycles parked on side
20 bucks per 1 hour, around the 7 kms lake we ride
Peaceful and green, the lake is welcoming
Minus the noisy tourists, we enjoy the riding
Mufflers and bhel with mangoes on the way
Its been such a perfect day
Buffet dinner at the renowned lake facing “Carlton”
Assortment of food makes each a glutton
Satisfied we walk back to our paradise
Staying at Greenlands was very wise
Next day starts with bread-omlette at a local stall
Pancakes then at “Potluck Café” I recall
A must-do and oh-so-green walk to the Shola waterfall
We try a tree tomato – such a tangy and sweet ball
Return to the hostel, pack and walk to the town as we bid goodbye
6.30 bus to Bangalore, we sigh!
The mist and the fresh air is what lingers in my memory
Now the place is for you to see!
