Adieu to 2009 in Kodaikanal

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!