What a whale of a time I'm currently having. Had planned an elaborate itinerary for my India trip and so far its been completely hunky dory.
Went to the estate. The drive itself filled my senses and engulfed my being. We wax eloquent about the verdant hills of Switzerland and they are beautiful ofcourse but wait and see the rolling mountains of gigantic propotions in my beloved Charmadi Ghats, part of the Western Ghats. It's raining and God in his heaven must be completely at peace. Every unasphalted patch of land is green and my, what shades of green. There are waterfalls aplenty and tiny purple flowers growing on the hills. I'm driving the SUV up the mountains with its 11 treacherous hairpin bends and loving it. The visibility is a killer though. I can't see more than 3 feet ahead, the mist is so thick, I roll down the windows and inhale the atmosphere, soak in it. It invades me, my being. I'm complete. I'm home.
We reach the Balehadlu, our coffee plantation at dusk. The dogs I haven't seen for 2 years look at me accusingly and whine and I can barely stop the tears. My garden wears the Lady Haversham look minus the cobwebs. The cottage is still beautiful though.
Next morning we drive into the estate on the jeep and are stuck in quagmire in a dozen places. The 4 wheel drive is seemingly powerless. We get off and walk and are inundated with blood sucking leeches galore. It would seem that they missed us too. Can't say the same.
The coffee plants are laden with green fruit and so are the pepper vines and arecanut and avaocado trees.
I go for long solitary walks every evening but solitary they rarely are.. I have my faithful dog following me and my thoughts to accompany me. I try and savor every moment of my stay here. Mom in law, kids n me.. we completely chilled out. Ate, slept, ate some more ans slept some more. By the way, back to my most favorite preoccupation. Am FAT. I swear and all that's holy and not. Mom is feeding me like its gonna go out of fashion and I'm loving it. Will worry about the love handles later.... much later.
We were in the Estate for 4 days and at the rate of sounding melodramatic, let me say.. when I drove away.. I felt a gut wrenching wave of sadness wash over me. This is where I want to be.. N I will..one day.. soon..forever!
Went to the estate. The drive itself filled my senses and engulfed my being. We wax eloquent about the verdant hills of Switzerland and they are beautiful ofcourse but wait and see the rolling mountains of gigantic propotions in my beloved Charmadi Ghats, part of the Western Ghats. It's raining and God in his heaven must be completely at peace. Every unasphalted patch of land is green and my, what shades of green. There are waterfalls aplenty and tiny purple flowers growing on the hills. I'm driving the SUV up the mountains with its 11 treacherous hairpin bends and loving it. The visibility is a killer though. I can't see more than 3 feet ahead, the mist is so thick, I roll down the windows and inhale the atmosphere, soak in it. It invades me, my being. I'm complete. I'm home.
We reach the Balehadlu, our coffee plantation at dusk. The dogs I haven't seen for 2 years look at me accusingly and whine and I can barely stop the tears. My garden wears the Lady Haversham look minus the cobwebs. The cottage is still beautiful though.
Next morning we drive into the estate on the jeep and are stuck in quagmire in a dozen places. The 4 wheel drive is seemingly powerless. We get off and walk and are inundated with blood sucking leeches galore. It would seem that they missed us too. Can't say the same.
The coffee plants are laden with green fruit and so are the pepper vines and arecanut and avaocado trees.
I go for long solitary walks every evening but solitary they rarely are.. I have my faithful dog following me and my thoughts to accompany me. I try and savor every moment of my stay here. Mom in law, kids n me.. we completely chilled out. Ate, slept, ate some more ans slept some more. By the way, back to my most favorite preoccupation. Am FAT. I swear and all that's holy and not. Mom is feeding me like its gonna go out of fashion and I'm loving it. Will worry about the love handles later.... much later.
We were in the Estate for 4 days and at the rate of sounding melodramatic, let me say.. when I drove away.. I felt a gut wrenching wave of sadness wash over me. This is where I want to be.. N I will..one day.. soon..forever!
