Friday, February 01, 2008

The mountains whisper....

...and we listen.
* The fresh mountain air infused with the fragrance of wintergreens & euchalyptus.
* Bright winter sun that massages your body.
* Colonial mansions that remind you of a grand bygone era.
* The hustle-bustle of the town square with honeymooning couples, Uncleji-Aunty-ji with Papu, Rinku & Toni with their humongous picnic baskets.
* But, there is also that exquisite red & white Fernhill Palace tucked away high in the mountains.
* The shrill whistle of the toy train chugging along the many valleys.
* Local farmers selling bright juicy carrots at hair pin bends on the climb up.
* The rum & raisin homemade chocolates & fudge shops line the marketplace.
* Slow pace of life, the quaint shops, the shy, smiling, waving school children, the cows grazing in the lush green meadows.
* Wise old men of the mountains with a typical black coat, a woollen cap & an umbrella can be seen walking up steep hilly paths.
* A
Bed, Breakfast & Fireplace experience ( read more about it in Rang Decor) and a farmstay*
* Destiny- Yes, that's the name. A farmstay tucked away deep inside the hills where reaching is an experience.
* A road less travelled? I say it again and again.
* A journey where the anticipation of the destination overpowers the state where the organs of your body are shaken by a truck making it's way through a slushy mountain road. (
Did I just say road?)
* Our destination, our destiny, the farmstay where the beauty of the mountains, the shimmering water of the lake, the vegetable patch, the green slopes, the cows, the horses, the ducks, the rabbits more than make up for the ride.
* A place to relax, read, ride, rejuvenate, trek, walk, drink cups of hot chai and do absolutely nothing.
* Truly a great experience in the lap of nature.Cups of chai and more chai...Fresh Ooty carrots...Early morning scenes...

Glistening...
Take your pick....Chugging up the hills...
Fresh green lettuce & cabbages at the farmstay...

See more pics from the trip here & here

Have fabulous weekend friends:-)

16 comments:

Red River Interiors,LLC said...

absolutely love your blog...the photography is beautiful and inviting...it makes me want to see India.... also think the colors in your home are warm and cheerful...you have a good eye and are very talented...stop by my blog..i haven't been blogging long but would love some feedback from you i'm always looking to improve....Fay

Jo said...

Lovely photographs as always. A friend of mine had stayed in the same place and she was raving about it too. I must go there someday.

Jo

Madhu Gopalan said...

beautiful photographs! i dont remember how i stumbled upon your blog, but i really like it...i went to ooty when i was a little girl and can never forget how divine the elaichi tea was!

Archana Srinivas Pottery said...

red river interiors- Thanks for dropping by:-))
Thanks for the lovely comment:-)

Will visit you soon.

jo-Thanks.
Like any other place this too has it's issues...it's a farmstay and all the rooms are placed one next to the other...so if want privacy, it might not be the place:-) but it's awesome to go with a big gang of friends who enjoy nature:-))

madhumita- Thanks:-)
Glad you found your way here:-) Elaichi tea...mmm

Drop by often:-)

pRiyA said...

good heavens! i was wondering where this paradise was, and i realized you had photographed ooty.
great photography! ok, now i must have another look....

~ ॐ ~ said...

Words, Pictures, feeling, look...

absolute brilliance...

love being on Rang !!

Anonymous said...

OH wow wow wow! this place that you went to seems like heaven! absolutely magical. hope you had the best time.

ailin

Maithri said...

Beautiful photographs!

I read your comment at my friend Gillian (@indigo blue)'s blog and it brought tears to my eyes.

Thank you for your presence in this world,

Maithri

rochambeau said...

What beautiful poetic words. Lets me be by your side! Thank you Arch!

Constance

Ashish Soni said...

the photos are just lovely...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful words and pictures.
Ive been to ooty long back. now somehow ive got the impression that its too comercialised, crowded and polluted. or thats what people tell me. reading and seeing your pictures, i really want to make a trip there right now. and i have to see that 'lake and mountain' view.

Vineeta said...

amazing place- well captured by u :) I WANNA GO OFF AGAIN...!!!!! This wanderlust is a dangerpus thing... :)

Anonymous said...

The photography is breathtaking. The images are absolutely stunning.

ELAINE HABY said...

Such beautiful scenes.... happy to have found your blog.

Charlotte said...

hey arch - it's so so gorgeous!!
xxx

mary jane said...

jaw-dropping, beautiful images. thank you.