I'm sharing my thoughts with you after a refreshing two-week break that took me to some fantastic natural destinations: a stunning nature park near Madikeri and the crystal-clear Maravanthe beach in the Karavali district. During this time, I managed to blend a bit of business with pleasure. I addressed a gathering of government officials in Mysore, made a few business calls in Mangalore, and followed up on some matters in Dharwar. The journey covered a total of 1650 kilometers, and despite the demanding driving and the toll it took on my body, I returned to Bengaluru just yesterday.
It was an eventful trip, but nothing could have prepared me for the unfortunate incident in Mysore where I lost my mobile phone. I mistakenly believed I was in a secure location - a sprawling old government bungalow that serves as the official guest house of the Forest Department, complete with high walls and a security post at the gates. While enjoying the evening on the vast veranda overlooking a well-manicured garden, I left my mobile phone on a chair, only to discover it missing the next morning. I'll spare you the details of my frustrating experience with Vodafone customer service after the incident, as that could fill another article.
Following my schedule in Mysore, I drove to Kushalnagar, where I spent a day at Nisargadhama, a nature park managed by the Karnataka Forest Department. The Forest Officer of Mercara had kindly invited me to stay there before my visit to their Mercara offices. Nisargadhama, located on an island in the heart of the Cauvery River, is a tranquil and picturesque place. Tourists can also stay in one of the few cottages at a very reasonable price (I stayed for free as the official guest of the Karnataka Forest Department). To access the island, you cross a rope bridge, and once there, we were led to the "Kannika" cottage. After a brief nap in the afternoon amid the distant sounds of visitors, the park fell into a serene silence after closing time at 6 in the evening. This is when Nisargadhama truly comes to life. Sitting by the riverside, surrounded by a symphony of natural sounds, I composed the following lines to capture the experience:
A drooping cottage by the river
Stands high on a pile of bamboo pillars
Perched on its banks, its small veranda
Reaching out to kiss the river
Water by the side , in a haze of light green
Whispers as she flows through the rocks
Bamboo stocks, aplenty
Crackle sporadically in mystified voices
In between the chitter chatter of the thickly wooded park
Telling us something , about nature’s benign voice
As do the fishes, playfully whipping up the surface of the river
Birds in the surrounding woods , do the real tweets
Oh!....Nature trails are so sweet.
On Christmas Eve, I found myself in Udupi, where we managed to visit one of the town's churches on the 25th. However, all the grand celebrations had already concluded the previous evening, leaving the church empty on Christmas Day.
As for New Year's, it greeted us at the historic Deccan Gymkhana Club in Dharwar town. Right next to it, the sprawling KC (Kittur Channamma) Park featured two colorful water fountains that randomly sprung to life, displaying shades of green, blue, and red, symbolically reminding us of the hope, joys, and challenges that lay ahead in 2011.
I extend my warmest wishes to all my readers for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
2 comments:
Looks like you had lots of fun.
And a bit of work too Nona :)
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