Chembra Peak.. Tryst with the Clouds & Music o' The Winds

We never imagined that we'd be blessed with such a clime when we landed in Kalpetta that February morning and checked in at Hotel Woodlands. By noon, we were trekking up the winding roads thru Tea estates.. though we had hired an Auto from Meppadi to drop us till the last motorable point, halfway thru', it's engine stalled.. and then about three hours of hiking brought us to the peak. At 2100m above MSL, on Chembra Peak, the weather gods had arranged a rendezvous for three of us with the clouds.... Far away from the sounds of civilisation, we c'd hear just the birds and the breeze.. we c'd see and FEEL(!) the clouds wisping past... man, that was Bliss..

There's dense (looked unusually low-canopied) tropical rainforest on the other side of the peak.. Sajish was just too reluctant to take even a peep into the dense growth for fear of confronting any Ferocious Felines.. But the view was too inviting for us to stay back.. we finally did get in after laboriously finding our way thru the hedge of thorny shrubs .. which is grown on the periphery of the evergreen jungle to keep away the wildies.. so that the hikers won't face scary surprises! it's a whole different world inside..very little sunlight entering it thru the dense foliage.. and there's very little undergrowth.. but trees and creepers are densely packed.. difficult to manoeuvre..

Back to the rocky peak.. after snacks and siesta on the rocks, we started back..

Ever heard of the `Music o' The Winds' ?..
Started climbing down the slopes.. with my Mouth-organ in hand.. I could hear, what sounded like the faint sound of someone playing on the organ from far away.. Curiously, I held the organ against the cool Wind on the hill top.. yes.. it's The Winds !! it's sso ..eXhilarating.. on a High with the feeling of serendipity, I called out to the guys.. another huge cloud went up nuzzling us past.. listening to the music of The Winds playing on the organ, literally among the clouds.., huh..HEAVENLY !!
after staying on to savour those moments, we continued descending onto 'Earth' !

..Ahh.. The Climb, The Clime, The Clouds will remain etched in mind Forever..

Setinel Rock Falls & Soochippara Falls

we trekked to Sentinel Rock waterfalls.. [ KaanthanPaara ] did lil bit of climbing on rock & steep slope.. once started, had to go up though risky..

Took bath in Setinel Rock falls.... it's like being caressed, fondled by the stream.... aah..it's sso refffreshing.. just sat there in a trance for some time.. lost in an outa-this-world feeling.. it's my Best-ever moments with Water, that I can think of..

Pookkod Lake, Vythiri