Craving for silence @ Masinagudi
There is something to be said about old friends, they are like your favourite Tee or blanket, somehow very soothing. Well, a couple of old friends were going through some tough times and Ranga and I decided to take them away from it all for a change of scene for a couple of days. What better change of scene than nature and its ever changing hues, each more soothing and beautiful than the most. This would be our second trip in barely 7months but when do we ever tire of nature?
Day 1 - Aug 1st. - Bangalore - Masinagudi
Last minute bookings in place we left for Masinagudi at 6.20am, stopped for some yummy breakfast at Kadambam and moved on to Mysore, stopped at "Serene" to assess work progress and then continued on towards Nanjangud. Great weather and chatting brought us to Masinagudi in time for lunch. We took our adjoining rooms and they went for lunch. Being Upakarma, Ranga was fasting and I joined him too. So, we just relaxed in one of our favorite Zest resorts and then hit the sack. A snooze later, Ranga, I, Vance and Noelene sat down for a cuppa. This being their first visit they took a taxi to go around the town and then joined us to watch the old Shashi Kapoor starrer "Junoon"on our portable home theatre! - obviously the movie continued until dinner time with a lot of discussions and opinions!! Dinner done, we listened to stories from the staff of how they had some elephants coming into the resort the previous week and even a cheetah, well, no such luck for us, we had to be satisfied with the stories only...sigh.
Day 2 - Masinagudi
We were very clear - we were not budging from there. Vance and Noelene decided to drive up to Ooty but we stayed put, both of us silently reading and enjoying some Jagjit Singh ghazals softly wafting through the stillness in a low volume, more like background music to nature. It was sheer bliss. A quick trip to Masinagudi town for lunch to try local fare and we hit the sack for a sound sleep. Amazing what good sleep you get in the midst of silence with only cooing birds for company. Woke up at 4pm, They were back from Ooty and Vance and Ranga decided to "shoot" some birds, clean the car etc while Noelene and I sat down to a long chat.
Dinner was a quiet affair around the bonfire but yummy and Club Mahindra hospitality at its best! With staff providing us some impromptu numbers, mingling with other guests, it was a nice evening. We watched as some rabbits scurried away. Admiring the other beings having a oneness with nature, one feels sad for the disconnect we urban-ites have achieved with nature.
Day 3 - Aug 3rd. - Masinagudi - Bangalore
Woke up in the morning, refreshed and in no mood to return to the noise of the city. We spotted a lovely bird outside and even on our way out clicked it! Checked out and left leisurely at 10am and we were lucky to spot some elephants and deer (could only click the deer) in the Mudumalai forest on our way back Stopped at Adigas at Maddur for lunch and were back home by afternoon.
Total distance clocked - 730kms.
There is something to be said about old friends, they are like your favourite Tee or blanket, somehow very soothing. Well, a couple of old friends were going through some tough times and Ranga and I decided to take them away from it all for a change of scene for a couple of days. What better change of scene than nature and its ever changing hues, each more soothing and beautiful than the most. This would be our second trip in barely 7months but when do we ever tire of nature?
Day 1 - Aug 1st. - Bangalore - Masinagudi
Last minute bookings in place we left for Masinagudi at 6.20am, stopped for some yummy breakfast at Kadambam and moved on to Mysore, stopped at "Serene" to assess work progress and then continued on towards Nanjangud. Great weather and chatting brought us to Masinagudi in time for lunch. We took our adjoining rooms and they went for lunch. Being Upakarma, Ranga was fasting and I joined him too. So, we just relaxed in one of our favorite Zest resorts and then hit the sack. A snooze later, Ranga, I, Vance and Noelene sat down for a cuppa. This being their first visit they took a taxi to go around the town and then joined us to watch the old Shashi Kapoor starrer "Junoon"on our portable home theatre! - obviously the movie continued until dinner time with a lot of discussions and opinions!! Dinner done, we listened to stories from the staff of how they had some elephants coming into the resort the previous week and even a cheetah, well, no such luck for us, we had to be satisfied with the stories only...sigh.
At Kadambam Restaurant near Chennapatna
Buddies on a holiday
The Entrance Porch at Zest Casa Deep Woods, Masinagudi
The Dining Area at Zest Casa Deep Woods, Masinagudi
Day 2 - Masinagudi
We were very clear - we were not budging from there. Vance and Noelene decided to drive up to Ooty but we stayed put, both of us silently reading and enjoying some Jagjit Singh ghazals softly wafting through the stillness in a low volume, more like background music to nature. It was sheer bliss. A quick trip to Masinagudi town for lunch to try local fare and we hit the sack for a sound sleep. Amazing what good sleep you get in the midst of silence with only cooing birds for company. Woke up at 4pm, They were back from Ooty and Vance and Ranga decided to "shoot" some birds, clean the car etc while Noelene and I sat down to a long chat.
Dinner was a quiet affair around the bonfire but yummy and Club Mahindra hospitality at its best! With staff providing us some impromptu numbers, mingling with other guests, it was a nice evening. We watched as some rabbits scurried away. Admiring the other beings having a oneness with nature, one feels sad for the disconnect we urban-ites have achieved with nature.
Day 3 - Aug 3rd. - Masinagudi - Bangalore
Woke up in the morning, refreshed and in no mood to return to the noise of the city. We spotted a lovely bird outside and even on our way out clicked it! Checked out and left leisurely at 10am and we were lucky to spot some elephants and deer (could only click the deer) in the Mudumalai forest on our way back Stopped at Adigas at Maddur for lunch and were back home by afternoon.
Total distance clocked - 730kms.
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