January 14

Today we have an adventure booked. 

We awoke, and readied. Jeff went down and asked for hot water for me to make coffee, Yea! We booked an all day tuk-tuk to take us about, and he met us here at 1030. We have a lineup of local attractions to see! First our driver made sure we had had breakfast. We had indeed – our honey walnut tart. So we set off.

The morning temperature was pleasant and the views were the best we had seen yet. The green of the tea plantations just popped at this time of day. Our first stop was The Forest Flower Garden, Floriculture Center. It was crowded. And as always you have to stand your ground in line or get passed. The way through the garden is a narrow one way, marked, and needed to be! People actually went in line in an orderly fashion. Phones were out with everyone taking selfies of themselves and groups. This is the world we live in! We have almost gotten used to it. Speaking of selfies a family wanted one with us. Okay? All kinds of questions: are we that odd? do we look good or funny? Anyway, the garden itself was arranged in a tiered fashion of potted plants. They seem to all be blooming! So many colors, shapes, and sizes it is almost like a quilt! Beautiful!! Many of the plants I recognize, thanks to Jack and Bea's gardens! Begonias, Dahlias, Impatiens, Roses, Hydrangeas, and Azaleas to name a very few. Now the path opens up a bit and we walk through more of a planned couple of beds of trees and flowers. Then we exited and found our tuk-tuk, rather he found us. Boarded and onward!!

Next we came to a traffic jam, because it was a photo point/op with some horses. You could pay to have a photo taken on a horse, having a tea plantation in the background. Also there were all matter of stalls for the masses of people: food mostly, a few with clothes, and rest of the stalls were souvenirs. We did not even get out, and opted to just let our tuk-tuk swerve his way through to get out of the chaotic mess! 

Next stop, an Elephant Ride place. You could wait in a long line, get to ride an elephant, and then reward the elephant by you feeding it while still on it. It was a kick to watch! We saw two kids get to feed their elephant. The joy on their faces at doing this – priceless!!! This was better than if we would have waited in line and done it ourselves! Anyway, loaded and on to next.

Now we crossed the Mattupetti dam. It was a traffic jam also. It was just big enough for opposing traffic to pass each other, but you add people walking on it and a few brave(?) souls standing trying to sell fruit… It was crazy! At the end of the dam was a spot and we did our photos here. We did not go back and walk on the dam road, thank you very much! Back in the tuk-tuk for another place of interest.

Next, we stopped at the lake and this time we did an excursion. We bought tickets for a sight-seeing pontoon boat. We boarded and 'bon voyage'. It was peaceful and relaxing until… the boat driver turned on so loud, blaring Indian music. I wish I would have had my ear plugs. I will mention here we have seen some Indian people wearing ear muffs, I used to wonder why – now I understand, another question answered! The reservoir, Mattupetti, is quite green in color and pretty full. Finished we jumped into our tuk-tuk for next adventure.

As we putt-putt on, Jeff pointed out an 'Elephant Crossing' sign. I was thinking not everyday you see that sign, but maybe in India… when our driver pulled to the side of the road. He said, “There are four Forest Elephants here. If lucky, you can see them.” We were perusing the the area, did not see anything, and were ready to move on… when our driver points and says, “There.” An elephant was just coming into view from the unseen slope side of the hill at the forest edge!!!  WOW, A REAL WILD  ASIAN ELEPHANT!! It is our first wild one in India. Needless to say we were excited and in awe. We have actually rode on elephants twice: once on our honeymoon at Kansas City's Renaissance Festival; and second in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, but those were not wild. This elephant was a ways away from us, just meandering and grazing. So – so cool! We definitely felt blessed to witness one of these large creations of God! I think I took 50 pictures (will have to sort through and delete most of them). I think we stayed for 15 minutes just enamored, and taken back. Other people also stopped and like that the place was getting crowded. So we regretfully (but very happy) moved on. But not very far were a couple of food stalls, and this caused other wildlife sighting — little, cheeky monkeys! They were there because of the proximity of food. But was neat to see while I'm in the tuk-tuk! 

Now, we came to Echo Point. We got out and basically people shouted/yelled to get an echo. It was a very good echo – at least three reverberations or echoes (not sure which to say). Anyway, it was fun just to watch the kids get enjoyment out of it. You could rent a paddle boat as it was at water's edge. But we were not interested besides we were getting hungry. Back into our tuk-tuk, and our driver asked us about lunch. (He must had heard my stomach growling!  🙂  ) Jeff said wherever he recommended. So we backtracked, all the way back to Munnar (which is not very far as a crow flies). But because of traffic jams and big tourists busses trying to by pass each other, or any vehicle almost… we sat a lot. Like a hour or so worth. 

We finally, arrived in town, and the driver pulled into Rochas Restaurant around 330! It was packed and very local. We went to the bathroom and found a table with two empty chairs. Jeff asked if we could sit at their table and we sat. A waitstaff person came with menus. Then came back and took our order. While we waited for our food, we watched as people came to tables that looked like would be vacated soon and hovered around it. A wait staff would come with a squeegee and a dustpan to clean the table after he sprayed a cleaner on it! It is effective and fast. People were backed up, standing in the doorway for their turn to hover!! Crazy! Anyway, we ordered a half Tandoori chicken, that came with sides of a pickled coleslaw, mint lime yogurt, and mayo. Also had some Garlic Naan and two lime juices (Jeff did salt lime, not to my liking – I did a sugar lime). The people at the table with us had a cute little 1 1/2 year old. She was sitting on her daddy's lap, dipping from his plate. She kept staring at me. I asked and snapped her picture. So adorable. Then our food arrived. We snarfed our meal down – good, and we were so hungry. Someone came as we close to finishing – to take our place. Whatever works I guess. We “rolled” back out to our tuk-tuk.

Now we go in another direction – toward Kochi. We were delivered to Cinnamon Gardens, Spices and Ayurvedic ('knowledge of life' in Sanskrit) Plantation. Jeff paid entry fee and we had a guided tour of many plants and how Indians use them. Finally, found out for sure that we had seen cardamom plants. The guide went over so many different plants: cacao, rubber tree, and cardamom to name only a few. Also we did see a gecko with the longest tail I've seen, and our guide pointed out an Indian squirrel. It is huge! After the tour, of course, we were lead to a shop… You would think I would know this by now, but the sales pitches always surprise me. Anyway, we did but some fresh figs – it's the only thing we were interested in. (Always curious to know how much these places actually sell. This has been a very long-standing question of mine.) Back to and in the tuk-tuk.

Now, we were taken to sunset point, and our tuk-tuk driver had timed it just right. We had a nice display of clouds interacting with the sun's rays, as the sun set on not so distant hills. Spectacular way to end our day and tour!! 

Driver took us back and we crashed. Time for a well deserved siesta! We had some chocolate and the Indian Merlot (We are seriously not impressed.) Then I caught up with my family. Then caught up with our home church family!

Hope you all were able to think of/have kind of some blessing today!