Day 1:
We left Bangalore at 6.30 AM. I slept for some time in the car, while Papa drove. We stopped for breakfast at Mayura hotel near Bellur cross. Had idli and vada for breakfast. It was crowded so we finished quickly. Turned right after Sakleshpur, and reached the Kadamane Tea Estate at 12.15 PM. We were received by the owner - a pleasant lady named Radhika. Papa is still telling me that she was actually a ghost, but I don't believe him.
It's a very beautiful place with bright green tea gardens as far as you can see.
Our cottage was also very pretty. It had a white fence, a green lawn all round and a red verandah. It was built in 1949.
After having lunch, we played Jenga in our cottage. Me and Dadi (grandma) won :). After taking rest, we drove to a place called 5-acre view point, or "Aidu Ekre" in Kannada.
After having lunch, we played Jenga in our cottage. Me and Dadi (grandma) won :). After taking rest, we drove to a place called 5-acre view point, or "Aidu Ekre" in Kannada.
On the way, we saw the largest tea bush here, planted in the year 1929!
5-acre is a very beautiful place! As far as we could see, there were green rolling hills, below the clear blue sky. We spent more than an hour here taking pictures of the scenery. My picture below is with Dadi. There's another one above of the 5-acre valley.
5-acre is a very beautiful place! As far as we could see, there were green rolling hills, below the clear blue sky. We spent more than an hour here taking pictures of the scenery. My picture below is with Dadi. There's another one above of the 5-acre valley.
Back at the bungalow, I made friends with a little girl Ananya. We played Carrom. She was breaking all the rules :). We had dinner at 8.30 PM and then watched a movie on Papa's laptop called Big Hero 6. The movie was great, but I slept off in the middle.
Day 2:
We woke up early and had breakfast of upma, idli and toast. After that I played a bit with Ananya and little Tavishi who is one and a half years old. Afterwards we visited two temples in Sakleshpur - the Sakaleshwara Temple, and the Holey Malleshwara Temple. "Holey" in Kannada means stream. Sadly, both the temples were closed, and we could not do darshans. We returned to the cottage and had our lunch.
After that, we visited the tea factory. This is a very large factory with many floors where different tea manufacturing steps are performed:
No pictures were allowed to be taken in the factory :(.
Day 2:
We woke up early and had breakfast of upma, idli and toast. After that I played a bit with Ananya and little Tavishi who is one and a half years old. Afterwards we visited two temples in Sakleshpur - the Sakaleshwara Temple, and the Holey Malleshwara Temple. "Holey" in Kannada means stream. Sadly, both the temples were closed, and we could not do darshans. We returned to the cottage and had our lunch.
After that, we visited the tea factory. This is a very large factory with many floors where different tea manufacturing steps are performed:
- Tea leaves are dried and crushed.
- Crushed powder is heated, and then cooled.
- The powder is then shaken and separated into different varieties.
- Then it is packed!
No pictures were allowed to be taken in the factory :(.
On returning from the tea factory, noticed the sprinklers watering the tea gardens. I convinced Mom that it is hot and I should get soaked. Oh what fun it was!
In the evening we played Jenga in the cottage, and I lost this time - but I got the tower pretty high :).
We had dinner and then watched another movie - 'Into The Woods'. It's a mix of many fairy tales, and lots of songs. I did not understand it :D.
We had dinner and then watched another movie - 'Into The Woods'. It's a mix of many fairy tales, and lots of songs. I did not understand it :D.
Day 3:
This was a really exciting day. Papa, mom and I started on a trek to Rottikal view point at 7.00 AM. The trek was 6 KM long up and down, and we saw so many great things on the way (including elephant poop :D). The trek to the view point was through a dense forest, with very narrow path, and after that very tall grass. Through the grass, we saw a really large eagle and we took a picture of it. It looks small in the picture, but it is one of the larges birds I have ever seen.
This was a really exciting day. Papa, mom and I started on a trek to Rottikal view point at 7.00 AM. The trek was 6 KM long up and down, and we saw so many great things on the way (including elephant poop :D). The trek to the view point was through a dense forest, with very narrow path, and after that very tall grass. Through the grass, we saw a really large eagle and we took a picture of it. It looks small in the picture, but it is one of the larges birds I have ever seen.
The Rottikal vista point had beautiful views all around, and even the clouds seemed to be having fun :).
After the tiring trek, we had breakfast and then I played chess with Papa. After some time we drove to the Duraigundi picnic spot. This is a stream deep inside the forest, which joins the Hemavathi river. We had a lot of fun here! We played a lot in the water.
In the stream I saw big and small fishes, and a nest of fish eggs. I also saw a bright green dragon fly.
We had the packed lunch, and then lay down in the shade next to the stream and mom told stories.
For me this was the most fun part of the whole trip :).
We had the packed lunch, and then lay down in the shade next to the stream and mom told stories.
For me this was the most fun part of the whole trip :).
On getting back to the cottage, I went off to sleep, and after I woke we drove off once again to 5-Acre vista point. To watch the sunset. The evening was cool with a nice breeze. We spread out the sleeping bag and had snacks. Papa took pictures, and mom read messages on her phone. The sunset was so amazing. All the hills and forests and grass around us turned orange!
We had rice balls for dinner. This was the first time I've had this (did not like it though). We went off to bed but instead of sleeping watched another movie - E.T. It was a bit scary at first, but the alien fellow was funny.
Day 4:
This was our last day here, and we started with another trek at 6.30 AM! We climbed quite a bit through a forest path which had large trees fallen across it. Then we went through very tall grass - even taller than me! When we got close to the top, there were many thorny bushes which pricked my feet through my shoes. It was painful but still I kept going. The views from the top were fantastic. The way back was also difficult but in the end I was happy to know that we had covered 8 Kms.
We then packed our bags for Bangalore, and had a good breakfast. Also, did not find Radhika aunty anywhere. Maybe she was actually a ghost! :)
Day 4:
This was our last day here, and we started with another trek at 6.30 AM! We climbed quite a bit through a forest path which had large trees fallen across it. Then we went through very tall grass - even taller than me! When we got close to the top, there were many thorny bushes which pricked my feet through my shoes. It was painful but still I kept going. The views from the top were fantastic. The way back was also difficult but in the end I was happy to know that we had covered 8 Kms.
We then packed our bags for Bangalore, and had a good breakfast. Also, did not find Radhika aunty anywhere. Maybe she was actually a ghost! :)