Fireflies In My Heart!

A long pending post of the awesome trip I had with my friends :) Caution : my vocabulary might be limited to using the words to describe that place as it was just amazing! Thanks to Srikanth and Swapna for allowing me to use the pics which pretty much define this post :)


We hit the road to Sakleshpur with a peppy mood and were glad that we kept it all through. Great music, great conversations and great friends! I was sure we did not forget to pack anything after that :) 


After a quick stop and a great meal at Kamath hotel, we pepped up more only to stop at a beautiful landscape to take in the beauty and couldn't get enough of it. I wondered what lay in store for me at Sakleshpur. I also realised that I'm very bad with keeping DSLRs still. I couldn't handle a Nikon without a blur. (Yeah I know, I'm finding chullu bhar paani :P) And thereafter began the picturesque landscapes. My camera conked off at the very first stop, reminding me that may be this is what you should keep in your mind's film. 


We reached Kadumane Tea Estate first, and since it was dark, we could hardly see the estate. But what lay in surprise was this beautiful bungalow which was totally an old charm place. I fell in love with the bungalow - the yellow lights, the old times it spoke of, the h-u-g-e rooms, the comfort. And friends. 

After a fresh chai and a few drinks we headed to the place we were supposed to stay in. And the adventure began there.


We were waiting for Mr. Madan as he was supposed to guide us to Jenukal (our home-stay). And he comes in this land rover! He's ripping those ghats at a speed of 80 while we drive cautiously only to look for him and to search for the tail-light of that rover! But when we reached, our place was breath-taking! Again an old charm place but so cozy and homely. Ah! I wanted to buy that house at the end of the trip! The traditional house with great natural surroundings. What more could one ask for as an escape from the city?

The house

Around the house

Around the house

The view from the house

Though the pic of the house is taken during day time, it gave you a warm feeling when you visited the house at night. Like your own house welcomes you when you visit it after days! But the surprise wasn't out yet! After dinner, the owner took us out and behold! We saw thousands of fireflies lighting up the surroundings like Christmas Lights on trees!! Needless to say, our jaws dropped on the sheer beauty of it! And the best part (according to me) was, that you couldn't click it's pictures or shoot videos. It was enough lit only for your eyes. And it made sense to me. What I saw there for 2 nights, will always be etched in the eyes of my mind :) 


And I couldn't help but express, "I want my man to propose me here! When these fireflies glow enthusiastically, amidst this sheer natural beauty!" Which led to us teasing the couple who hosted the trip! We thought they might want to go through the proposal-acceptance all over again - even after marriage :)
I chatted to glory with my friend (till 4am!!) and we had a visitor! A firefly who listened to our conversations but we trusted it with keeping our conversations to itself. It acted like an angel that night, for some reason. So I'd say, I spoke to my friend about everything under the firefly! (bad joke, I know!) 


We woke up at 7am for the planned trek. That was one of those times when I got closest to nature. Huffing and puffing our way to the peak Jenukal Betta, we spotted a h-u-g-e butterfly and a green wine snake! 

Spotted it?

After reaching the peak, we spotted a scared hare running away from us. I realised only on climbing the peak that a leech had taken resort on my leg! In my frustration of the blood not stopping because of it, I committed a crime - I killed it :( :(  I was sorry, but only later... 

I also named our guide 'Rover' since he was the quickest to climb with no gears and we had to follow him only after looking for him! (remember Mr.Madan and his rover?) Rover had no leeches hanging, nothing. And the funny part in the trek was when while climbing down, we ran like crazy people to avoid the patch where leeches were lurching! Haha! I can still laugh remembering that!

Rover, Our Guide

We climbed that peak :)

After a crazy-fun-tiring trek, what can be more relaxing than a hot-water bath and a sumptuous meal! It was as if God paid heed to our prayers. The food is an unforgettable part of the trip. After our nap, we got up to visit a 1000 year old Shiva temple, only to find that it was closed. But I could imagine how serene that temple would be, when left alone with the coolest God I know - surrounded by mountains, greenery, below those dark clouds! A spiritual experience closest to His creations :)

The temple

The mountains around the temple

The greenery around the temple

We headed to Kadumane Tea Estate after the visit to the temple, as we hadn't seen it during the day. And I was elated to be amongst the roots of my favourite beverage! I also spoke to the beautiful pretty flowers there :)

Talking (and posing) with the flowers :)

And then just sank into the place. Taking in the charm it was shedding! And we headed back to Jenukal, spoke about so many things! You know that feeling? When the people around you identify with what you're saying? THAT! And what better when they're friends :)


So the next morning I woke up with a heavy heart to leave the place. I went upstairs in the verandah, to get drenched in the surroundings and take as much as I could. The peace, the calm, the serenity, the beauty, the green, the life! I just wished I could buy that house! After I made peace with the fact that I cannot buy the house currently, we packed to leave the place. Not without thanking our awesome awesome cook and not without thanking my stars to give me this life that made me bring those fireflies with me in my heart - glowing in so many ways! A glow that reasoned and signified so much :)