OoTea

The trip was very special to me as it was a family trip :)

Had been planning for an outing with mom and bro for a long time, and finally 2 weeks ago I booked the rooms. As usual I was super excited about the trip!

We had 2 options - Coorg or Ooty. I always wanted to take mom to Ooty [she had been there around 30 years back for her honeymoon :-)], and luckily the place where we wanted to stay was also available. This was our 3 rd trip to Ooty. We stayed at Wellington Gymkhana Club, a beautiful place located on the golf course between Ooty and Coonoor.

We started on a Friday around 6.30 am, 4 of us in our swift. Traffic was less as it was not a long weekend. We took the Nice road and joined Mysore road. We stopped for a quick breakfast at Maddur Tiffinys, where we loaded our stomachs and continued on Mysore road, taking a left at Mysore ring road to Nanjangud-Coffee Day stop-Gundlupet-Bandipur national forest-Mudhumalai forest. The roads in the forest area are beautiful, though this time it was less green and more dry due to summer. There are 2 routes to goto Ooty from Mudhumulai. We took a left to go on the most scenic route with 36 hair-pin bends. It is 30 km less this way, but a slightly difficult road.

It was amazing to experience the drastic change in temperature as we approached Ooty. It was so hot and suddenly it changes to cold weather. We could feel the freshness in the air as well :) We were welcomed to Ooty by the smell of Eucalyptus from the trees. It was soo fresh and good, LOVED it :)

We reached Ooty in 5 1/2 hours. We didn't stop here, as we wanted to reach Wellington as early as possible. After another 30 minutes of beautiful windy hilly drive, we reached the military area of Wellington. Our resort was located on a beautiful 18 hole golf course, with tea estates adjacent to our resort. So we had a beautiful view of the golf course and tea plants.

The rooms in the resort are very spacious and neat. We had 2 cottages with a connecting door to ourselves. After exploring the place, we went to the restaurant to have lunch. Lunch was good with a simple spread of roti, dhal, mixed veg curry, pulav, malai kofta, curds and a dessert. 

We sat outside for sometime chatting, then mom and I went for a walk. It was nap time for everyone. I sat outside our room on the Kallu Benchu, closed book in my hand, listening to the birds, looking at the greenery and birds flying from one tree to another. C and I sat here chatting for a while. It was time for tea, ordered 4 Ooty chai and enjoyed sipping near the golf course. It was around 6 pm, and the golf course was empty. We started our walk, with A explaining golf rules, pars, flags - all his favorite topics :) The sun had slowly started to set, so the sky looked golden pink. We all enjoyed the one hour walk on the green uphill course. There is one tough golf-hole, where one has to hit to a height of 15 feet. I thought that was amazing.

Mom's Favorite Tree

Can you spot the green bird

We returned to the resort, and sat with our drinks outside. It was freaking cold! Anyways we all had our drinks so it was fine :) Mom with hot tomato soup :)

After dinner, we retired to the rooms, watched Tamil movie jokes and hit the bed.

We woke up early the next morning to the sounds of 100s of birds. Even though it was cold, we couldn't resist stepping out. It was amazing to listen to so many birds chirping, each sound was unique and melodious. I had to get my camera out. It was very misty just outside our cottage, calm and peaceful with only birds sound.

Bird and red flowers

Bird hanging upside down

Aaah, sun rays

Had tea in the cold weather, freshened up, had a good breakfast and headed out to explore Ooty. Our favorite place has always been Ramakrishna Ashram. So our first stop in Ooty was the ashram. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I know! We didn't stop here for long as the Swamiji there said its better to visit Doddapetta before 12. We went to the touristy spot of Doddapetta - the drive was very scenic with mountain view and trees alongside the road. After reaching the top - 8640 feet above MSL, we wanted to goto the tea factory on our way back, but as it was crowded, we came down to Ooty city center. We parked our car at Charring Cross, and walked around a bit. Shopped for home-made chocolates and Eucalyptus oil :) We stopped at the side walk cafe for lunch where we had wood fire pizza for lunch. Mom had fried rice. We walked back to the car, roamed around a bit and went straight to the ashram.

On our way from Wellington to Ooty

A slept for sometime on the water tank, mom, C and I went down the tea estate, each one of us exploring and loving the place more and more with every step :D Mom went back to the stone bench, as the path was very steep. C and I went all the way down where the ashram land ended. Next to the tea plantation were the tall Eucalyptus trees. We could pluck the leaves and smell the fresh eucalyptus. After the rounds, we all sat on the water tank. This is my favorite spot - sitting on the water tank, and staring at the tea plants and listening and watching the birds!! For me Ootacamund = Tea estates. Don't ask me why, but I just love tea estates. And walking in the middle of the tea plants is a dream for me (even though I have done this many times). Just BEAUTIFUL

We went inside the temple of the ashram, sat for sometime, had tea and left.

Eucalyptus

Mom was mesmerized by the colorful houses we saw everywhere. They looked like matchboxes kept on the steps of a hill.

Back at the resort, A and C played golf, mom and I went for a walk. As it started getting darker and colder, we settled down at the sit-out area near the restaurant. It was nice to just sit and talk. Dinner and back to our rooms in the night.

We could hear birds chirp at 5 am in the morning from our room. It was dark, and so we got up only at 6 am. Outside it was cold and nice. Listening to the birds, watching the mist clear, searching for the source of the bird voice, watching the birds fly from one tree to another, we ordered coffee. The freshness of the morning is just amazing. Overall, we had a GREAT time :)

After a heavy breakfast, we had to say bye and leave. We took a different route while coming back as we wanted to meet close friends at Coimbatore. So we started from Wellington to Coonoor to Mettupalayam. Ooty is at a higher level, and so we had to go down the hill to Mettupalayam. The roads are steep with many hair-pin bends but very scenic. So we enjoyed the drive. Coonoor - Mettupalayam - Annur -  Kurumbupalayam - Kallapatti - Coimbatore - takes about 2 hours.

We had lunch at friend's place and headed to Bangalore - the roads are very good, and after Avinashi, there is very less traffic, so the drive is enjoyable. Coimbatore - Avinashi - Salem - Krishnagiri - Hosur - Bangalore :)