Travel Reviews – MC Pride

The road less traveled: offbeat Kerala destinations

March 23, 2019

by Karen Van Haltren with 2 Comments Travel Reviews

Karen VanHaltren

Associate Project Manager

Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Kerala “God’s own country” is hosts to almost 1 million foreign travelers and around 14 million domestic travelers; a considerable figure bearing in mind it’s a relatively small state with a substantial local population. Kerala tourism thrives on its “must visit destinations” like Alleppey, Munnar, Thekkady, Varkala and Veli to name the common ones. Tour packages do just that, shuttle you between the popular tourist’s spots which would already be teeming with travelers. If you already know what that feels like, then the next time you trip down to Kerala make sure you take a detour into some of Kerala’s hidden gems. Away from the city and the crowd, these places are just as beautiful, tranquil and fun.

Kollam District, my hometown down south near Thiruvananthapuram, receives much lesser tourists annually compared to the popular spots. The district is home to some beautiful backwaters, beaches and boasts of the cleanest air quality. Here are some of my favorite picks of destinations in and around Kollam.

1. Ashtamudi Lake

Popularly known as the gateway to Kerala’s backwaters, the Ashtamudi lake is one among the most scenic and picturesque locations in Kerala. Grazed by coconut groves and flocks of waddling ducks, the expanse of the lake and its surroundings is a visual treat. One can either rent a boathouse/ferry ride in and around the Ashtamudi lake or better still cruise all the way to Alleppey on a day long ride with sumptuous Kerala meals and Karimeen pollichathu (Pearl spot).

Note: Rent a house boat or travel by ferry from the Kollam Boat House Club (near Kollam KSRTC bus stand). There are also plenty of resorts along the lake front for a relaxing experience.

2. Munroe Island

Definitely the hidden gem of the backwaters in Kollam, not many are aware of this little low lying island tucked away from the mainland. There are around 8 islands connected by canals. Coconut farms and lagoons make for a beautiful backdrop against the narrow canals that are accessible only by small boats called a canoe. The Munroe island will always be on my favorite backwater destination.

Note: There are couple of resorts in and around the Munroe island that offers boat canoeing. Rent a house boat or travel by ferry from the Kollam Boat House Club (near Kollam KSRTC bus stand) or take a bus/drive to Mundrothuruthu.

3. Thenmala

The first eco-tourist destination in India, thenmala does attract considerable number of domestic tourists. A deer sanctuary, a rope bridge and the thenmala dam are also some of the popular attractions. This destination offers boating, trekking and mountaineering experiences (nearby Rosemala). Note: Whilst en-route to Thenmala, a 13 pillar vintage railway bridge built by the British East India company across the Western Ghats and a suspension bridge dating back to 1877 possibly the oldest suspension bridge in India are landmarks to look out for. Thenmala is better connected from Kollam with the nearest railway station being Punalur.

4. Jatayu’s Earth Centre

The latest feather in the cap is the Jatayu Park located at an altitude of 1200 ft amidst a lush green valley below. Credited to be the largest bird sculpture in the world, the effigy is a testimony to the epic Ramayana, where the injured Jatayu having lost its wing falls on top of a rock. The centre also houses a museum and 6D theatre, a cable car facility, helicopter tour and an adventure park. Trek to the top or set up a camp fire nearby, the area has many hills dedicated to attract adventure-savvy trekkers.

Note: Note: For more details on visit http://www.jatayuearthscenter.com

5. Tangasseri

A tiny hamlet along the Arabian Sea, this 99 acre area has a rich history of European and Chinese trade links dating back to the 15th century. The major attractions includes the remains of the St Thomas fort built by the Portuguese, the Tangasseri light house, the tallest along the east coast of India and a harbor stretching into the Arabian sea for 2.1 km. You can climb the light house to see the vast green expanse of the coast, cycle/walk down the harbor or even try fishing by the rocks of the harbor.

Note: heir a two wheeler to explore the place and its popular landmarks

6. Thirumullavaram Beach

This is a tiny stretch of white sandy beach lined with coconut palms along the Kollam coast. As many are unaware of this beautiful beach, it’s a catch if you’re looking for a quiet and shady place for a family picnic or just to relax on a hot day. The Sunday rock which is visible only when the tides are low, is another attraction at this beach. Don’t forget to order some authentic Kerala meals from the small shops along the beach.

Trip down memory lane: As a kid, I remember family picnics to the beach on Sunday afternoons every Onam. My cousins and I would spend hours in the water, while the aunties chatted away under the beautiful coconut canopy and the uncles swam fearlessly far into the sea. And what’s even better is the tasty food from the little shops or thattukada by the side of the beach. Tapioca and hot fish curry, fried Seer fish (neymeen), crab curry, spicy prawns, mussels are just some of the delicacies we used to enjoy after a good time in the water. The icing on the top though is the sweet toddy that takes the whole experience up a notch making it the best of my childhood memories.

7. Palaruvi falls

If you’re down south in Kerala, do visit the picturesque Palaruvi falls in Aryankavu of Kollam district. The water fall gets its name from “stream of milk” and falls from a height of 300 feet. This place usually attracts domestic tourists and is a must visit for its beautiful crystal water and lush greenery. Better still there are three other nearby waterfalls as well, Oliyarik, Kumbhavurutty and Manalar waterfall all in Kollam district and within driving distance.

Note: City buses are available from Kollam town. In case you’re travelling in vehicle you will have to park the vehicle almost 2-3 Km from the falls and then walk up or board a forest department bus.

8. Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam coastal drive

This is an experience that no tour packages will give you. Hire a vehicle and drive down approx 80 kms along some fantastic beaches and backwaters with little or no traffic from Shangumugam beach- Veli- Varkala- Kappil- Paravur-Kollam (Tangasseri beach). The coastal road is a bypass from the NH 47. While in few areas, one might have to drive though the villages, most part of the road are along the coast. For example 90% of the 14.1 km Kollam-paravur road is along a beautiful coastal area, while the Kappil beach stretch runs through the backwaters on one side and sea on the other. Drive down for an amazing experience like no other. As always there’s plenty of little shops for some hot teas, banana fritters (pazhyam pori) and mouth watering meals.

There are still plenty of beautiful must visit places like the Sasthamkotta and Paravur lakes, Azheekal beach, Ayiramthengu, Pinnacle view point and Mata Amritanandamayi Math to name a few. So the next time you pack your bags for a trip to God’s own country, do make your own little travel itinerary to these unsung destinations, in many ways a gamble worth taking.

Note: None of the photos in this article are owned by me. They have been included off the internet for illustration purposes only.

All about some Vitamin-Sea in Pondy..!

March 23, 2019

by Sumedha S with 4 Comments Travel Reviews

Sumedha S

Team IT

“Hey let’s go on a trip, what say?” asked Priyanka who was tired and wanted some break from office. “Yes yes I’m always ready” exclaimed Anju who had ants in her pants to go on an excursion. “On yeah let’s start planning our outfits then” shrieked Rachitha and this is how our planning for the trip started. It was the handsome guys Abhijith, Vikhil, Sampath, Arun and Nikhil who took care of the entire trip.

I was excited for this very first trip of mine with 17 people from our office. “More unfamiliar a place, better are the chances to get in touch with yourself” I had read in an article recently. Our growing affliction for living in a metro and the need for unplugging landed us in Pondicherry (now Puducherry). We had googled and found out that October to February is the best time to visit Puducherry as the climate is cooler. We tried to invade beaches rather than exploring the city side as we were craving for some tranquility.

So here I am to share few details of the trip and the blissfull moments we had during our trip to Puducherry.

Duration of the trip: It was a two days and three night’s trip. We started from our office, at 10.30 pm on Friday (15^th Feb) and reached back to Bangalore on Monday (18^th Feb) early morning.

Transportation: We booked a private mini bus from Siddappaji Travels which costed us around total 17,499/- (19 rupees per km) excluding the tolls. The best thing about booking a private bus was that we “felt like a boss.” Harsha, Gopal, Naveen, Pradeep, Chandana, Pinku, Guru, Ajay and Shashi were the source of entertainment in bus. We sang, danced, screamed out of our lungs and there was nobody to stop us from doing so (except the cops at the toll :P)

Details of the Trip:

We reached Puducherry around 9am and rushed to our cottage. We were expecting a cool pondy with breeze but to our surprise it was hot Sun that welcomed us.

We had pre-booked 3 rooms in Edan Cottage, which is located just in front of the Serenity beach. It costed us around 8800/-, after bargaining. The cottage was clean enough to relax. They had one day break-fast included which pretty much filled our hungry tummies. We then left to visit the main tourist attractions which were Matrimandir and French Colony.

Day 1:

Matrimandir: Abode for spiritual enlightenment

We found Auroville one of the most popular tourist attractions in Pondy. The highlight of Auroville, however, is Matrimandir, which literally translates to “temple of the mother.” We heard that inside the Matrimandir is an incredible and breath-taking meditation chamber and one could spend a considerable measure of energy to unwind and contemplate. It is told that this place is good to stay and soak in the spirit of doing the things you really love and it does not belong to any specific religion or faction. This circularly formed structure is a sight one can’t forget. We couldn’t enter the temple, as we did not have entry passes which were to be taken in advance.

After gulping some water and having yummy ice-creams, we reached the next destination.

Promenade Beach: Centre of Attraction

“Give time a break,” says the Puducherry Tourism Department slogan. Pondy gave us time to ponder and re-discover the parts of ourselves we had lost while hurrying in the day to day life!

The famous promenade of Puducherry is situated along the gorgeous seafront with a rocky beach and hence it is aka Rock beach. We found it one of the liveliest areas in Pondy. It was easily accessible for us as it is located in the heart of the city. We enjoyed the cool breeze which was winding along the wide roads locally known as Beach road. Unfortunately, the water here was extremely deep and we were not allowed to enter the beach. We spotted a magnificent statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation right in the middle of the promenade.

Hello waves..!!

The Sun wouldn’t stop being happy seeing us! Soaked in the sweat and exhausted, we searched for some restaurants to refill ourselves. After boosting our energy, we left for the next place.

French Colony: A glimpse of France in India

For most travelers, the charm lies in exploring this colony and yes not forgetting the photoholics who would love this place as it would let them experiment their photography skills. This place is also called as White Town. Walking around this colony, we spotted bright yellow and white walls; beautiful doors, arched gates lined with bougainvillea, and clean European-style streets, making this area surreal and super picturesque. The stunning French-inspired architecture made French Colony a visual delight. Here are the few pictures which we clicked while wandering through the town.

It was evening by the time we reached our cottage. Ahh! Such a tiring day, it was! We relaxed by taking a peaceful walk besides the serenity beach which was just in front of our cottage. We hogged some delicious seafood, pizzas and it was now time for some chit-chats, indoor games, pull each other’s legs, laugh and spend time amongst ourselves until next morning…

Day 2:

After applying all possible branded sunscreens, hats and sunglasses on, we left to invade the beaches of Puducherry.

Serenity beach: Come, find some serenity!

We made it for the beautiful sunrise here. What would you not give to just enjoy the peace, leave aside all the worries sitting by the beach glaring the sunrise and sunset! The sound of sea waves and the aroma of fishes were so mesmerizing. We held each other’s hands and jumped into the beach. We enjoyed every minute here building sand castles, clicking pictures, doing some yoga and waiting for the big waves to sweep in and splash ourselves into the beach.

After spending some quality time here, we moved to the next beach which was 17km from here and took us about an hour to reach.

Paradise beach: Indeed closer to Paradise!

A bounty of the sea and sun sounded like the perfect antidote to alarm clocks, traffic-choked streets and air-conditioned cubicles. This is undoubtedly the best beach that this town can offer. It has a beautiful colour of light emerald and sometimes light blue sapphire. It is located in Pudukuppam and has two parts. One part has lot of activities like Jet Ski, Beach Volleyball etc which will surely keep you entertained. To enter this region you need to go by boats which has fee of 300/-. We went to the other side of the beach which did not require any boating. We spent most of our time sauntering on the beachfront, playing kabaddi and dumb charades.

Monkeys goofing around..!!

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest:

After a heartening flavor of the ocean treasures, we decided to watch the beauty of trees amidst the water.

Getting around the forest requires boat rides. We had to buy ticket before getting into the boat. Packed in a boat, we were off to discover the small creatures and rare trees in the forest. The boat is anchored mid-water and everyone gets into life jacket. It was a tour of 1 hour where we were exposed to the aura of nature’s beauty which included the swishing of paddles and chirping of the birds. This was the icing on the cake in the entire trip.

Delighted and lost by the beauty of Pondy, we were unaware of the time that waits for none. It was hard for us to digest the fact that we were already at the end of the trip. It was time to bid farewell to pondy.

Puducherry isn’t an average holiday destination; it’s so much more than that! The memories of Puducherry still echoes in my heart, soothing my mind. I’m glad I made a

visit to Puducherry to reveal in its unique charm. I count myself lucky to be a part of this trip. All thanks to the wonderful 17 people who made it work.

It is surely a place that I would love to visit again and again. So what are you waiting for?

Signing off with some hilarious pictures captured during the trip!!

Thanks for reading.. Adios until next time!

Venturing to the unknown: A trip to Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

March 23, 2019

by Shibin Dinesh with 3 Comments Travel Reviews

Shibin Dinesh

Program Manager

It was nearing one year since my last trekking trip with my colleagues Arjun and Abhijith from team IT and Sourath from team Indexing to Coorg and this time we zeroed in at Aralam as our next trekking destination, a largely unexplored wildlife sanctuary in Kannur, bordering Kerala and Karnataka. One of my friend, Anoop (Ex-Molcon!) ,also joined this time. The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is in the news recently for all the wrong reasons as around 20 wild elephants were running havoc at the adjacent Aralam Farm (An extension of the sanctuary where human settlement and farming is allowed). They were destroying the plantations and even attacking people resulting in massive damage to property, crops and even unfortunate death by trampling of two people (In the last 2 months). Whenever such incidents happen, the entry to the sanctuary for the public is restricted or even banned and hence it was extremely difficult for us to get permission for the trek.

After countless phone calls to the Wildlife Warden, Forest officers, Range officers and so on, we finally got a go ahead under the condition that we will be accompanied by a forest guide and that permission will be revoked if any new attack is reported 1 or 2 days prior to our trip. Also, permission to trek inside the forest by foot is rarely given and is usually limited to just 8-10 groups per year mainly comprising of bird watchers, butterfly experts, wildlife researchers, and other similar interest groups.

A day before the trek, we reached Iriiti, a small town 15 km from Aralam and hired an auto for next day early morning drop to the sanctuary, as there are no buses that early and traveling by auto is way cheaper than hiring a Jeep. We started by 5:00 AM the next day and our auto driver was under the impression that we were to be dropped off at the entrance of Aralam farm.

However, when we informed the driver that our drop point is at the Aralam wildlife sanctuary entrance which is a further 8 km inside the Aralam farm, the driver became visibly uncomfortable and was trying to discourage us saying the authorities won’t let people inside so early and that he thinks they have stopped the trekking for now and all. When we informed him that we have taken all permissions and that we indeed can go early, he shared with us his real concern: ELEPHANTS.

He was scared to drive through the Aralam farm where elephants were a threat. The driver was seen repeatedly asking the guard at a security checkpoint near the entrance if there are wild elephants en route and whether its safe for him to go. After getting assurance from the forest guard, he finally took us in, and after another 30 min of drive through the farm, we were dropped at the entrance of AWS and the auto driver returned immediately with a look on his face as if he has dropped us at the entrance of death.

It was pitch dark at the entrance as the sunrise was still an hour away and all we could hear was water flowing from the nearby river and chirping crickets. There was no one at the gate and after some searching and walking into the sanctuary we found a forest officer and informed him about our trek. It was the same person who I had frequently contacted over phone and he asked us to wait for sometime as the guide who is to accompany us was on his way.

This was probably a rare trip to a wildlife territory where you wish not to be seen by wild animals!

By around 7 AM, our forest guide Mr. Biju joined us, and we started our trek immediately. After walking through a rock paved road which runs parallel to a river, for around 3 km (same road which the jeep takes en route to the waterfall), we reached a place where the river has formed a beautiful plateau and was accessible by foot. The water in the river was crystal clear that even the pebbles on the riverbed were seen! The surroundings were glowing with greenery, and the sun adding more colors, it felt like an exotic location only seen in movies! We spend some quality time there, absorbing all the positivity, also refueling us with some packed breakfast items and water. We even undertook some environmental cleanup by removing plastic sheets and other plastic waste that had settled near the waterbody.

We resumed our journey and traveling roughly a km more through the rock-paved road, a small path emerged to the left of the main road. The guide gave us two choices: Walk straight along the paved road and reach the waterfall OR take the left turn and explore the dense forest with the risk of a wildlife encounter! We happily chose the second option and started our trek to the insides of the forest. The next 5 km which took us almost 2 hours to cover was the most dangerous and exciting part of our trip, where we could come in contact with wild elephants any time. We were also going through the area frequented by Tigers (as seen in the capture cameras and according to our Guide, who himself had 5 close tiger sightings) and the vegetation was so thick that sideways visibility was just 1-2 meters and hence we wouldn’t be even knowing if danger was behind those trees .

We were asked to walk really quiet, but it was an impossible task with our shoes making sound whenever it made contact with layers of leaf foliage on the ground. The guide would signal us to stand still and not move a muscle whenever he senses danger and luckily (or unlucky?)every time it turns out to be a false alarm and the culprit on most occasions were monkeys or the Malabar giant squirrel. Abhijith’s heartbeat skyrocketed every time we sensed danger and his flight or fight hormones were well beyond normal limits! En route, we were lucky to have a glimpse of a family of Smooth-coated otter crossing our path and they vanished into the forest before we could photograph them. Our guide informed us that this is the first sighting of an otter at Aralam in years and we were the lucky ones to see them!

Elephant dung was to be seen every now and then and whenever fresh dung was noticed, we became extra cautious, As we walked more deep into the forest, our guide informed us that we were entering the semi-evergreen/evergreen section of the forest. The trek by then was becoming extremely tiring as the climb was becoming steeper, and Arjun almost exhausted his energy reserve and kept asking the guide how long more!

Finally, after 5 hours of intense trekking, we reached our destination, which is small watch tower, right in the middle of the forest! This place is used by forest officers to halt at night whenever they are deployed into the forest and the tower is surrounded by deep drenches, so that wild animals do not cross and reach the place. We camped there for almost an hour, having our lunchtime snacks, clicking few photographs, resting for some time and then started our trek back.

On the way up the forest, we went past two amazing trees. One was a class of twine which comes from a family that originated on earth as the second plant species! It is amazing that the species survived all these years. Keep in mind that the dinosaurs which came after the tree lived its life and has become extinct. The next surprise we had was a massive tree which was surrounded and intertwined by thick creepers. What had happened is that over the years the tree which was inside the creepers got destroyed, but the creepers survived and kept on growing. It is an excellent example of survival of the fittest!

The walk back was a lot faster and we easily covered the return path until the river side in half the time. After reaching the river side, we took a long break, Sourath and Abhijith went to swim, despite countless crocodiles living in the river. Myself, Arjun and the guide stood guard making sure there is no sudden arrival of elephants, as the herd frequent the place for drinking water.

After a refreshing break at the riverside, we resumed the last leg of our trek and by around 4 PM we reached back at the entrance. By then our hunger had reached its peak despite eating frequently en route and lucky for us, the forest officer offered us to lunch at the staff kitchen free of cost! We had a really tasty meal comprising many varieties, all Kerala dishes prepared by one of the Adivasi inhabitant, who comes every day to prepare the food for forest officials.

After paying the trek fee and guide fee and we bid adieu to our guide and forest officer and then another auto back to Iritty. We reached back around 6 PM, had a refreshing hot water bath and then headed out to a nearby restaurant to have some yummy Biriyani to windup the day!

You can watch a short video on our trip below!

Exploring Abu Dhabi

March 23, 2019

by Suja Sajiv with No Comment Travel Reviews

Suja Sajiv

Manager - People Relations

Abu Dhabi puts up a Captivating culture, breathtaking luxury, exhilarating adventure and the warmth of Arabian hospitality.

When we first went there, we heard lot of things like the rules are pretty strict in the Gulf countries and they would put people behind bars left right and centre. But surprisingly the truth is it is not that bad and I really loved this place which I felt was very peaceful and yes if we do something wrong then we would not be spared but we don’t have to be scared- we are not criminals!

Note- Tourists aren’t expected to wear traditional clothing, unless you’re inside a mosque.

You know the best part of Abudhabi is that you simply never get bored- thanks to the Civil Engineers and the Stalwarts there who get bored with the buildings so much every now and then that they start constructing new ones and creating new wonders.

Out there, there are many islands at Abudhabi which tourist might not explore and infact there are many private islands like Lulu island, Dalma Island ,Happiness Island, Dolphin Island, Al Maya Island, Bu Tinah Island, Al Nareel Island and the list goes on !

Just can’t help from feeling awed by one of the world’s top landmarks – the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and a tour on the planet’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, zooming in to the pace of a speedboat tour of the UAE capital’s coastline.

Warner Brothers Museum

Someone rightly said, it is like stepping into a compartment of our childhood brain.

Here is a place where so many of my film, television and comic book heroes all live under one roof and, just for the day, I get to be a kid all over again.

The Desert Safari

Can’t just miss out the unforgettable experience in the desert of Abu Dhabi.

After an exciting drive over the sand dunes, and a visit to a camel farm to watch the sunset from the dunes we would be treated to traditional Arabic hospitality at the traditional Arabic camp, where we can try out a host of activities like henna painting, Arabic dressing, belly dancing, Shisha, the Arabic sweets and coffee significant to Bedouin culture. After sunset, a BBQ dinner will be served under the starlit sky, with live entertainment to ensure you have a night to remember. Arabic coffee and dates served as they have been for centuries and continue to be served in Emirati homes today.

Al Ain

Best place to relax and tune out to the sound of the wind while sand boarding in Al Dhafra, while enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a stroll through Al Ain’s cooling oases.

Saadiyat Island

Experience ultra-modern breaks in the city centre, family adventures on Yas Island or luxurious havens on Saadiyat Island. The best thing about this Saadiyat island is that it is really easy to get lost as most of the buildings look so Goodamn similar. The choices from the myriad of hotels to exciting island and beachfront resorts and desert retreats. Is just breath taking!

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Dine at an 18 degrees incline in the world’s furthest leaning tower, savour a romantic BBQ at Emirates Palace, one of the world’s most opulent hotels, enjoy 360 degree city views from revolving restaurants or taste the masterful cuisine of Michelin-starred chefs!

Abu Dhabi is an eventful capital with an action-packed calendar, including a Grand Prix, the World Cup of Sailing, a PGA golf championship, international art, music, sport, gourmet, heritage and cultural festivals, high profile business conferences and vibrant trade fairs. The choices from the myriad of hotels and apartments, from the iconic Emirates Palace, Yas Viceroy and Hyatt Capital Gate to exciting island and beachfront resorts and desert retreats. Is just breath taking!

The Emrites Palace

This is where even our PM Modi stays on his Visit to UAE- no wonder he keeps visiting UAE again & again! No offense Baktha’s J! Only suggestion here is please visit after sunset-it’s just breathtaking!

Local laws

Just watch out for the local laws as you cant just ignore it to treat yourself for a jail Biriyani- which I heard is Yummy J!

Please note that you cannot consume alcohol outside of hotels, so don’t take alcoholic beverages with you to public places, like parks, beaches, gardens, etc. Also hope you don’t want to display affection with your partner in public—this is seen as offensive to some, and while the police aren’t walking around looking to arrest people kissing or cuddling in public, some locals may report you to the police. Just Beware!

The Future Abudhabi

You know what- if at all you plan to go to Abudhabi and if your trip is delayed don’t worry it’s just that your lucky as there will definitely be some new additions as the image below which is next in the making!

On a lighter Note!

OH MY GOD(the janet style – you would understand this if you have watched the F.R.I.E.N.D.S series!)- Chill moving on – I thought of writing about all the 7 Emrites in the UAE but ended up with just 1, and that too the road most travelled anyways watchout for more in this space!