COFFEE TALKS and a lot more!

We began our little adventure on 1st May from Kasaragod railway station, and oh, Puttu was bubbling with excitement to hop onto the train! 🚉 It was an 8-hour journey, and by evening, we reached our Neighbourhood stay—an absolutely cosy, cosy place that felt like a warm hug. We loved every bit of it! That very evening, we visited the Ernakulam Shiva temple—big and beautiful—followed by a peaceful Marine Drive walk and dinner at Ottupura (just okay, nothing wow). We returned and snuggled into bed for a good night’s sleep—while Appa and Sonny went out on a banana hunt! The next morning started fresh with yummy breakfast and the best chai ever. ☕ Add to that the cozy little café corner where we had it, surrounded by dancing plants and quirky artistic pieces—it was pure morning magic. Then came one of the most relaxing and heart-soothing moments of the trip—the boathouse ride. It was pure therapy. We saw Chinese fishing nets, fishermen in action, a fancy five-star hotel, the Lulu M...

 Oh, what a moment! The instant the breeze brushed past us, it felt like the whole world froze in a sigh. The scene outside was straight out of a painting — misty, breathtaking, wrapped in silence — yet all my heart wanted was to burrow under a fat, cozy blanket and drift into sweet sleep. But could I? Not with this little whirlwind around! Our boy, who seemed completely immune to the cold, kept darting in and out, dancing in every little corner — one moment toppling a kettle filled with water, the next tossing the neatly spread clothes into a messy celebration! Sometimes biting, sometimes dashing away with a giggle, scattering mischief in every step. And then — it began to rain. Oh, the magic of it! The gentle patter, the soft moaning of the breeze, the world glistening in silvery quiet — it was pure enchantment. All I wanted was to sit by the window forever, breathing it all in, letting it carry me far, far away... Dinner was called at 7:30. We made our way to the dining hall, no...

 After the ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕಳ್ಳೀ moment, he knew — without a word — what my heart was craving. We wandered into a tiny chai shop, tucked like a secret in the folds of the valley. It didn’t feel like a shop — it felt like stepping into someone's warm kitchen, full of old stories and soft laughter. There she stood — a beautiful woman with a smile that reached her eyes. "Chai?" she asked, and we simply nodded, as if that one word carried the weight of a hundred comforts. She moved across the large, open kitchen, not rushing, not pretending — just brewing fresh chai with the care only real places have. No flask chai, no shortcuts — just the slow magic of real things. In the corner, the firewood stove crackled gently, a kettle humming over it. I kept glancing, drawn to it like a moth to warmth. Sushan caught my look, smiled his small smile, and said, "Sit, it’s okay." And so I did. On a simple wooden seat, by the fire, feeling the sparks kiss the cold air and the warmth seep i...

We felt a mix of excitement and unease when our little boy eagerly wanted to spin the prayer wheels. While he was drawn to them, we gently told him not to touch them, feeling a pang of guilt. This place was sacred, and somewhere in our hearts, we worried that our presence might disrupt the peace of those who came here to pray, not to watch curious visitors. As we tried to quietly manage our son, an elderly man entered the scene. Our uneasiness grew—were we overstepping? But he met us with the warmest smile and, without hesitation, began spinning each prayer wheel himself. Surprised, we shared our feelings of guilt and hesitation with him. He chuckled softly and said, “Perhaps you were meant to be blessed today. Through your little boy’s eagerness, a higher power allowed the wheels to turn. You have received the blessings of the mantra.” In that moment, his gentle smile and kind words lifted our guilt, replacing it with a sense of peace and belonging. It was as though his warmth hel...

On the evening of Friday, June 14th, our family embarked on an adventure from the tranquil J.R. Green Park in Bangalore. At around 4:30 PM, we set off, our hearts brimming with excitement and anticipation for the delightful discoveries that lay ahead. As we journeyed on, we paused for dinner at Jain’s Padmavathi Hotel in Yelagiri. There, we indulged in a variety of dosas – podi dosa, masala dosa, and set dosa – each tasty in its own right, though not exceptional. The coffee proved to be the perfect energizer we needed for the remainder of our drive. The crisp evening air and the hotel’s warm lighting provided a welcoming atmosphere. By 9:30 PM, we arrived at Thangakottai, a palatial resort illuminated by enchanting lights that accentuated its grandeur. The restaurant, with its ceiling fans reminiscent of those from ancient royal courts, was particularly striking. After a hearty meal, we retired to our cozy and inviting rooms. The following morning greeted us with a buffet breakfast tha...

This trip had been meticulously planned and the anticipation was running high. With our little boy in tow, our excitement knew no bounds. I cherished those moments of preparing for the journey: packing his favorite food, sun-kissed flattened rice (avalakki), homemade snacks, tiny socks, delicate rompers, and all the necessary toiletries. Upon reaching our destination and settling into our cozy cottage, our little one's face lit up with delight. Finally, he could explore freely. The surroundings were a picturesque blend of dense forest, majestic mountain vistas, and crisp, cold weather. The three of us found solace in watching the rain pour down through the window. Our little explorer was on a mission, discovering a world of new objects to grab and run with. The rain persisted, and the desire for a steaming cup of coffee grew stronger by the moment. So, we ventured to a quaint cafe, our little one joining us in sips (on a rotational basis, of course). Returning to our cottage, our t...

Each time I see Gulab Jamoon it takes me back to our MSc days. We have made innumerable memories together .Our Shimla trip was one of the fun filled journey. We lived each second like tomorrow doesn't exist. After visiting Indian Institute of Advanced study we were taken for shopping in the Mall road. In chilling cold it was Raaz busy shopping some warm clothes for her nephew. I searched some food shop to taste the food of Shimla .We went down the streets by following the map for about 20 minutes and somehow found a sweet shop surrounded by people managed to get gulab jamoon dipped in fuming hot sugar syrup. On that chilling night , watching the moon having hot tastiest Gulab Jamoon, seeing the fumes coming out of it... Raazu said we are lost ,yes I said anyone for that matter for this taste Raazu .She said that she was telling about how to get back to the mall road and my jaw dropped looking at the watch !It was already 9:20 pm and we are asked to be there at th...

ಅತ್ತೆ ಮಾವ , ಅವರ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಎಂದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗಾರರು ಇವರೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕೂನೂರಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ತಂಗುಧಾಮ ಗುಡ್ಡದ ಮೇಲೆ ಇತ್ತು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಊರು ನೋಡಿ ನಂಬಲಾರದ ಸೃಷ್ಠಿಯ ಸೊಬಗನ್ನು ಕಣ್ಣು ತುಂಬಿಸಿದಷ್ಟು ಸಾಲದು ಎಂದು ಅನ್ನಿಸಿದಂತು ನಿಜ ಅದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರೆಯುವ ಚಳಿ!     ಕೂನೂರಿನ ಚುಕುಬುಕು ಬಂಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂತು , ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ತಿರುಗಿ ಊಟವಾದ ನಂತರ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ನಿದ್ರಾ ದೇವತೆಗೆ ಶರಣಾದೆವು. ಮರುದಿನ ನನ್ನ ಅತ್ತೆ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ನಾಲ್ಕುವರೆಗೆ ಎದ್ದಾಗ ನನಗೂ ಎಚ್ಚರ ಆಯಿತು. ಕೊರೆಯುವ ಚಳಿ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅತ್ತೆ ಎದ್ದದ್ದು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಏಳಲು ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿತು. ನಾನು ಅವರೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡೆ. ನೀರು ಬಿಸಿಯಾಗುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ , ಅತ್ತೆ   ಬಟ್ಟೆ - ಮತ್ತಿತರ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಅಣಿಮಾಡಿದರು.   ಅತ್ತೆ ಫ್ಲಾಸ್ಕ್ ಅನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಕೈಚೀಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡರು. ಇಬ್ಬರು ಹೊರಟೆವು. ಗುಡ್ಡೆಯ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಬದಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಮಂಜಿನಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ್ದ ಅದ್ಭುತ ನೋಟ. ಬೆಳ್ಳಂಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಆದ ಕಾರಣ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಜೋಡಿಸುವವರು , ವಾಹನ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕಾಲಿ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳು , ಹೂ ಮಾರುವವರು , ನಡಿಗೆಗೆಂದು ಬಂದವರು ಹೀಗೆ ನಿಷಬ್ದವಾದ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಇತ್ತು. ಅತ್ತೆ ಅಲ್ಲೆ ಒಂದು ಅಂಗಡಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಚಹಾ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುವುದೆಂದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದರು. ಮುಖ್ಯ ರಸ್ತೆ ಕಳೆದು , ಯಾವುದೋ ಕಿರು ದಾರಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಮುಂದೆ ನಡೆದೆವು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತಾ ...