After the magic moments filled our hearts on a honeymoon to Woodway
estate & the Serai in Chikkamagalur, we were longing to go to a place
during the rainy season, to be amidst nature, to listen to the songs of the
birds, watch the sunset, read minds in silence & a little adventure with
good delicious cuisine.
Google has been a great help in life’s elongated searches
& in a corner of Virajpet was found “the Silver Oaks” – true to every
single word in what we wanted. Reservation was made without a second thought
for 2Nights/2Days. July 3rd, 4th & 5th
July 2011.
On June we reached Virajpet & were greeted by the driver
Jai who drove us to the Silver Oaks. We entered the cottage named woodpecker
& fell in love with the interiors – raised stone platform with mattress
which served as the bed, antiques that decorated the walls & a naturally
lit bathroom. The balcony opened to a small man made pond & agricultural
fields with the background of the mountains. Cool breeze & the mist greeted
good morning & on the lawn near the pond were two ducks, sleeping with
their heads stuck inside their wings.
We just threw the luggage & were eager to explore the
place before heading out for lunch. We stepped out of the cottage to be
surprised by the drizzle. Holding the umbrella we roamed around the place &
were hungry enough for a good treat. The food was delicious – though not much
variety, it was fresh & with the strong aroma of the wet soil, it was a
different experience listening to the rain clashing against the thatched roof
& the view of the pool.
After lunch, we took a short nap – who wouldn’t want to,
with such serene environment & silence? We spent the evening on the balcony
watching the sunset which was playing hide & seek in the rain, pond, the
fields, birds & the mountains in the screen covered by rain.
Dinner was one its kind experience, just the two of us &
the silence of the night broken by the croaks & chirping of insects…
lovely!
We woke up to the call of the cuckoos & after breakfast,
Jai was ready to drive us around the wonderful estates enroute to Dubare
Elephant training camp, Nisargadhama & the Golden Temple at Kushalnagar. It
was fun watching the elephants doing the morning drill before they head out to
the forest for work. Brilliant bonding of the mahout & the elephants – was
it love or fear I couldn’t make out?
Vidya in the playful mood while crossing the Cauvery gave
her engagement ring as a gift to all goodness that SHE had witnessed & was
sure to continue as long as I’m by HER side – SHE is splendid!
We returned by evening & spent the rest of our time
enjoying like there’s no tomorrow. And it turned out that there was tomorrow
because it was declared Karnataka bandh & no buses to fetch us back to
Bangalore. Bob was very helpful in cancelling our existing reservation &
making a new one for the next day. We walked in the rain, peddled in the small
boat in the small pond & watched the birds & the farmers working in the
fields – it was raining only for us. Rain had little or no effect on things
around us. They had adapted & we found that amusing. What a difference in
life?
Next morning after breakfast we bid goodbye to Bob, the
staff & the lovely Silver Oaks. Thanks to everyone who created this
wonderful vacation for us.
