the Silver Oaks

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 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th 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.