I had gone to Thekkady, Kerala, some months ago and among the fish and the rain, I also happened to experience a mountain so lush its named just that—the green mountain. It’s called so because the mountain retains its greenery throughout the year. The forest on the mountain houses such tall trees that encapsulate clouds, and ensure the forest gets enough rainfall even in summer. So the mountain never sees a brown day, refreshing every visitor that comes its way.
What a year it’s been. 2016 was difficult and, yet, unforgettable for so many different reasons. This year I explored a variety of paths. Some were adventurous, some were tiring, but almost all were fun.
This year, I saw snow for the first time.
This year, I walked through forests a lot of times.
This year, I went high above sea level, looking down at massive land mass.
I’ve had cold breeze gushing behind my ears, the blinding sun warming my spine, and cooling greenery chilling my soul.
It’s been a good year.
I don’t know which path I will head off to in 2017, but I hope it’s as good as the ones in 2016.
Or better, that’s fine too.
It was the last place I expected to see so much water. Deep inside Thekkady’s forests lie a few tea estates, and nestled within them is this lake.
I don’t know its name, I don’t know where it begins or ends, I don’t even know if it’s a lake at all. But as the cold breeze gushed over and I pulled my sweater closer to myself, I couldn’t resist the ripples spreading through.
It was in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady. That’s where I came across this information centre. They had details about popular tourist attractions in Thekkady, including wildlife sanctuaries, safaris, over night camping plans, and more.
This building in particular, had a weird shape that I had to click it. I love curved edges and beautiful outlines. I like the idea that a building can be sharp and curved at the same time.
And I love the mild pointy top of the arch, the 90 degree angle of the doors, the the roof of the building sloping down, and—best of all—the uneven bricks laid along the arch. There are so many different edges in this picture that I had to take it.
We were well on our way to Thekkady when the heat dropped and dark clouds gathered. All around us, coconut trees swayed to the breeze, and plump bushes shook with joy.
We had entered Theni, a small town with a big reputation. Even as you say the name, you’d think spanning pastures, family animals, young girls hanging out in bright clothes, and school boys picking fights with the neighbour’s kids. That’s the picture the media had given us, and as we grazed over the Theni highway, something like a yellow balloon inflated in my chest.
We stopped and got out, greedy for some Theni essence. That’s when this photo happened. The car mirrored the trees on the opposite, along with the street divider line. It was a beautiful place with beautiful weather, and elation beyond words.
The Chaos Within 