The last day of anything is always filled with a little more greed. Especially if you are on holiday. So, I visited the Nilgiris recently, and on our last day there, we decided to take the kids to the Toda village. That morning we were contemplating a trek but as it drizzled, we felt it was better to do something else as we had kids with us and frankly did not want them to get wet in the rain. So, later in the morning, when the sun shone a bit, we decided to drive to the settlement. 

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Many hairpin bends later we were standing at the edge of the settlement, and were told to take our footwear off, that was just the start.

We saw one of the oldest Toda temples still standing in the settlement, and spoke to the head there, who introduced the women to us and their embroidery. They are very skilled with their embroidery, and we picked up shawls from them. The kids made friends with the village kids and were hanging with them, I think it was like they were both checking each other out. Our kids looked so ill at ease stamping on the damp grass, with slightly squishy wet soil. 

And then from there we walked further to another temple, with great unease trying to avoid the dung on the floor, when in front of us there were two bison lazily grazing. 

We must have looked very weird, because we were walking right at the end of the field, yet there was cackling from the kids, and they were wondering why we would want to go see another old temple.

When in the middle of this, the mama Bison saw us walking towards the temple, where her calf was also grazing, and she just looked up at us and stared at us so nice and proper, that Archana and me forgot all about the old structure that we wanted to see and the history of the Todas, and their culture and their history and immediately turned around, and walked away as fast as we could admist many shouts of don’t run, oh no, you are wearing red, walking and skipping as fast as we could, and yelping at the dung around us that we were trying to avoid, we quickly got into our car and beat a hasty retreat.

The rest of the day was spent playing Ludo and hanging outside our rooms, waiting for the rain to stop.

Yes, we all wanted to go back into the pool and come out and lie on those warm rocks under the sun. But I guess this is how it was always meant to be.

Our last day here spent lazily, packing our bags, buying red rice from the village, listening to the call of the Malabar giant squirrel and playing with the numerous dogs.  

It was just a peaceful and yet such an exciting holiday. Yes, I was thinking if we had one more day, then I would probably get one more trek, a few more animals to see, one more bowl of that awesome rasam, a little more fun around the bonfire. 

But the fact is, holidays and all things good or even not so good, always come to an end. Most of the time if the experience was great you will revisit it again, like I am quite in love with the Nilgiris, and will go back, but then nature is something that always calls out to my soul, I love travelling and learning how to cook, so I know that every experience I have is the start of a little something that will take a life of its own.

I’m also going to be saying bye-bye to all of you. This is my last article for now, it has been a satisfying experience, and I have had so many of you writing to me on different platforms and talking to me about life and food. I have really had a great time.

I guess this is the start of even more wonderful things in the magic of the written word. But for now. Look after yourselves and stay happy. Au revoir.