Tuesday, August 06, 2013

A truly unforgettable experience.

Just after checking in, a late lunch was quickly put together for us - even though it was then close to tea-time. 

Soon after we were taken in a 4x4 to the closest drop-off point, from where we trekked into the forest, with our knowledgeable guide Bandulla. 

The resort we saw after the brisk trek was straight out of my dream ! The last approach to the resort was after you cross a hanging rope bridge. 

With no electricity and almost nothing mechanical, it was back to the basics (literally) ! I enjoyed the experience to the core. 

The rooms were all spacious and comfortably rustic. And there was a forest stream gurgling just behind where we stayed. It was beyond serene and beautiful. 

We never had any insect problems, though I'm not scared of the insects. I am also not scared of the dark, so it was not an issue. Only kerosene lanterns were provided after sunset for lighting. 

Food was typically local. Though not luxurious, it was not bad either. 

The best part was the staff were very hospitable and many times, they went out of their way to make sure we were satisfied. honestly, I can't think of anything that I didn't quite like about that place.

And, I sure would go back again. Hope it stays unchanged.

Great place for a nice evening.

We had an office party here following an account win !

The only regret is that the place isn't licensed. So you drink elsewhere and just come here for the 'sheesha' and the food.

The ambience is nice, with some open space too if you feel like sitting out. But then it will be possible only during the cooler months of September till March.

Since ours was a group of about 20, the service was good as the final bill ought to be fat !

Great Indian Food ...

Want some authentic and terrific Indian food, Mumtaz Mahal is the place to go to. 
We tried the unlimited ‘kabab platter’ with a variety of meat – red, white, pink – and vegetables too done to perfection ! It was yummy !

The delectable spread of kababs was polished off with some yummy biryani prepared in pure Indian style. Great stuff !

Nice for a quiet walk ...

I keep going back to the Muttrah Corniche ever so often as it is a great sea facing stretch to go for long walks. The Sultan's ship moored there (usually), a few traditional Omani dhows, some cruise liners at times, the Mina Qaboos port and above all the majestic brown mountains which form the backdrop to the Corniche all add a distinctive charm of the Corniche.

Also you can see numerous expatriates fishing by the edge of the sea during high tide. Though have seen them fishing with their homemade fishing rods and other primitive contraptions, with usually nothing more than stale bread as bait, I've never really seen any of these anglers reel in a big fish ! LOL !

So near, yet so far ...

Thekkady is a typical Kerala countryside, with rich vegetation, constant rains and damp weather (at least that's how it was when we went a year or so back).

Thekkady’s single biggest attraction is its huge Periyar lake. With 2-tier motorised boats one can go boating which takes about 2 hours per trip. On a lucky day, I’m told that many wild animals can be spotted along the lake’s shores. All that we spotted were a group of bisons (very far away), a couple of wild pigs and a herd of sambhar. We didn't even see an elephant, for which Thekkady is so well known and famous for !! We were informed that during the rainy season, animals do not venture out since there will be enough water for them to drink inside the jungle itself. We were right there ... and yet couldn't see any 'real' wild life :-( !!! 

And, that's exactly why I titled my review 'So near, yet so far ...' !

The Forest Guides and those who manage the forest reserve were not very helpful. When I asked to go for a jungle trek, I was told that when it rains they do not encourage it because of the jungle leeches, millipedes and centipedes that would be swarming the jungle floor. 

In Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary apart from the Jungle Treks, there isn't much else to do. The Tiger Trails etc., are all seasonal and are heavily weather dependent. During monsoon time, the place has almost nothing to offer visitors except the 2-hour boat ride. Spice Tour though available, isn't very exciting. You are taken around to see the various plantations like Tea, Pepper, cardamom, Vanilla, and numerous medicinal herbs and plants.

Thekkady is quite easily accessible from any of the major cities of Tamil Nadu / Kerala, India. The place is well-connected by road and train services. The net also provides visitors all the information that they will require. 

From Thekkady bus stop, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is just 15 minutes and Rs.100 away by auto rickshaw. Once within the sanctuary it is very tranquil and quiet with only the sounds of the jungle - mostly the insects, some birds, monkeys, and the occasional wild animal. The place is very basic, modest and down-market in its offerings as the tourists who seem to visit it !

Old is gold !

Holiday Home in Kodaikanal is indeed a great place to stay, when you're holidaying in Kodai. The place is possibly one of the oldest in the hill station. Run by a well-known family for over half-a-century ! That by itself says loads about the property.

Going by a conservative estimate, the last renovation of that property must have happened close to a quarter of a century back ! It's nowhere near 'pristine' condition – at least when we visited it a good 5 years back.

Early mornings, if step outside your cottage don't be shocked to see a herd of Bisons rummaging for leftover food ! They come and go from the bordering sholas (forests) and hills.

There's plenty of pear trees around the property from where you can pluck and eat all the pears you want ! There's a lovely little stream that runs right through the place too ! These are what makes it 'different' to the regular up-market resorts and hotels. Daily morning pick-up and drop to Kodaikanal town and back is a good service provided by the hotel, given the fact it’s a few good kilometers away from the town.

Food was a big cause for concern. There’s a large, very old dining hall (accommodating up to a 500, at a time). Food is served at set times there. If you want non-vege food, you'll have to first plan ahead, pay for your chicken or whatever you wish to consume for lunch (or pay up front during lunch time, for your dinner serving). That’s how it works. If you suddenly feel like biting into a luscious chicken drumstick, all you'll get is a polite 'No', with a big smile !!

'Cash only' was also an irritant. When we stayed here, the water had a strong smell of 'iron'. Perhaps because the geyser in the bathroom was a very old one.

I don’t know if the property has undergone any renovation in recent times, in which case it would make it a must stay destination, when in Kodai !
Get a room as far away from the dining room area. It will be less crowded !

Sea Gull Chunnambar Beach Resort.

Booked myself at the Sea Gull Chunnambar Beach Resort for I had no other options available. On account of the long weekend almost all good places were sold out. 

Called up Pondicherry Tourism development Office and managed to get a double-bedroom. Asked for the Treehouse, but was told that it's not available. During my 2-day stay I noticed that it was not occupied by anyone else either ! The place is run-down and not maintained well, or at least as a resort should be !

The only activity that was buzzing in Sea Gull Chunnambar Beach Resort is their Bar ! Pondicherry is but one very big bar ! Booze, booze and more booze everywhere ! This resort is no exception. 

When I asked for tea at 5 p.m. one evening the waiter informed me that that don't have tea, but can serve me chilled Beer !! In fact, we had to drive around for hours before we could find a place that would serve us some tea ! All hotels, big and small offered us Beer and most said that they do not serve tea or coffee !!

Restaurant in the resort closes at 9 p.m. while the bar is open until midnight ! They said drink all you can, then drive out in the dark looking for a decent place to eat ! We did just that and landed at Hotel Mass International, which they said is a "star hotel". That place is equally bad. There was a 'Biryani festival' going on that evening and the deal was 'Buy 1 Biryani and get 1 Beer Free' !!!

This place is not advisable for families with small kids. For bachelors on drinking binges it would be just ideal :-) !!! I went here in 2006.

Perfect Place. Poor Participation.

Thekkady is a typical Kerala countryside, with rich vegetation, constant rains and damp weather (at least that's how it was when we went ).Go when the rain gods take a break, please !

Thekkady’s single biggest attraction is its huge lake. With 2-tier motorised boats one can go boating which takes about 2 hours per trip. On a lucky day, I’m told that many wild animals can be spotted along the lake’s shores. All that we spotted were a group of bisons (very far away), a couple of wild pigs and a herd of sambhar. We didn't even see an elephant, for which Thekkady is so well known and famous for !! We were informed that during the rainy season, animals do not venture out since there will be enough water for them to drink inside the jungle itself.

The Forest Guides and those who manage the forest reserve were not very helpful. When I asked to go for a jungle trek, I was told that when it rains they do not encourage it because of the jungle leeches, millipedes and centipedes that would be swarming the jungle floor. This is exactly what I meant when I said "Poor Participation". With a place like that if only the authorities would take little efforts in providing what a good number of tourists like me come for - that is to spend more time exploring the jungles, then this place would be such a superb destination. But alas !

Quite frankly, in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary apart from the Jungle Treks, there isn't much else to do. The Tiger Trails etc., are all seasonal and are heavily weather dependent. During monsoon time, the place has almost nothing to offer visitors except the 2-hour boat ride. Spice Tour though available, isn’t very exciting. You are taken around to see the various plantations like Tea, Pepper, cardamom, Vanilla, and numerous medicinal herbs and plants.

Thekkady is quite easily accessible from any of the major cities of Tamil Nadu / Kerala, India. The place is well-connected by road and train services. The net also provides visitors all the information that they will require. From Thekkady bus stop, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is just 15 minutes and Rs.100 away by auto rickshaw. Once within the sanctuary it is very tranquil and quiet with only the sounds of the jungle - mostly the insects, some birds, monkeys, and the occasional wild animal. 

The place is very basic, modest and down-market in its offerings as the tourists who seem to visit it ! Opt for the ground floor rooms. Monkey menace would be lesser. On the first-floor monkeys wreck havoc. You need to constantly keep a lookout for their disturbing presence

Calm, Quiet, Peaceful.

The property in itself is fabulous. Very stylish and very, very plush. The location is breathtaking, with mist covered mountains behind and a awe-inspiring valley / lake view in front. 

The setting is just brilliant, even though to reach the resort is a bit of a pain !!

I was rather unhappy about a few incidents at the resort and so I mentioned those in so many words in the online Guest Feedback System. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that not only were my concerns looked into, without any delay whatsoever, but all my problems were swiftly and satisfactorily addressed !! Great customer focus. All credit should go to the (then) Front Office Manager Ramesh Jadoun and to the Chef, Debraj Bhaumik.

What irked us a lot was I had to find my way from Munnar town, all by ourselves, as the resort refused to provide me with a pick-up facility - even after my requesting them ! (The resort is a good 20 kms outside of Munnar town and the roads aren't always good). Club Mahindra must do something serious about this if they want their guests to come back again !

For someone looking for a calm, quiet and a peaceful break from life's hustle and bustle, then this would be an ideal place.

P.S. The resort is quite large and is rather spread out. A room in the main block / building would be the most convenient and ideal, if walking is a problem. For those who are fit as a fiddle the rooms spread around the property would be good as they can enjoy a workout as they climb the steep steps to and from their rooms to go to the main building which houses the restaurant / entertainment lounge / et al.

Scintillating Location. Period.

Quite frankly I chanced upon 'Howard Johnson, The Monarch Safari Park in Masinagudi recently. I stayed there for 3 good days. The property is, to be honest, nothing to write home about. 

While the place is excellent, there is a serious dearth of any organised outdoor activity. The resort should take the initiative and should plan a few flexible itineraries for the benefit of the guests.

The jungle trek / jeep ride (into Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, which is about 10 kms away) doesn't take one more than a maximum of 3 hours. And that’s in the mornings. So after that ride is done, what else ? Nothing. In a lovely place like that, Monarch Safari Park can do a lot ... really a lot ! But they have chosen to do absolutely nothing to keep their guests occupied. 

Also the Resort can do much more to improve their service standards. The service is very basic. Food is also basic. But the room that I stayed in was very spacious and clean. However the tap in the bathroom was dripping right through my stay (which was extremely annoying). 

Monarch Safari Park is set in wonderful surroundings. That's about it !! They still have a very long way to go, to become a resort of choice among seasoned travelers like me.

The good point about this property is its proximity to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, which was by far the greatest highlight of our trip ! Also the forests around the resort, the mountains, the salubrious climate are all excellent incentives for me to go there again some day ! I hope and trust that in the meantime, the resort management does something worthwhile to increase the appeal of the place by taking some much needed steps.

P.S. Forgot to mention, the Food here is basic and hence a let-down. Service too was bordering on inefficiency. While the environs by itself is really very good, the allied services are the opposite.

This resort somehow give you the feeling that they do not want guests and any guest is seen as an unwanted intruder. Rooms are ill kept and uncared for, like the rest of the resort. Stay here at your own risk

Traveller's Home - A Very Bad Experience :-( !!!

I visited Yala National Park in August 2012. And I stayed at the ‘Traveller’s Home’ owned by Ebert - the one with a serious skin condition :-(.

I was referred to his place by a tout in Nuwara Eliya, who claimed to be Ebert’s brother. Ebert ripped me off.

The room he gave me inside his house (adjoining the kitchen) was mediocre and he charged me SLR. 4,000/- for less than 12-hours. While I spoke with him from Nuwara Eliya he had agreed to let me have the room for SLR. 1500/- for a day.

I couldn’t even use the shower as the water pressure was too low and the water was falling drop-by-drop. Also, I almost lost a finger while removing my tee – the ceiling fan was too low – luckily the fan was spinning at a slow speed.

The service at this home stay was shockingly poor – I was seated at his porch by 04:30 a.m. for the 05:00 a.m. jungle safari and no one bothered to serve me my tea, or provide me with the takeaway sandwiches, for which I had already paid an additional amount !

Ebert insisted that I pack-up even before I went for my safari as he had other guests lined up.
At Traveller’s Home money-making is sole motto. Service standards are way too low. But the prices charged are over the top.

For an 8-hour jungle safari, Ebert charged me SLR. 7,500/- !

The only saving grace of my trip was that I saw a Sri Lankan leopard during the closing hours of the safari.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend anybody to go anywhere near Ebert or his ‘Traveller’s Home’.

If only the service had been as good as the place ...

During our 3-week vacation to India, we managed to steal a short holiday to a great resort called ‘Mystique Ville’ positioned in their website as ‘a pristine jungle experience’ !

Located amidst mountains and tea estates of Ooty in the south of India, this place is located more precisely near ‘Kalhatti Waterfalls’ on the ‘Seegur Ghat Road’ amidst the lush greenery of the tea plantations, waterfalls and dense foliage set at about 1,600 meters above sea level making it a very quiet and peaceful retreat.

Specifically, Mystique Ville is right off the 15th Hairpin Bend (about 25 kms downhill) from Ooty town, enroute to Masinagudi / Theppakadu / Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The property is a well-maintained and very charming Portuguese style resort with Victorian style interiors. Each of the 11 Victorian styled rooms has restored antique furniture, complete with a hearth. The room in the middle of the property is the best, commanding the best views.

The 2 nights and 3 days that we spent there, we had the entire property all for ourselves, since there were absolutely no other guests !!

Jessica, the front office help was really helpful. Didn’t see any Manager about whom I’ve heard horror stories. The rest of the support staff was not too enthusiastic to put it mildly. Perhaps there were no guests around except just my family.

May be because there were no other guests the service standards were overall lax and lethargic.

Just to quote one example, when I got up early one morning (by about 6) to my utter shock I realised that no hot water was flowing from the bathroom taps. Mind you, mornings around here can get pretty chilly and the cold water was near freezing.

So I desperately went around looking for some help who can turn on the hot water supply, but couldn’t find a soul for a good 1 hour. After great difficulty I managed to catch hold of some local help and they in turn went looking for the plumber, who was finally found and after a good couple of hours running around the resort the hot water supply was finally turned on. It was very frustrating besides being very irritating. You certainly don’t want to go through this when you’re on your vacation.

One more downside of being the only occupants of the resort was that the restaurant service was shockingly poor and casually negligent.

The resort had to cook only for us and naturally it was on our pre order. No issues there. But what was served was of extremely poor quality with little or no taste, besides having to wait endlessly for our food – breakfast, lunch and dinner – even though we tell the restaurant in-charge what we’ll have a good 3-4 hours beforehand.

Overall loved the property. Particularly the pristine and lush environs complete with a flowing waterfalls (whose ever present lilting sound can soothe and calm the most knotted of nerves). Full marks there.

But the service standards across the board leave a lot to be desired.