SOME NICE PEOPLE AROUND - 855

         SOME NICE PEOPLE AROUND US                                                                             Somewhere around the same day last Week , I had my Brother In Law , Wife and his Son's Family from the US Visit us at Agasthiarpatty for a short stay . A visit to the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple and their Kula Deiva Temple at Mela Pavoor was almost mandatory .

To make it more interesting for their two young kids/grandkids we had planned a trip to the THENMALA ECO PARK in neighbouring Kerala for Thursday 11 th June  . On Wednesday 10 th evening itself we had showers at the  Ambasamudram Erichudayar Kovil River Bank where everyone had a fun filled evening   . On search , Google Akka was quick to inform us that things were downright bad at THENMALA HILLS  and a rainy day with scattered  thunderstorm was on the cards the following day at THENMALA . Getting caught in the middle of a forest Eco System in a thunderstorm in Kerala during the onset of the monsoon is the last thing one would want to do . The Wayanad landslide scenario and the extensive havoc it caused kept playing on our mind .

We dropped the THENMALA plan and instead changed our plans to Visit the Agasthiar Falls , Thirumalai Kovil  and the Puliyarai Dakshinamurthy Temple . The particular day being a Thursday was  an added attraction for the visit .

We started early for our visit to the Agasthiar  Falls and were there before 7.30 am . We infact had the entire falls to ourselves as people were  just beginning to stream in . The children and the guests  had a grand time and it was a task to get them out of the falls . There  was already  a steady drizzle even as we were at the falls . That did not seem to bother anyone , least of all the kids or their parents . 

I must confess that I have been living around these parts for more than half a century now . No  visit to the Papanasam Falls is complete without the visit to  the place we named as the    " FIVE STAR HOTEL " to savour in  their mouth watering hot  VENGAYA VADAI.  I have infact  had visitors from all over India or beyond to taste this luxury on many  occasions . 

For some reason our normal joint was closed on the particular day and the one opposite to it was open . After a  couple of Medu Vadas , VENGAYA VADAI  which was later  topped with a cup of Tea , we were on our way to Thirumalai Kovil with the home made Idly partaken on the way at a picturesque spot  near Vadamalaisamudram .

It is hard to describe the beauty of Thirumalai Kovil . Nestled high on the hills of the Western Ghats with Clouds all around , you had the chilly Wind and a slight Shower for company . This is definitely one of  the best places that I have had the good fortune to visit in India or the many other places around the world. 

The wind and breeze were  particularly sharp on this day . Google Akka seems to have got her weather forecast right  . Thenmala some 50 kms away must surely be far worse than what we were experiencing at Thirumalai Kovil . Our extra large umbrella 🏖️ was torn to shreds in no time . Keeping your feet grounded itself was a big task on hand .  Holding hands of the kids even as you struggled to stay grounded was a unique experience . Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this experience and more so the kids .

Dakshinamurthy Temple was equally pleasing and scenic. 

The much awaited Home made Lunch was on hand and taken  near the Old Courtallam Falls.  We were back home around 3.30 pm .

It was  only after returning home did  we notice that  a bag with a pair of very useful and handy Canada  Raincheaters  and a brand new outfit for one of the kids and a few other items  had been misplaced somewhere during our trip . After a lot of thought we zeroed in on the FIVE STAR HOTEL as the most likely place . 

My guests had other places of visit to be made the following day  and Selvam Cabs whose car we had engaged also had their own owners Son's marriage earmarked on the 17 th . We did make a try through their drivers but not with much success . 

Proof of Mami's terrific memory was on hand . She was quick to remember  that the Owner of the ANNAPURNA HOTEL opposite the Papanasam Temple was the brother of the Hotel Owner at the Falls and it would make sense to contact him and make enquiries about our missing bag .

We visited the Temple on the AANI MAASA PIRAPPU DAY . Swamy was clad in the Thanga Kavasam and Ambal with a Thanga Paavaadai .

Darshan done , we visited the ANNAPURNA Hotel whose owner I have known for years . He immediately made contact with his brother who confirmed that a white leftover  bag was indeed with them at the Falls hotel . He promised to hand over the bag back at the Annapurna Hotel when he came downhill to make purchases for his Hotel at the Falls and that we could collect it from there. We have now got back our bag and all the  belongings inside it ,   thanks 🙏🙏 to the people who still have a heart to help others when required . It gives a nice feeling to know that - 

THERE ARE SOME NICE PEOPLE AROUND US 

ps : we made a small presentation to both the brothers in kind and expressed our appreciation and thanks for their act .

The belongings of our US guests will be handed over to them during our planned visit to Chennai shortly .