Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodka Village, Kutch.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Little did I realize that while I had posted about </span></span><a href="http://rangdecor.blogspot.com/2007/02/shaam-e-sarhad-rural-resort.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">this resort</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> from a magazine, way back in 2007 and the subsequent posts about NGOs working in Kutch, that I was actually laying invisible foundation stones for a trip to Kutch, Gujarat in December 2011, a good four years later.</span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724088385/" title="shaam11 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam11" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6724088385_9ae59e7932_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.hodka.in/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Shaam-E-Sarhad </span></span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is a eco-resort built in a Kutchi village-style setting using locally sourced materials and crafts of the region. It is owned and managed by the Hodka village community and is open only from <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">October</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">March</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img alt="shaam14" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6724090743_2beb48a1be_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The resort promotes </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Endogenous Tourism </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">where </span></span></span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">one travels not just for pleasure, but also to appreciate local community and their life in rural Gujarat.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"The </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Endogenous Tourism Project</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in Hodka village seeks to promote local culture and craft based tourism for sustainable livelihoods and integrated rural development. Its aim is to improve the local people's quality of life, by creating more livelihood options, while preserving and allowing the community to develop their unique culture and share it with visitor."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~ hodka.in</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724090105/" title="shaam13 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam13" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6724090105_11b715439a_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">The reception area is adorned with</span> 'Chittar Kaam' <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">patterns and designs in earthy colours.</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The use of local architectural style, the intricate art & crafts is very evident as soon as one enters </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shaam-E-Sarhad </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(translated 'Sunset at the border') </span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hodka village is not very far from the Rann of Kutch region which shares the border with Pakistan.</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724085729/" title="shaam8 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam8" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6724085729_1de9e5c757_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The dining area is below a multi-hued canopy of bright local fabrics patches... </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img alt="shaam9" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6724086651_0163fbf577_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:small;">A sit-out made out of a mixture of smooth mud and dung. Beautiful patchwork quilts made by local artisans spread their colours on an otherwise neutral colour-palette.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724087573/" title="shaam10 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam10" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6724087573_d0b3281153_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Kutchi cloth doll with traditional dress swings gently in the breeze from the wooden poles..</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724091639/" title="shaam15 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam15" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6724091639_222f398cf1_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even the switch board is made using locally crafted wooden plank.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam3" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6724081411_74daa13c29_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There are a few </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga </span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">mud houses and many tents where you can experience sustainable living.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6724078599_a53f1bc6f7_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Orange dawn from our tent on the first day of our stay at the resort.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam4" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6724082079_a24c513a6e_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The next day we moved to the </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> house:-) The resort is very popular with travelers who come to visit the White Rann of Kutch, Dhordo, Hodka and the wildlife sanctuaries.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam12" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6724089235_74bfab4fd6_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pandhi Bhai</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> with another local gentleman. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pandhi Bhai</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> plays the </span></span><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morsing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Morsing</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on cold star-studded winter nights sitting on that 'charpouy' in the previous photograph.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam" height="472" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6724390439_b6f6d1c8d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhunga </span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is a house that is circular in design, made of mud plaster, dung and twigs, it has a light dome-shaped bamboo and thatched roof. A glorious mud structure that is resistant to high windspeed and earthquakes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaam2" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6724080703_6004e3e3fe_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The thick walls keep the interior cool when the temperature rises to 46 degrees celsius in summer and warm when it drops to two degrees in winter.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="sham1" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6724079781_8e90de4ef0_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A fabulous example of</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Kutchi</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> architecture and eco-living.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724084909/" title="shaam7 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam7" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6724084909_7e14c184e2_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; line-height: 18px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">'Chittar Kaam' or </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mud paintings convert the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> exterior of the <b><i>Bhungas</i></b> into art canvas' as well. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724392689/" title="shaaam4 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaaam4" height="577" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6724392689_8ec8a9fe3d_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The <i>'Lipan Kaam'</i> or the sculpted mud-mirror work frame the wooden windows.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724394253/" title="shaaam5 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaaam5" height="522" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6724394253_81eeb96369_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724092355/" title="shaam17 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam17" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6724092355_6e7a1bbb28_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>'Lipan Kaam'</i> at the entrance to our</span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Bhunga <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">with lacquer work wooden door</span></span>.</span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724093021/" title="shaam18 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam18" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6724093021_c46f42d4fc_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The interior of the <b><i>Bhunga</i></b> with stunning patchwork bedspreads and curtains.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724084017/" title="shaam6 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam6" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6724084017_c9ace9bae4_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The purple seating glows as the light filters in.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6724082839/" title="shaam5 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><img alt="shaam5" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6724082839_d54fa2864c_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Utterly, deeply and completely in love with the woven curtains.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam1" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6724390729_64f46c0328_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The intricately carved wooden window shutters.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="shaaam3" height="502" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6724391079_9236db86cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sitting under the canopy of rainbow colours, watching the dusk envelope the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Bhungas </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">at</span><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Shaam-E-Sarhad</span></b>, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">we sat sipping our hot Khullad chai and just being in the moment.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(images by Arch, the last one by Mr. Husband)</span></span></i></b></span></div></div></div>

Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodka Village, Kutch.

Little did I realize that while I had posted about this resort from a magazine, way back in 2007 and the subsequent posts about NGOs workin...

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Heritage Madurai.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week saw us visit the beautiful </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meenakshi Temple </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in Madurai, devour traditionally prepared South Indian lunches served on banana leaves and get lost in a tropical haven created by </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Bawa"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa.</span></a></b></span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075396518/" title="her3 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her3" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6075396518_723feee226_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></i><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.heritagemadurai.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heritage Madurai</span></a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is a 17-acre resort originally called the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Madurai Club</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and was designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Bawa"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bawa's style of blending indoor & outside spaces is evident through out the resort.</span></span></span></span></i></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074876945/" title="her12 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her12" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6074876945_ccf64075c1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Locally sourced materials and natural elements makes this place very unique. Bawa's disciple </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vinod Jayasinghe </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">has restored this resort to it's former glory by blending tradition with modern luxuries. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075438346/" title="her18 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her18" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6075438346_77e0f2e151_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Granite used liberally at the resort.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074880593/" title="her13 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her13" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6074880593_7790e57595_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Intricately carved door at the reception area.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074873551/" title="her11 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her11" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6074873551_0380d911ae_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reception area with antique wicker work chair.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074904349/" title="her20 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her20" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6074904349_3e1b3b204b_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Entrance lobby with fresh floating flowers in a granite urli.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6075424000/" title="her14 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her14" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6075424000_8b639798b1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lotus leaves growing tall at the entrance area.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her21" height="514" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6075447176_961824a481_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Frangipani' trees framing the Luxury Villas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her5" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6075400192_a76a4b510a_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Granite pillars and furniture at the Luxury Villas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her7" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6074863155_1021bb8f23_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our room.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her15" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6075428246_84e2e2f0c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her8" height="427" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6074866479_b19a1a8bd7_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Traditional wooden doors and granite formed the main design in the room.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her4" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6075398340_d372b6c280_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our very own plunge pool with Frangipani tree!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her22" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6074909483_9477413294_z.jpg" width="426" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do we really need to head back home?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her2" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6075393990_7f4cd78fd1_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Temple Tank inspired pool at dusk.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archanasr_2000/6074851275/" title="her1 by archanasr, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="her1" height="426" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6074851275_fa4c1d79b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dining area at dusk.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Geoffery Bawa~ I really adore your style. Madurai ~ I enjoyed your rich culture.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Images by Arch)</span></span></div></div></div>

Heritage Madurai.

Last week saw us visit the beautiful Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, devour traditionally prepared South Indian lunches served on banana leaves...

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Tranquil, Wayanad.

<div style="text-align: left;">I was going through some old photographs from a few years ago and was hit by a huge wave of nostalgia.</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499156598884006754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYb-7B81yHizeOyaEX-JYeavV-G9ptE2xG0aTCMurq0ndzrlEw1kaTKd-bTo00ssZFoEae-zOKovugX0qYNePzwlJeZfi2MmncIcyxrsB1m9R7OIbKy7FSnrOAcfWZj9eMHSbdpi4lf4/s400/DSCN5168.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had gone to Wayanad, Kerala for a holiday during the monsoons and stayed at a beautiful home-stay called <b><a href="http://tranquilresort.com/homestay.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Tranquil</span></a></b> nestled in a private coffee plantation. The lush green surroundings with meticulously maintained garden, the hospitality of the family, homemade jams & jellies, the friendly dogs and those chilly evening conversations with amazing company left us feeling completely warm and fuzzy inside.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157972557107442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY7WbhlZ2gdmpxge7W92oYdT95SgZfUiLy0WBBaQc59g0cmjzD9ZUIUdkD6i_cKDQjfZzQRsU7r_spl4hGTysZcJSGOXpmiaws0kqxfZ5KOctfxjg1jK9INRs9rMJMP6OzN5bYUktLKs/s400/DSCN5210.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div>What I wanted to share with all of you is the fantastic variety of flora & fauna <i>(eeks, sounds too technical;-)</i> and how the indoor and outdoor spaces blend so beautifully into each other.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499160612185048850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nvaxTw2E8eJptPzz0RHMMYhm96kVPC4I_JwP0x_j140AxvaUrOSGFYp7RAg6SB4Yje34oGuVlXZ8SEQsXVXYGOIEg0a9znkfSW6a4hZ2xYCriIrQs1BJZnITb-SD16ODVu9h2VS72Tw/s400/DSCN5122.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157999686254626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUt2gKd9TSZxEDn7CSS3z1_ewMyagD7t9zeo0KNC8cJ1TCertqUmIhoXTfhJW8U7phtUb1c84uFHWJXD-uRalyn7hutkKfPDUP5S3eWRojKDeytuWxjtnaGYJg4y8lgzXhBvvHPmMHQA/s400/DSCN5148.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Raindrops drenching the bright red petals...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157977885046834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQfVI5cdifOxfMXs2e3bjo5rlZuEupfuJ3qgV0jyhLy_x6kYClvXUEVevar6RWm-W782Wle3Yj1zd-l9SORK56WGB1GaCSXEpfaaRR7DIHJnEB4NNhmnZf1fIzFGEZIG7PGntAhgr90c/s400/DSCN5152.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">There was a gurgling stream inside the plantation!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157989553238914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEvtFiM1pYh4SI1lcfj6voDk9SM2HUpp_vKa0WrJyfb9MeBD7TlVLvPZRgo2XpJFerPwpYAgTXlJSiAV6VCz0mUhaQ8-BcvSAh0Iozq37Bk1vVfqDiurtpVbmY78J3jVRdjBgyqATViQ/s400/DSCN5160.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A treehouse where we spent hours reading...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157557602875474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlJneeke0YX-ZJMCYB3q-vTeaNT4U-ysiId20a8DKOQmZBD_JxNdlNiIkQ2uAZ8nCxmptcunOl5BaG9WWho9wuKakWumW-WtJOUBG6DqMOLAy_KWTYETi2A1cPiWZETPTa3Pj2nmDUUg/s400/DSCN5208.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Peperomia(?) Plant lovers, help me here:-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499156615198026242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3UkUwhzIl9lysyChz85_qNAJIOyzoAOmml-jCZpZCIeGg38f1h6zlSywxq0FWCePxXtH4r2kfx2R9O4AxddXUYgooQi4KKcSoJzc_8bTcwtrl7OTNpKCQZpya9aeoRA1jyorQ3Yss6c/s400/DSCN5202.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Flowers floating in traditional Kerala Urlis and stone mortar & pestle..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157560971580306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFKyzFwyJXijf-xHEB4FAdkdcVrz5SswEQn8AjIN4Psml07xYXyZcftGQZJ4eJIrdcoWBySKfOifu1joeayFbKH3W42lQ2FJsafp2r1fyUvbPHuPQsqgBXP2YRnevf6O9Z4VsItKnELc/s400/DSCN5209.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Floating cabbage varieties...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157545794004962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6s-Zh72-aXgCcSw2JbMoyhYQmLU0rQ-l4vdZ0x3eXSC-KzCX4KKVabw4DXeEk5OtVEwHcGAMz3RXvwe8kkbSjVoQ6C3K1fxyEjWAFbnqoNnDCdxcFz0LuqZ7AR7QM8nnK8pvKGW90qY/s400/DSCN5206.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Lovely stand with natural garden accessories... </span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499157538935852226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x0zMV_zSXkFL4bxHE8BqpgL5XS1LG1IyL-9RQeb72PtusQGbVJLwvHeYJDdZM-x4Q4uHsaP0zYQQxbyOWsbp2DoUyvGqQtEKM8EuDi4Ci-NIltDush6l6Zkmoqhu7x_xq5bbn22L9Zc/s400/DSCN5205.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left;">The open dining area surrounded by lush greenery.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499156604304702306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX_Egt_ejs8PvKk8KHyQX9UgyUT6QtEn1GSFbGwEB4s0XCIGjr_MtvOuRFd_dEaZ0Su2td_ytmoaiX1v2QEZW2Ko7plhJiMQ2XgjLm98yZIcwPs-zfd52PFWMIVwExgPyqyKS9hI-SdA/s400/DSCN5177.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left;">Table set for breakfast, with home-made preserves and jams:-)</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499156613194900098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh8bPK5ZS9rps7Dq7TJVEWyBfl_jCcXMqGU9yNECdauUbkCmcoenjAmybAoMA0Sng1Aajowr1kQmsfieSwynmdCMsPBDAKeVwNeR3eh0Tg5bQE8e-8GQ8axSG5mT_J6cWA2laymnt6j4/s400/DSCN5201.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499156620915852722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c5QLggrKYOUOJhM1U-N-qcAvoQihwBlXNagESgD0qqzHqIYTkjTNVDewH-w5nlbs7Ha7td3UO6OVLd2u4oBQklvPGpIP3HK__Cg-Jz2xZyqaOyp_X5TtxyBtegxFcKU5KbguKYlFMrU/s400/DSCN5203.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Plants curling themselves around pillars & pipes...</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499160620691742530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8DJDgnME8qT5KZEMpURrYoE8I31WwvbQ3l2tnoGtYs2GFTKuN1JB2nBxWRzdCWv7WCjaOEJhRHA5JHRAQpJ1VvuQpRlM839b_qTPNsrUa7SwWuNIHqdpMPql1sHhPREIACBNDjadEFE/s400/DSCN5144.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left;">Magical chimes on display...</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499160626832872898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RKFEinmY4zjMWA6qXy-Y36RWZPFKM1ajC7KY9RXuq8DY1qBjWZ6FYXDtDiuSEwM91Pq_yYCDPECON39H6rcao3blpDqLX3DOYEP9BBtW3rF_zbb9eFtPTJcwuvYEkgSgvqYPdHox6yc/s400/DSCN5145.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Anthoriums and other exotic plants line the outer wall...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sigh* Hope all of you liked this Monsoon getaway!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy the rains.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">( Images by Arch)</span></i></div>

Tranquil, Wayanad.

I was going through some old photographs from a few years ago and was hit by a huge wave of nostalgia. We had gone to Wayanad, Kerala for a ...

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