A walk in nature walks the soul back home.
Miles of farmland. Rain-drenched paths. Bucolic setting. Fresh food. And, a beautifully designed house to stay in. These are the kind of getaways that best nourish your soul.
When you add to that the gentle warmth of the hosts of this charming place, called Rustling Bamboo Cottage, it makes for a truly memorable stay.
Someone from the host family (the Sunaads) stops by every few days, making it feel more like a home than a hotel. Twilight brings conversations in the gazebo - with the changing hues of sun and the distant call of the peacock adding to the natural allure. Aishwarya's keen observations of village life, and her many efforts to change things for the better, spark that light in me to continue being a part of this humbling community.
Geeta Sunaad, the artist behind the house with high ceilings, huge picture windows, and sunlit, alfresco bathrooms shares her stories of Coorg with us, along with home-cooked meals and family favourites, that we've relished to the last bite. Even the tea seemed to take a magical palate lit with the warmth of these shared stories. Chicken cooked the Coorgi style with whole pepper from the farms is my favourite, while my husband loves the creamy (malai) chicken korma with balanced flavours of Kasuri methi.
Monsoon showers and cool breezes inspire us to go on long walks ... through fields of sunflowers, marigolds, bananas, and sugarcane among the ones we make out. There's enough to see within an hour's drive here - historical Mysore city, Bandipur Safari, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, and even the lesser-known Nugu Backwaters (dam) that feel almost an inlanders seabeach.
On the property live Anita and Venkatesh. They have three children, two dogs, three goats, and other pets at times. It all makes for a lively stay with something or the other happening all the time - a refreshing change from seeking drama on Netflix. Aishwarya is trying to start a Permaculture farm in the adjoining land, it is startling how activities relating to farming feel so different and real in person. The map is certainly different from the territory!
On our last night at the farm, Sunaad Raghuram visits us. We are a bit apprehensive as he's a famous author and journalist, but from a warm and informal hello, we know we have found a kindred spirit. He regales us with myriad a tale from his time in the wild and growing up in Mysore, and we realize that more than his illustrious career it is his command over chronicling of the times that stands him apart.
We leave the stay refreshed, with farm fruits and vegetables and have made some wonderful new friends and anecdotes and stories that linger long past.
Driving Through Mysore
Though we've crossed Channapatna on most trips to Coorg, somehow these shops flash by like a commercial outlet. This was the first time I stopped and sketched and explored and gained some funny experiences along the way.
"The origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in the making of wooden toys." Says Wikipedia
