Yercaud- Crown of Shervaroys

It has been a long hiatus. A short vacation with family, cozy dinners and sweet gatherings- I have enjoyed the short break. A fun filled trip to the Crown of Shervaroys and I feel rejuvenated and reborn! Yercaud- a quaint, picturesque hill station with moderate climate and greenery abound. Though secretly my hot favorite for the trip was Kodaikanal, with all its rolling meadows and cold streams, i had to settle down for Yercaud, due to the milder winter climate that favored the husband. 

With the whole family converging at Salem, we took the drive to Yercaud anticipating hair pin bends and bad roads, as is the norm for every hill station in Tamil Nadu. Surprisingly, the drive of 45 minutes from Salem was smooth, roads well cared for and traffic much less as we climbed more. By the time we reached the sign board "Yercaud" came the hotel that i had ticked for lunch- GRT's Salem Heights. The non vegetarian buffet was great, with an ecstatic view of the mountains and the valley below forming a romantic backdrop. Round after round after round, i kept refilling my plate until husband dear had to caution me of my forgotten 'diet' and i hood winked him by my usual "only one more" dialogue!

Sky walk at GRT Salem Heights, Yercaud

The family at Sky Walk, Yercaud

The glass sky walk of GRT is a thrilling experience for the kids and those kids at heart like me...ahem..! Loitering around the place and ignoring the "when are you guys going to leave" looks from the restaurant staff, we managed to stroll, run, roll and jump all over the place. From there we went directly to the lake. The lake is definitely a dampener, not much like the Kodai lake or Ooty's lake, a smaller one with boats almost rubbing one another for want of space. We made a very intelligent decision of not taking pedal boats...i can still remember my brother's face when he said- " No pedal boats puleeezzz!" A hefty meal always does that to you. We went a small round around the small lake rowed by a boat man who looked all work and no fun.

Yercaud Lake

By the time we checked in at the Waterfall Cafe's Homestay near Kiliyur Falls, we were bone tired. Nestled on a hill top, over looking the valley below, the place is too picturesque to be true.We had booked all the rooms and it was kids and slugs running all over the place! A hearty dinner served by the homestay, we were ready for the bonfire. A small "Happy Get together" cake cut by my little nephew and the party rolled on. We laughed, taunted each other, smiled and laughed again...until the last embers died. 

View of brook and estate from the Waterfall Cafe's Homestay

Ajit Homestay- serene location

The next morning we were taken on a small trek- the whole family with kids to a private waterfall inside the resort, snaking through the coffee plantation and thick forest. The trek was awesome and so was the waterfall that we came across. The ice cold water and slippery rocks...it was all fun till i entered the pool. And hearing my shrieks, the whole place went still...God, such icy icy cold water! 

The private waterfall 

The trek back was lovely, exploring the property of nearby estate and running back, few beautiful clicks and cool breeze ruffling my hair. Luckily the Second Season's flower show was arranged that day at Anna Park and we decided to go visit the place. Nothing much to boast, but we were lucky enough to spot a live flowering Kurinji plant! 

Flower arrangement at Flower Show, Yercaud

Kurinji plant- the plant that blooms once in 12 years!

The decorations and floral arrangement were awesome and after a quick look, it was time for lunch at Hotel Shervaroys. Though crowded, we managed to dive into another non vegetarian buffet, much to the chagrin of husband dear! And was laughing my head off when daughter dear got pecked by a turkey in the hotel's garden!

And then we went quadbiking near the Grange resort. The charges are exorbitant, but the thrill is worth it. And as promised by homestay owner Mr Ajit, we went to a small herbarium and had a glimpse of lemon grass, peppermint plant and mountain tulsi. The family of Mr Ramesh Singh produce and sell a wide variety of natural oils and we bought lemon grass oil, citiodora oil and gulkand. 

Pepper mint shrub

Then started our adrenaline pumping drive at the back of Mr Ajit's jeep. Riding atop a jeep on hill section, standing and letting the wind whizz through your ears and blood drumming is a real thriller. And when we spotted herds of bison, we went giddy with happiness. The sunset view point inside a private estate was a beauty. Washed by the setting sun and surrounded by laughter of kids and family...what more can one ask for?

Bison

At the sunset point

The teak forest that is 20 kms away is a lovely forest untouched by civilisation and the calm surrounding the place is soothing. The drive back the next morning was peaceful and so were we, after a great family get together :)

Sex, sleaze and men at work...

I needed a very strong drug to wake me from the reverie. Almost two months without a post, a poor middle aged woman lost in her books and kids. And suddenly there is a bolt of lightning that strikes and here i bounce back from the dream of books and exams. Hearty thanks for bringing me back to the blogging platform Tarun Tejpal and Mr Justice.

It happens everyday in the life of a working woman. Whatever be the age, you are not exempted, ladies-as they infer, "women are like wine, they age beautifully". The sneers, the 'casual' groping, the lewd remarks, that " I am ready for sex anytime, are you ready, sweet heart?" synonymous body language and the 'plastered to the upper body all the time" looks- we do take everything in the stride and pass it with a smile. It is rather brushing off these advances that take much of the energy provided by the half cooked chappathis and fruit diet we take. Ah the bane of Indian working women!

Working in the largest public sector enterprise of our country makes people like me vulnerable to the sexually thirsty and greedy men ( again it is not a generalisation, there are quite a few "taking care of crybabies" type men too!) who arrive in train loads every other day in the offices. To most of the men ( again, please read most as few here, if you are a misogynist) women who sport a handbag and walk in to the offices for a decent living are ready to jump into the couch with any Tom, Dick ( yes, literally I mean the same) and Harry at their whims and  fancies. 

There was this supervisor of a goods terminal who always liked to piss ( obviously he loves to show off what little material he has got!) keeping the unisex washroom door wide open. And mind you, he always forgot to pull up the zipper till he got to your table. Flashing his 'property' to seemingly unassuming an innocuous ladies in the office definitely brought him the thrills. And how did i put up with it? Very simple, report to the higher ups- i still remember every word of my written complaint, got myself transferred and blocked his promotion for almost three years.

And there is this gentleman reservation clerk who always likes to grope and touch women around. Passing a pen to this gentleman would scrap off a few ounces off your fingers. Every time he crosses your chair, he makes it a point to grope somewhere on your back and mumble a 'sorry'. Another booking supervisor made it a point to pat our shoulders and say...you guessed it right-"My daughter...you resemble my daughter". The seemingly plain comment never enters the thick skulls of few fellow lady staff who keep bringing sambar and chutney to the tormentor...So you can pat, hug and squeeze your fellow staff and get sambar and chutney in return! One loud " Don't touch me" yelled at my highest pitch was what made him get yards away from me. And i am happy he remembers to maintain the ten yard away principle even after few years. Fellow got good memory ;)

There was this officer on a night inspection at a station who insisted in opening a closed ticket counter in the middle of the night to just 'peep' in who was working, knowing fully well who has signed the attendance and who was on duty. It took the booking clerk a full ten minutes to explain from behind the door that she is not opening the door at any cost at midnight, whoever be the officer. And there is this gentleman officer who loves to be in 'personal contact' with every 'willing' lady staff. My foot! Power and position...a powerful aphrodisiac that make men feel they can jump into bed with every women with a handbag, provided the 'right amount of pressure' is applied at the right time.

If this is the case with educated and loud mouth women like me, imagine the Class 4 workers, women who come as compassionate appointments. Widows targeted by hawks starting from Union people, welfare section staff, bosses above...the list is endless. Makes me sick. One lady was made to carry 50 concrete slabs to the farthest end of the platform just because she did not succumb to the P.Way Inspector. And she continues to suffer even today. And i am helpless...a bystander.

I wish the law grad brings Mr Justice to the books and Tarun Tejpal is made to understand "no one is above the law". More and more women are opening up and I find this change welcoming...only I wish, i had the resource to nail the offenders around me now... Thanks to the young journo and law graduate- ladies, you rock!!!