Wonderful bed, luxury, geat room, everything here is Indian heaven. I went for a great walk with a guide and some Indian folk, in the forest.The walk was cancelled yesterday apparently, due to elephants too close by!! Great views, and we saw a lovely waterfall, lovely views, and a giant squirrel ( the size you had to see.....I don't think they get bigger than this....the pic is not close but gives a general idea. ) Scenery is outstanding, mist stays most of the day on these mountains, ( so they are called the Blue Mountains ) and looks great. Fabulous trees here. A monkey just visited me on my balcony, which faces out into the forest, so bird songs abound. I will keep the screen doors shut to avoid mosquitoes and monkeys . Bliss looking out here with the constant sound of the water rushing down the mountain slope. Just got distracted by a big monkey climbing on the roof. After the walk, I had breakfast, and watched dosa making. Enjoyed lovely papaya ( the best so far) tree tomatoes ( liked them ) and passion fruit ( not as good as the African variety!! Monkeys are constant now, so have camera ready in case another one hops onto the balcony!! Everything is great. I go on a tour of the spice plantation this afternoon. Took pics of the flowers, and gasped at the tree of huge pink lilies, just hanging their in beauty and innocence!! I could stay a long time here!! I will definitely swim in the pool which is gorgeous. Wish I could stay longer!!
I had a massage. First prayers. Then two massagers. Tons of oil is the Indian way. A very different experience, ayurvedic, and I could appreciate the skill of the practitioners . It is not as painful as a Western massage. After prayers, you sit in a chair, and they pour oil on your head. The head massage is lengthy and lots of chopping etc....quite a different experience. I think it was beneficial. Afterwards I had a rest, then came up for the spice tour. The HR guy took me around as no-one else went. He showed me all the trees on site. Cinnamon tree with bay leaves. I will not get all the details right but found out that the lovely pink hanging lilies are actually poisonous!! I think they are the nightshade family. Great pic of jack fruit....enormous fruit, but he said it was small and young! Mangosteen tree was on the list, avocado tree, clove tree ( and I sampled the flavour from a green clove .) I have a pic of a clove tree. Clove oil has anti fungal. Cloves have antibiotic properties, to cleanse the mouth. I was surprised to notice green pepper hanging in bunches from a tree . the pepper is actually a creeper that grows around any tree. Pepper creeper is a parasite. I hadn't noticed it. Then there were pomelo trees, pretty enormous. ( helps with balancing cholesterol and obesity control )They also have medicinal properties as most of the common spices do. He pointed out the vanilla bean creeper. It grows around a tree. All these spices are harvested at the right time of year. I took pics of the amazing varieties of hibiscus flowers...quite spectacular. The yellow fruit, which has a round large seed, is a nutmeg seed. The flowers are whitish.I have a pic of the tumeric bush, with big green leaves. Afterwards we ended up in the tea shop. The chef made me a chai, and I have a pic of him pouring the chai from one receptacle to another to mix and cool it. The spice plantation is 12.5 acres here. We saw a rosewood tree, very old, and the second most valuable hardwood. There are sandalwood trees here near reception. This is the most valuable hardwood in the world. I saw the basil bush, which is quite big. It is wild basil. So the hotel, Karumba Village is situated right inside a spice plantation, with fabulous scenery. Supper was gourmet/great. There was a local music teacher who played guitar, and synthesizer. He sang Western carols etc. Very pleasant during the meal. The HR guy took it upon himself to have me sing!! It was announced....so the two of us did Jingle Bells...I taught the dance to two kids, and the dad joined in. Afterwards I met a lovely Indian couple with their lovely daughters. They were very friendly towards me. I chatted to the lady....they are from Chennai. She is a professor of physics, and is post doctoral, having written books etc. I have her email, and will try to get her in touch with Matthew, my son, who loves physics. She is coming to Toronto to do research.
I had a massage. First prayers. Then two massagers. Tons of oil is the Indian way. A very different experience, ayurvedic, and I could appreciate the skill of the practitioners . It is not as painful as a Western massage. After prayers, you sit in a chair, and they pour oil on your head. The head massage is lengthy and lots of chopping etc....quite a different experience. I think it was beneficial. Afterwards I had a rest, then came up for the spice tour. The HR guy took me around as no-one else went. He showed me all the trees on site. Cinnamon tree with bay leaves. I will not get all the details right but found out that the lovely pink hanging lilies are actually poisonous!! I think they are the nightshade family. Great pic of jack fruit....enormous fruit, but he said it was small and young! Mangosteen tree was on the list, avocado tree, clove tree ( and I sampled the flavour from a green clove .) I have a pic of a clove tree. Clove oil has anti fungal. Cloves have antibiotic properties, to cleanse the mouth. I was surprised to notice green pepper hanging in bunches from a tree . the pepper is actually a creeper that grows around any tree. Pepper creeper is a parasite. I hadn't noticed it. Then there were pomelo trees, pretty enormous. ( helps with balancing cholesterol and obesity control )They also have medicinal properties as most of the common spices do. He pointed out the vanilla bean creeper. It grows around a tree. All these spices are harvested at the right time of year. I took pics of the amazing varieties of hibiscus flowers...quite spectacular. The yellow fruit, which has a round large seed, is a nutmeg seed. The flowers are whitish.I have a pic of the tumeric bush, with big green leaves. Afterwards we ended up in the tea shop. The chef made me a chai, and I have a pic of him pouring the chai from one receptacle to another to mix and cool it. The spice plantation is 12.5 acres here. We saw a rosewood tree, very old, and the second most valuable hardwood. There are sandalwood trees here near reception. This is the most valuable hardwood in the world. I saw the basil bush, which is quite big. It is wild basil. So the hotel, Karumba Village is situated right inside a spice plantation, with fabulous scenery. Supper was gourmet/great. There was a local music teacher who played guitar, and synthesizer. He sang Western carols etc. Very pleasant during the meal. The HR guy took it upon himself to have me sing!! It was announced....so the two of us did Jingle Bells...I taught the dance to two kids, and the dad joined in. Afterwards I met a lovely Indian couple with their lovely daughters. They were very friendly towards me. I chatted to the lady....they are from Chennai. She is a professor of physics, and is post doctoral, having written books etc. I have her email, and will try to get her in touch with Matthew, my son, who loves physics. She is coming to Toronto to do research.
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