Munnar mountains and Thekkaddy park are 230 km from us.  Its need for us 7(!) hours to get there.
The road is good quality but like ribbon strip – curving and narrow.
Its not plain terrain. Big mountains ahead.
We are passing givea groves, pineapple fields. Then tea plantations appears.
We bought pineapples just 25 rs per one, 3 for 1 euro.

Late afternoon we are near our hotel Meadow View Inn.
This street is the deadend before the lake in national park. This park has 42 tigers. But even local guide saw tiger only 3 times in his life.
Our inn stay near the swamp.150 m aside the road. Swamp is full of life – buffaloes, birds. In the morning dears come and sometime elephants. Tigers – no. Never.

This place is very touristic. Dozens of shops, hotels, homestays ext.

We are not allowed go into the park without guide.  All trekking are fully booked for tomorrow. The level of water in the lake is high and it will be no animals on its  bank. So, the last option is to take jeep safari .  No choose. 35usd pp with some meal . From 5-15am till 5pm.
Arriving to the room, my brother found monkey, who explore staff from his backpack. Monkey escaped into the window.

We took a dinner in Bamboo cafe. Excellent and not expensive food.

Then, follow the road, i found strange and beautiful sculptures. They made during last 70-50 years by local tribes. Technology for me is not clear, but its sounds like making from bronze wire empty sculpture, then filling it with sand and mud and placing into the fire. Sculptures are strange, look like an African. And heavy. Beautiful ones!

We returned to our inn. Its dark. Sounds from the swamp. Temperature drops. Some mosquitoes in room.
At night i waked up because of big noise – group of deer’s  tried to find food near the hotel.

Thekkaddy not so interesting place as i thought.

Our next destination is Cure Monastery after Munnar. Its140 km and we are 8(!) hours in the car. Again narrow road, curves, curves and dangerous situations every 5 minutes. No bicycles by the way. They will be corps in seconds here.

The hills near Munnar covered with tea plantation. I think near Anaiya…. Reservoir its the most beautiful place. Plantations like patchwork or strips cover the mountains. They are emerald green, with big trees. And blue water.  There are small hotels by the way with good view. But i think their quality is low.
All this hills are private territories. They belong to India and English companies. No trespassing. No walks.

Now we are  in Munnar. Its a busy city. Have everything you need. After two hours we approach to monastery. In Maroyoon village there is a sandal forest. There are only 2 such a forests in India. Every sandal tree has a number. Our guide dream about only one tree. It can give him real fortune.

1 gram of sandal oil is 5 usd. Sold only in eco shops. Govermental. And give the recite.

We are live in Carmelites monastery. Its quite place with its own pond, gooses, goats and school. Here are only 5 monks with Father Vinnie ahead.
And children from everywhere in big monastery school.

Monastery provide food, all kind of treatments, all kind of massages, small trekking, excursions ext. Its possible to swim in the pond and fishing there. My brother tried and catch two small ones.

Its little bit cold in the morning and at night time. Temperature is very comfortable during the day.

First i tried to make my trips during next days and include shiradara and full body ayuverdic massage.

In monastery work two local guys Manu and Alby. They do all work – prepare food, make massage, accompany us in mountains.

Food here can be pure vegetarian or not. Our food is mix.

My mornings starts from monastery song in dark. Then tops of the mountains around became pink. The day is coming.

During next 4 days we explore mountains around, including Chinnar reserve and Top Station. We didn’t see an elephant or tiger. Just buffalo, deers, two types of monkeys and different birds.

We visited waterfalls around and nearby village.

As i understand, its not allowed make trips to any forest or mountain  without government permission. We tried to get into mountain tribal village but were stopped by the way on check point. Everywhere need permission.
May be its good, because forests here full of different valuable kinds of trees. If they will not be protected they will be destroyed very quickly.

One evening we have a birthday party and monastery invited locals with drums. We had mountain dancing near the fire.

And its also strange place gust near monastery. Its a dolmen park with prehistorically stone tombs.
Its situated on the huge black rock with view to hole valley and mountain range. The best views for pink mornings and pink evenings are there.

We moved around with car and then walked.

Four days gone away.
Time go to Kochin.

Its 175 kmfrom Monastery and we did it during 7(!) hours.
Kochin is dirty, noisy city. Impossible after mountains.