A direct bus from Bangalore had taken me to Wayanad through the beautiful forest of Bandipur , and by the changing green from the traffic capital of India , I knew , Wayanad will be more than what is expected. Situated in the north east frontier of Kerala , the region of Wayanad , stays elusive yet. The end of the great biodiversity of Western Ghats , meets the civilization here. Of all districts in Kerala , Wayanad has the lowest population , which means more place for nature, and that is surely visible as you hop down from your vehicle here. Weekend destination for BANGALORE and Cochin people , Wayanad is generally more calm and easy in weekdays, and being a jobless vagabond, I chose that for my first trip here. Nestled among the hills and hillocks , the great greens of Wayanad is feast for eyes looking for nature. As I made my journey here in monsoon , the green was more lush and the weather pleasant enough for me. Of course, the rain kept coming through out my endeavor , but then it was just water falling, so did not bother much. Wayanad region is made of small and big villages connected by its pretty road. The administrative head quarter is Kalapetta , and most buses drops or picks you up from there. A lot of hotels and homestays finds it place here , however , I chose my stay in a local neighborhood far from Kalpetta. Transportation is easy, with Auto rickshaws and buses plying , but walking the beautiful roads also help to experience Wayanad at its truest form. Getting a local homestay is better , as you get traditional food of the region and they help you to guide through for the most amazing spots of the region. Staying in a local neighborhood meant experiencing their lives first hand. Wayanad famous for its fertile soil has a lot of farming all around. From Bananas to betel nuts , this farms stretch wide and far covering most of the landscapes. It is one of an experience to walk through them , as backgrounds are covered by pretty hills that surround them. Chembra peak , which is the highest in this region looms large at distance , and made up for a constant companion when I walked around. Trekking to the top is possible if not for monsoon season. I being mostly trekking and hiking mountains for work did not opt for that , though most travelers who have done it, recommends highly of it, Travel is a personal choice , so I leave this on your perspective best to choose. However , do not miss the farm tours around. Just go in them and meet the smiling farmers and natives working here, My only warning , going around the fields, beware of snakes a little. Wear shoes always. Banasura Sagar or the largest earth dam and reservoir was a good place to escape too. It is the biggest source of water and sustaible project being made out of earth and mud. It reminded me of the capability of the human minds. If it feels to procreate sustainable energy , surely that is possible. The people of Wayanad live and coexist with nature a lot. Every house is filled among dense green, and own plantations. Calm and peaceful way of living can be seen around , the elusiveness is also catered as it is not a hot destination as Munnar. For next stop, I had chosen Edekkal caves , an ancient cave, where pre historic graphics and murals, made by our ancestors are found. To be honest, my heart , which was in search of a relaxed vacation in nature , was more happy to climb the hill and see the view from top , than the caves itself. The most important of all plantations here, is the Coffee! The abundance of coffee plantation here, makes coffee as cheap as 10 INR, in every other shop, around the corner. Even the best souvenir to take back has to be the coffee powder. The homestay I stayed with, had their own plantation and I made sure to buy cheap powder from them , for the rest of my journey. All in all , Wayanad will be highly recommended by me , for its natural and less crowded beauty. My super tips will be to visit in monsoon , when the whole world thinks Kerala is always flooded. Wayanad being on top of hills , is mostly safe of flooding, even though high rainfall is always there. And if you are more like me who enjoys just going around and observing things, rather than tick marking off the places in To-Do list , then definitely walk around the beautiful roads of Wayanad. Hop on any local bus , and drop at any point or part of road , you seem to find beautiful. Walk along with it. You can always use Google map to find your next destination or get a bus when you feel like it. But those roads of Wayanad , are the things I miss most from my trip. So if you are planning a Wayanad trip, let me know for advices. Also if you have been to Wayanad times and more , leave down your best memory from there. I am surely going to go back there and hopefully , might take up your recommendations. Happy traveling !!
Monsoon is the time of fresh start and rejuvenation, of lush green and game of clouds. And August - September marks the same season. The cotton candy clouds change into white monsters that fill up the whole sky and covers every space mostly. The villages are all green with dense vegetation all around and trees bear greener leaves with no patch of dust anywhere. It is therefore, in this months of August and September that many a traveler comes to see the Valley in whole different light. It is a wrong notion that hiking isn't possible in monsoon. In Parvati valley , the trails might be muddy but they are beautiful none the less. The greener landscape makes up for forest walk a soothing experience. The clouds play hide and seek with the forest, as you can see in the above picture. This forest also known as fairy forest looks like a whole different dimension due to the monsoon clouds. Himalayan trails do not have leeches , which is a perfect excuse to hike through the clouds and forest here. Dust which is generally abundant settles down in monsoon , which clean air and clear views. Homes look wonderful and the backgrounds make up for a ethereal setting. It does not rain through out the day , contrary to mass belief. In Parvati valley generally showers are heavy and spans for couple of hours , then the clouds just hold up settled in the mountain slopes. It gives us ample time to sit outside , play your music and enjoy this nature which can be only found in this valley. And if it rains at all , even sitting inside our hostel or homestay , sipping in coffee makes up for a good experience. The monsoon means birth , and with the flowers , August September marks the season of apples and pears. It can be found everywhere , in every field and corner. While a lot of our time goes in picking apples from the orchards , you are spoil for choices as you try to pick the most delicious one. The fresh food makes up for our breakfast and snacks, and truly this is the secret of such a healthy body and mind, of people, who live in the valley. Some of the most beautiful landscapes can easily be found in Parvati valley , the monsoon and its magic adds up to something more magical scenarios. The veil of clouds with fresh farm and dense forest makes up for views you can just sit and watch throughout the day. Since pollution is less , only clouds form the landscape veil, not smog or fog! With time to time , the sky also clears up, and some beautiful lights fall on the far off mountain ranges , giving us joy and a colorful evenings.
Hence, August September marks a good time to avoid the rush and see some magical landscapes of the valley , and it does not only mean monsoon and heavy rains, it means mixture of everything that is beautiful and paradise like. A small weekend trip in August September here in Parvati valley will ensure you see all this with your eyes. Let me know if you are planning, so that I can guide you to see all the views in the pictures I clicked. Hope to see you soon in the valley. I am considering that if you are reading this , you are either fresh out of school or going through college and have a dream to see the farthest corners of the world. Your friends partying in same old pubs and smoking parlors doesn't make much sense to you , and you find happiness in discovering a old heritage eatery , rather than going for shopping. If this description almost suits you , but you have not much idea how to begin the process of living your dream life , this post is definitely for you. Here I have synthesized a list of seven super cool professions , that is most suited for students who want to travel the world and beat the conventional work options. Mind it , this professions are only for those who find content in uncertain adventures and want to live a life beyond the comfort zone. Also , all of the following professions are more practical in outlook than theoretical , so you need a lot of passion to shine in the field. Moreover . being very unconventional choices this industries are less competitive and not yet saturated like Engineering or Medicines. So if you are just ending your school and not sure about what you might just want to do or study in college , this list is going to help you. And for those who are already in college , I urge you , its always best to change the road NOW than to regret far later. So if your current college course doesn't make any sense , change and take up any of the profession listed below for a life where you get to travel a LOT and for FREE , WHILE EARNING MONEY ! Lastly , I have compiled a basic brief on every profession and how is it like to be in that field. For detailed information about which college to apply for, or how to go about the procedure , you can always message me and my consultations are free as long as you treat me with a Ice cream when we meet. 1 . CHEF One of the most glamorous profession of our times , a good Chef is in demand throughout the world , always. Work load is high in the fresher years as you learn the tricks of the trade , but as some time passes , not only you get to taste the luxury of the hospitality industry , but also you can leverage your professional skill for a work in any part of the world. You can do a part time chef course ( Diploma ) from any hospitality university or hotel management school , or better go for a full time degree. A lot of good chefs after two years in the industry, get a chance to go on cruises over the Atlantic or Pacific, visiting countries and destinations that you dream of. So if cooking comes natural to you , I recommend you this! 2. Cinematography / Video-graph er & Editing. All the travel documentaries or adventure movies that we see , depends on the team of amazing videographers and cinematographers that work in it. Needless to say , that had to go to those wild and extreme places to get those shots. Hence , this is a very useful profession to get yourself a degree or diploma in. A lot of good media schools are coming up where you will find the best options to start your mark, on this one. Editing skills on computer is a hard skill to learn , however , now a days , its compulsory for a videographer to learn the basics of it. With a good camera knowledge and editing skill you can leverage your skill to get free stays while you travel at most of exquisite and expensive destinations easily. 3 . TOUR GUIDE This is the profession , I can vouch and tell most about , since this is what I do. A tour guide is not only a random local guy who takes you around a monument, but someone who shapes a whole vacation and tour experience for people. A Good Tour Guide is always in demand by Travel and Tour companies for rendering the best services to their clients. To put it in words , a tour guide is paid to Travel ! What more could you ask for. The initial days are hard with work on and off , but as your services get popular , you are even invited to work in different countries for premier high class clients. All of this is a reality since , I am living it. To start a career in tour guide , get yourself a course in travel and tourism college. A degree with good human communication and interpersonal skills is required if you want to make a name for yourself. 4. BARTENDER Another hot profession from the hospitality industry , bar tending jobs are one of the coolest in the world. Not only are you, the heart of the grand parties , but every one wants to be your friend obviously. You seem to have magic in your hands and you are paid well to have a great time. Same as Chefs , you can work in luxury cruises or big party destinations such as Thailand , Bali , Ibiza or summer party festivals all over the world. Alcohols are free , music is free , entry to best festivals are free and over it you get paid for it ! Sounds alluring ? there is a variety of bar tending school throughout to get yourself a degree and a diploma to start your journey! 5. NATURALIST A naturalist is someone who is an expert tour guide only for specific regions with vast amount of knowledge in its field. Naturalist mostly work for expedition companies or wildlife sighting tours. A naturalist might be expert on Tigers and work for big luxury jungle resorts or they can also be expert on Arctic weather and work for cruises that ply to Antarctica. Naturalist is the hardest of all the profession mentioned here. There is no direct course to become a naturalist, but ways to become one. You need to be an expert in geology or oceanology , or an expert on wildlife by studying zoology or attaining a research. Once you are an expert you are open to submit your knowledge to find a work in expeditions. Best suited for people who would love to work with animals and wildlife, or extreme earth conditions such as polar regions or dense forests of Amazon or African wilds. Though it is hardest to build a profession as, yet , they are the most likely to work as direct employees for big companies such as Discovery and National Geographic. 6. PHOTOGRAPHER One of the most saturated profession in the modern times, photography has its own glamour and high demand in every business and life styles. Even though saturation is high , work options are always in demand. Getting a degree or diploma in photography will help you an easy access to media industry. There are so many different choices of field in photography itself which you can master and make a name for yourself. If you are keen on travel and documenting or journalism , you must master street photography. If you like glamour , you can become a fashion and wedding photographer. If adventure is your call , landscape and wildlife is your niche to go to. Whatever field you choose , travel comes alongside with it all. A lot of you might be good with camera and call yourself an amateur photographer, but to work full time and make a brand for yourself a degree in this field is essential if not mandatory. A good photography school will not only help you with knowledge and technicality , but being mentored by right successful photographers help in networking and giving you a head start in this competitive profession. So try out for a photography school or media university to start on this. 7. Adventure Professional
This is again where I started my journey with after college. I had no idea about it 8 years back when I started, since this was just coming up. Today Adventure industry constitutes a major part of the booming travel and tourism sector, and has the most potential future growth. Having a adventure industry experience for me means , I will never go out of jobs since there are very less competition in it. So if extreme adventure is your calling , then becoming an adventure professional will be your blessing. Adventure professionals can be categorized in three fields , air , water , and land. Air adventures consists of knowledge and courses on sky diving , para sailing or para gliding. Water adventures consist of snorkeling , rafting or scuba or other water sports., Land adventures consist of mountaineering , trekking and hiking. You have different adventure schools from where you need to get yourself a degree , since adventure is a high risk industry, most big adventure brands is likely to prefer candidates with a solid degree and proof of know how , in the field they are applying for. I can definitely guide you if any of you are highly interested in making a life outdoors. The perks of this profession is amazing lifestyle , a home in exotic places of the world and making a huge amount of fan and followers through your work. So if you have an inclination and want to start on this path or any of the above and need practical guidance and advice, don't hesitate to message me! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lastly , when I was young and just out of school and through college , I rarely had anyone to know about this options and choices. Fortunately I always paid heed to my instincts and heart, and with my passion and hard work, I am a successful travel professional today. It is our duty to help any one of you , who might be going through same stress and anxiety of finding a right next step. Life is an amazing thing and it gets better like wine as you grow older , and your adventure starts today , so push off those stress from less marks and entrance exams , there is a whole world of Travel waiting for you , and you can make a living out of it ! I am mostly available on my Instagram or Facebook to any of you who would require a help to start a profession from one of above. Of all seasons , that come and go , winter remains closest to the heart. It is so cold in nature, and may be, that is why I feel so warm in it. Paradoxical ain't it ?? Well let me explain.... From a Himalayan dwellers point of view. Winter in Himalayas means the season of forced vacation in Mountains. The mountain towns and villages change into bitter cold kingdoms , where survival can be challenging. But thanks to God , the people though facing that challenge get to spend a good time with their families. What happens is , the people know that during winter all work and daily life comes to a halt , hence , for the past months they keep gathering livestock , fuel and all that is necessary to spend the the long winters. When it finally arrives , schools are shut down , markets closed , all people dwelling around with their day to day jobs come back home for 60 - 90 days of hard winter. So if you are a Himalayan local you would end up in your cute home amidst snow and chill , warming and getting utmost love and care from your family. You have no work to do basically other than loving your closest ones and chat around may be with the neighbour and friends. So if you are a Himalayan local you would end up in your cute home amidst snow and chill , warming and getting utmost love and care from your family. You have no work to do basically other than loving your closest ones and chat around may be with the neighbour and friends. This is why the Himalayan people are so warm and welcoming for they are every year loved and cared for infinitely from their families. The winter is a blessing which keeps the family close and love replenished year after year. It would be great if we faced such harsh winter everywhere , for that cold is needed for the warmth of love. Don't you think so ??? Winter is most probably the most beautiful season to behold , and I repeat it , more beautiful that spring, at least to me. Mountains turn white with snow , trees turn yellow and orange. Winter has it's own Hue and colours. The barren branches give a eerie feeling but it has it's own pretty scenes lurking through what is left in harsh winter. It is also a matter , that only those who are truly able to withstand the cold and uncomfort, are the only ones who are able to witness it. So in a way, winter chooses it's own appreciators and devotees. Winter means the season of snowfall and every year , it touches the lives of millions experiencing their life's first snowfall. If you have not witnessed snowfall you won't understand or value what it means, just reading this or watching a picture. I shall pray this winter you do Experience it and not give away the chance. Even for people who have seen it times and again such as me , still there is a freshness and something different with every snowfall that comes. For a adventurer , the moment of snowfall is like the birth of a new soul , an accomplishment of life and a celebration of our existence. The magic is unsubstituted by any other natural Experience one can have and definitely is the best of Winter season. Winter is the true season of adventure. I have been an ardent fan and lover of winter. For winter means a deep logic to me and my existence. In a lot of poems , winter with its dried and shedding of leaves , has been enacted or imaged as death. And that is exactly why , it is so beautiful. Death is after all nothing but the the necessity to be reborn. And as death , winter takes away with it all that is sad , broken or grieving , gifting a new opportunity to nature to build it all over once again with something better. And so it does to everyone. It gives the hope to wash away all that could not be for a season, and gives opportunity to try again and start fresh. When we celebrate new year , no matter how bad the year went , we are filled with new hope , courage and faith. It isn't just a coincidence that the new year and winter come together , is it ?? So as the winter for this year has started, I hope you take this time in replenishing yourself like nature. Take a journey , take a Adventure, and let the white season take away all the pain of the dreaded past few months. JOIN A WINTER TOUR & TREK RUNNING ALL THROUGH DECEMBER TO APRIL TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF WINTER IN HIMALAYAS. |
Note from the Author,
" Travel made me rich and free. Magic and miracles are true , once you wander on the roads to places different and divine. I have collected so many thoughts and stories while being a Tour & Trek guide for last seven years. Sharing with you all, those memories and stories , and wishing you all , that someday you guys travel far and wide too. I am not a great writer , so ignore my grammar and spellings, read it with feelings, and you might just be affected with the wanderlust to hit the road"
- Deep .
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