Hiking in Kerala

We did quite a bit of hiking (or trekking as the locals call it) while we were in Kerala.  The only thing you have to watch out for is leeches.  Crazy but true.  I thought leeches were only in water!?  Shows what I know!  In fact, at our first breakfast, while chatting with the owners about what we were planning to do that day, we mentioned going on a hike - In the blink of an eye, one of the servers was back at our table with a little bag of salt to carry with us.  (In case one of the little blood suckers latches on to 'ya - You put the salt on them and they shrivel up and die like the Wicked Witch of the West!)  Matt actually had one attach to him through his SOCK!!!  EWWWWWWW!!!  If that had happened to me or any of the rest of Our Crew - I have a feeling that might have been the end of our trekking but Matt being the brave Marine Corps. Man - He did not shudder at the sight of the little slimy guy and took care of him post haste!!

   Looking at the map and bird watching guide and then...

Off we GOOOOO!!!

I kept watching for Diego to come swooping down on a zip line with Baby Jaguar by his side! ;0)  Haha!

(Please tell me you've all watched Dora and Diego at least ONE time in your life?!)

Coffee Plants Everywhere!

The Rainforest

Little Boys + Sticks + Anthill the Size of Texas = GREAT FUN!

Erica lost in her thoughts.

Rachel has the bird watching guide in hand & was great at spotting the wildlife in the jungle.

I was not able to capture the birds that we were seeing with my cell phone.  Bummer!  I remember once telling my parents that "Bird watching is for old people."  So I guess I have officially fallen into the "old" category because we had such a grand time spotting so many exotic pretty little tweeters!  In case you too fall into the "old" category and want to look up some of the birds we saw.  Here is a list of the names of them and YES we saw every last one of them!  So amazing!

1.  Greater Rocket Tailed Drongo - Girl looks like she's got extensions in her weave!

2.  Indian Roller - She's an uptown girl.  A true high-roller!  You can't buy color like that!  Baby, she was "Born with it!"

3.  Scarlet Minivet - Oh Scarlet!  "Great balls of fire.  Don't bother me anymore and don't call me sugar!"

4.  Plum Headed Parakeet - We saw this one right out our bedroom window!  Gorgeous!

5.  Orange Headed Thrush - Orange is the new Blue! 

6.  Common Hoopoe - Anything BUT common!

7.  Red Whiskered BulBul -  Maybe the new spokesman for Red Bull!?  Afterall, Red Bull gives you wings!

8.  White Throated Kingfisher - Check out the shnoz on this fella!

9.  Common Flameback Woodpecker - Tap, Tap, Tap.  STOP THAT TAPPING!  I MEAN IT!

10.  Oriental Magpie Robin - Rock It, Robin!  Cuz all the little birdies love to hear you go, "Tweet. Tweet. Tweet!"

11.  Eurasian Golden Oriole - It was like a little flash of sunshine when you would see one of these soar through the jungle.  So pretty - The yellow streak of color making a line through the sky.

12.  Purple Dunbird - The jungle birdie bullies sometimes call her the purple DUNGbird but not a word of it true, Sister.  You're fabuloso!

13. Asian Paradise Fly Catcher - Most of the feathered flock would DIE for plumes like this gal.  She's like the JLo of the jungle.  Gorgeous hair and junk in the trunk!

14.  Chestnut Headed Bee Eater - Watch out for the stingers there Girl!  You ain't gonna look right wiff your throat all swelled up.  Hard to sing that way too!! 

Mikey with his walking stick for "Safety" as Cladius would say.  Apparently, it's a good idea to carry a stick or some sort of pain inflicting object in case you need to beat back the monkeys or other out of control jungle mammals.

The View (not the obnoxious one as seen on TV)

Rest time before heading back to the Tree Villa.

Rachel leading whoever would like to join

in on some

post-walk Yoga!

Laundry in the sink.  Which I later found out was completely unnecessary as they had laundry services at the Villa.

Better to be safe then to be wearing

sketchy skivvies, I always say!

The kids got pretty tired on our morning walk but there was so much more that we wanted to explore so we called on Cladius to go and hang with the kids poolside while Matt and I headed off on a trek by ourselves.

Photo courtesy of Mikey.  Tree Villa in background.  Daddy & Mommy off for a little "Date Day" trek!? 

We decided to try out their hike called, Braveheart.  I thought the name was a bit daunting and wondered if it was only for the Brave of Heart!?  Come to find out - I think it was actually because there was this HUGE rock formation that resembled a heart.

The Heart Shaped Rock

I also found a heart shaped leaf!

Praying no leeches latch on me as I pose for this picture!

Shadow, the dog, was our "shadow" the whole way up the mountain and back.  Here is trying to eat Matt's walking stick!

Some tall, tall trees in the rainforest.

(Which makes me think of a song!  I mentioned before my life is like a musical!)

"I'll buy you tall, tall trees and all the water in the seas.  I'm a fool, fool, fool for you! - Alan Jackson

Break time.  We're about 1/2 way there!

 

 

Spectacular view along the way.

Look at Shadow at the base of the rock!  He's still with us and that's one GINORMOUS rock!

Top of the Braveheart Trail.  WOW!

We had made our way about half way back down when the incoming clouds opened up and BAM!  It was POURING rain!  It actually was a nice way to end the day.  Cooled us off and when we got back to the tree villa we showered up and got ready for dinner.  (You have to keep yourself busy during the day in order to indulge in all of the amazing food and drinks at night!)