William Wordsworth’s heart
would have leapt up at the sight that lay before us. Maggie and I had decided
to brave the pandemic and move out a bit. Staying at home day after day for
months on end can be quite maddening even if you have half a dozen pets.
But we didn’t want to risk too much. So went to a place that is about half an
hour’s drive from home.
Areekal is a
rural landscape less than 40 km from Kochi. [And about half of that from our
home.] Maggie and I drove through rubber plantations mostly. Narrow roads
snaked through the somnolent and rugged terrain. The drive itself was heady.
The waterfall
at our destination was headier. “These waters, rolling from their
mountain-springs / With a soft inland murmur…” Wordsworth came to mind. He
would have loved the secluded place. But for a couple of small shops, one of
which is a toddy shop, there were no buildings nearby. Rubber trees swayed all
around gently in the cool breeze. Kerala is usually not so cool. But yesterday
was rainy and the rains kept us cool.
You descend
stone steps to reach the waterfall. You can listen to the soothing murmur of
the waterfall as you walk down the steps leaving the dreariness of the endless pandemic
behind.
There isn’t too much space around. It’s not a tourist place in the traditional sense of the term. It is a withdrawn “dwelling place of sweet sounds and harmonies” [Wordsworth again]. Of healing thoughts and tender joys.
There was a family
at the foot of the waterfall: father, mother and a 3-year-old child. The little
boy wanted to enter the waters. The father led him by hand. The boy walked
through the plunge pool, assisted by his father, and stood at its edge, at a
little distance from the waterfall. The spray from the fall delighted him. His
father let him play in the shallow plunge pool. He lay down in the water,
splashing it, laughing merrily, experiencing an ecstasy. His mother stood at
the brink of the pool watching every motion of the child with intense concern.
I wished I
could be like that boy. Absolute abandonment of the ego and sheer delight in
nature. What it means to be childlike, I understood instantly. Its delight
without any barrier between you and beauty. You and ecstasy, rather. I could
only experience the longing for that. The child in me had died long, long ago.
PS. This blog is participating in The Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa2021 campaign.
Just the kind of place to go to after all the 'staying at home' we've been doing.
ReplyDeleteWe spent some quiet countryside-time just before schools reopened a few weeks ago. And it was very refreshing! :)
The countryside is always far better especially in pandemic times. This place is really coooool.
DeleteQuite a nice way to remember Wordsworth
ReplyDeleteWordsworth forced himself on me, rather than I remembered him. 😊
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteI delight in your delight... and one does not need to have the child within to drop the ego. Indeed, that is the spiritual challenge! YAM xx
That should be right. Perhaps there are some people who can't let go the baggage of ego? Reasons could be many. But that's the challenge, as you say.
DeleteSuch a beautiful place it is .. loved reading the post..nice pics
ReplyDeleteLiked the way you have narrated your experience with this stunning beauty. Yes kids are carefree and enjoy nature without any barriers.
ReplyDeleteBeing at the serene place and thinking of Wordsworth, your narration style is very captivating. There is no age where child inside us cannot be rekindled, it just needs the right atmosphere and you had one, next time when you visit break your inhibitions and go with the flow of the childlike thoughts.
ReplyDeleteA place like this that too half and hour drive's away. It's a dream for me. It really feels good to move out of the house for sometime. I wish I could see this place too.
ReplyDeleteYou said it right that our childhood has died aomewhere in the mist of living up with the trends and society.
ReplyDeleteI liked your way of writing. This place looks so beautiful, I wish we also had such a beauty near to our place. We have to travel at least 4-5 hrs to find such a place.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to get back that child in you! We are always young. This looks like a fab place to travel. I miss my travels. #MyepicaReads
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a lovely place. You are right, as we grow older, we are expected to behave the way society considers right. But we should not let our inner child die.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to begin this post. And yes, I too sometimes that I could let go of ego and be myself in public.
ReplyDeleteThe world forces masks on us!
DeleteLoved the way u have described the place. would like to visit the place someday
ReplyDeleteSeems like a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful place and would love to visit it some day.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to keep the child in us alive. But, waterfall, I think has the potential to at least awaken the child in us for some time. The rhythmic splashing water can have that strange affect.
ReplyDeleteWhatever little of the child was left after the world had taken its toll, the pandemic ate into that!
DeleteVery nice way to summarise the experience, also, we are fooling ourselves being busy with work and other activities while conveniently ignoring the child in us.. hope we wake this forgotten part and enjoy like the kid from the waterfall
ReplyDeleteVery nice way to summarise the experience, also, we are fooling ourselves being busy with work and other activities while conveniently ignoring the child in us.. hope we wake this forgotten part and enjoy like the kid from the waterfall
ReplyDeleteThe way you described I wanted to get into the water fall too.Its truly a magical phase of life.Being a child .
ReplyDeleteI could almost visualise the father and the son. I hope you dipped your feet in the water at least. Never let the child in you go away!
ReplyDeleteLocks like an amazing waterfall. Those steps look steep somehow. I like the way you randomly quoted Wordsworth. He was known for his imagery.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to pack up my bags and go!
ReplyDeleteInfact, exploring places closeby, hidden spots have kept us afloat during the lockdown. I find it so refreshing to just drive out to the outskirts, dip my legs in a tream and sip a cuppa
ReplyDeleteI could picture that little child enjoying himself. This looks like such a serene place.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely place. The first outing after prolonged home imprisonment feels like heaven and we have gone through it!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are so found of waterfalls. they would love to explore this place. for kids as young as 6 years, staying 2 years at home and this would be a refresh trip.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have gone to a waterfall, it is dried up. This looks like a ray of hope for me hahahaha
ReplyDeleteManisha - The climb down picture shared is so beautiful. Sometimes not proper tourist sites have so much attraction and beauty, this looks like the perfect example.
ReplyDeleteLook lovely place.
ReplyDeleteThe place looks serene and beautiful 😍
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful place and loved the pictures.
ReplyDeleteWow! what a waterfall. I want to visit it.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a beautiful place
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ReplyDeleteBeautyfull place to visit sirnapally waterfalls in telangana
ReplyDelete