If you want to eat, then you have to cook

"Mixing, Mixing, Mixing! Yaa-aah!”

02.01.2018 - 02.01.2018

Day 12 Madurai > Periyār Sanctuary

Another 5.30am / 05:30 wakeup call with the festival music blasting outside woke all of us. This apparently goes on for a whole month!

Neither the less bags out by 7am / 07:00, breakfast then away at 8am / 08:00 for the drive to Kumily, Thekkady, adjacent to Periyar National Park. This area is said to be the spice capital of India.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar_National_Park

https://www.travelogyindia.com/wildlife-tours/national-park/periyar-national-park.html

https://www.tripsavvy.com/periyar-national-park-travel-guide-1539877

On route lunch at Theni.

I'm sure that you can come up with your own caption re Live Cakes

Then continuing uphill to Thekkady and Michael's Inn.

Periyar Lake

With a few afternoon options available, most of us went on the 90 mins boat ride on Periyar Lake for 1,100 rupees / NZ$23.20 / US$17.00. It was a great way to get to know the region and besides the bird life saw spotted deer, otters, Indian bison which are larger than the American ones and several elephants. We had great views from the top deck. The signage about what one cannot do on board the boat quickly brought out more “don'ts”.

Otters

Indian Bison

Elephant

Banana Chips

Back after 3pm / 15:00 and free time. A walk back to the main street for not only a 20 rupee coffee / NZ$0.40 / US$.30 at Better Bakers Coffee Club but the area is famous for their banana chips. Seeing how they were made being chopped up and then deep fried in the huge what I would call wok was interesting.

Sorry about the wrong orientation

Plus another shop keeper's son who wanted their photo sent back to them. He was a real salesman as I didn't want to buy a kilo bag of banana chips but they had under the counter smaller plain pack bags for sale.

Bar-B-Que Thekkady Cooking Class

Topping, Tailing, Chopping, Slicing, Peeling, Mixing, Stirring, Pounding, Tasting

If we wanted dinner tonight then we will have to prepare and cook it. OK, that was the deal and what a hilarious fun night it turned out to be with Sheril infectious personality and his super catchphrases "Mixing, Mixing, Mixing! Yaa-aah!”. He would make an excellent TV host. His wife ably assisted him though I suspect she did most of the work behind the scene.

Beans Thoran, Dhal Thadukka, Okra Roasting, Pineapple Curry, Fish Curry, Paratha, Alu Masala and BBQ Masala Chicken.

The Bar-B-Que Thekkady cooking class was 550 rupee / NZ$11.60 / US$8.50.