Of Tea and Monkeys: Valparai 2019
Dusk was falling fast. The car stopped near a turn overlooking a large dam. A board confirmed its name - Aliyar, one of the many dams and reservoirs at Tamil Nadu Kerala border over Western Ghats. An onlooker confirmed that an elephant was there over the grassland near the water. We could not see him. We drove on. The hairpin bends started. We dreamt over it many times over last six months. We hoped to see Nilgiri Tahrs at these bends. Solomon, our driver cum guide for next three days, seemed to be confident that we would see them between 9th and 21st bend. We were not sure. We reached 9th bend alright. Nilgiri Tahrs were nowhere around. Those mountain goats also have life. Who wants to wander about near sharp bends at dark evening! We focussed elsewhere. Evening engulfed us like a blue veil. Cars left a trail of light over the winding roads below. Aliyar dam was visible below. Few motorbike driven lovers tried to take selfie, ended up throwing flash, and left. The road, hairpi