My family and I look forward to visit Coorg every other weekend away from the hustle and bustle of busy Bengaluru. The quick drive down in the first flush of light adds to the beauty of the journey. Most of the time we arrive in the Manteri estate when the tired dogs are being given their food. Estates in Coorg are usually guarded by more than one dog. They serve as an alarm system against petty and serious thieves specially when coffee and pepper are being dried in the front yard and in recent times as a warning against the elephant herd which often visit the Manteri estate.

After a refreshing cup of freshly brewed Manteri coffee it’s time to go around the estate trail along with the estate manager to give the work order for the day. The different crops grown in the estate ensures that there is enough and more work for the workforce all around the year with two days off each week. Constant care is needed for the pepper vines to thrive, the many fruit trees, ginger, turmeric and the coffee plants need weeding, pruning and manuring at regular intervals.

An hour or so of walk around the estate and it’s time for some yummy and power packed breakfast which we all look forward to. Typical Coorg households usually make akki rotti (rice pancake), kumbala curry (pumpkin curry) and ellu pajji (coconut chutney infused with sesame seeds) on most days. For variety on most other days it is kadambuttu, dosa, ooduputtu or paaputtu paired with other delicious Coorg delicacies like chekke palya (jackfruit palya), kummu curry (mushroom curry) or baembale curry (bamboo shoot) twinned with another cuppa of our favourite Manteri brew.

The day runs along like most typical days but with more outdoorsy work. There is always something or the other to do the whole day long in the estate which I anticipate because it ensures the smooth running of the place. With the waning of the sunlight it’s time for all of us to call it a day. I look forward to the evenings when I am in Coorg. This is because it’s a time for all of us in the family to unwind and relax. The wide area around the house is ideal for play and to go out for short relaxed walks. It’s also the time to recount childhood memories, get philosophical, meet neighbor’s and to show the kids around the estate if they are upto it. Watching the flock of birds find their way home, the sound of the stridulating crickets, the squealing of my kids at play, the stroll in the garden is indeed refreshing and puts the mind at ease.
As the head hits the pillow there is a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment which I cherish inspite of the tiring day that has gone by. A good night’s sleep is all that is needed to get revitalized and rejuvenated to face the dawn.