Browse Tag

hills

Philippines: Taal Lake Volcano and Peoples Park, Tagaytay

By Mithun Divakaran
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Sep 16, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 18th May 2013

Today, I began my sight-seeing in Philippines. Janet, my host, suggested going to Tagaytay, largely to see Taal Lake (which is actually in Batangas).

Manila highway — We set off on some highway that passed by Manila Bay

Manila highway to Tagaytay — We passed through a few other towns along the way

The journey to Tagaytay took nearly an hour and cost ₱105 each (one way). I took out my DSLR once we reached a bus terminal at Tagaytay. From here, Janet negotiated with a tricycle taxi to take us down to the shore town of Talisay.

Trike taxi Tagaytay Philippines — It was a downhill ride

Taal lake Tagaytay Philippines — The trike would stop at certain turns to give me a chance to photograph Taal lake

Birds on road Tagaytay — These colourful birds were at every corner of this stretch

Taal lake boats Batangas Philippines — The many, many boats on Taal lake. One of which we would be taking to get to the volcano island.

Once down, the tricycle dropped us at a restaurant-slash-tourism center. There we negotiated the price for taking a boat to Taal volcano island, horse rides to the top and back. We finally settled for ₱3000 (Rs. 4300/$68/€51) for two persons.

Taal lake boat ride Batangas Philippines — Ladies first

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Second trip to Coorg: Madikeri, Omkareshwara temple and atop many hills

By Mithun Divakaran
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Apr 19, 2012
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Coorg, India, Travel

Date: April 2009

After my first trip to the hilly district in 2008, I returned to Coorg for a second trip with my then office photography club – Shutterbugs. We hired a Chevrolet Tavera taxi and left Bangalore city Friday night after work.

Coorg Shutterbugs trip on the way Anto — We'd stop on the way to give our driver a coffee break, because we were worried about him dozing off at the wheel

Highway to Coorg at night — Not that we managed to sleep sitting inside the crammed vehicle

Coorg Shutterbugs trip homestay Anto — We arrived at our homestay in Madikeri town around 6am

Homestay Madikeri Coorg Shutterbugs trip — Don't ask me for a name, for this massive hut belong to a relative of one our office mates. We still had to pay for it though.

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First trip to Coorg: Thadiyandamol, Talakaveri and Abbey Falls

By Mithun Divakaran
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Apr 09, 2012
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Coorg, India, Travel

Date: October 2008

This is actually a continuation of a travelogue in which we had first stopped at Bylakuppe. Post-lunch, we then drove to Coorg district and straight to our homestay at the foot of Thadiyandamol, the highest peak in Coorg. This place took some finding but once we eventually did, Ramesh struggled a bit to get his car in. It had rained earlier that day, so the soil was moist and muddy, making the car’s wheels to spin as Ramesh tried to get some grip.

Mud tracks road Coorg India — The number of attempts Ramesh took (Photograph by Ramesh)

Muddy entrance to Palace Estate Coorg — This was in 2008, I don't know if the condition of this path is the same even to this day

Loi at Palace Estate driveway Coorg — The car eventually got in

Palace Estate homestay Thadiyandamol Coorg — The homestay we were staying at was called Palace Estate

Palace Estate homestay Coorg India — Our room was in that portion of the house with the yellow wall

Views from Palace Estate Thadiyandamol Coorg — The views were nice

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