I've won a wonderful trip to Periyar

snonymous · Apr 18th, 2008, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by pundabee

Just to take the edge off the travelling time information:

Forgot to add that we stop at a lot of places en route especially if it is forested, which adds to the time.

you happen to be in Cheruthoni around lunch time you must take lunch at Mareena. They make Kerala meals to a standard that is pretty much unrivalled in Kerala for Rs. 20.

Please tell me more about Mareena. Im going again next month.

pundabee · Apr 19th, 2008, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by snonymous

Please tell me more about Mareena. Im going again next month.

It is a small "hotel", i.e. a traditional Indian eating place, located in the basement opposite the bus stop where the buses going to Painavu and Todupuzha stop.

The food can best be described as "homely". A meal consists of rice, sambhar, 3 vegetable curries, paisam, pickle, papads, and one or two different curds. Fish curry also available.

We have eaten there four times when travelling through, and the quality of the food is consistently high, the service is quick and friendly, and portions are generous and never ending.

We have eaten Kerala meals in many parts of Kerala, and even the places that are good, and renowned for being so, are lacking when compared with the food in Mareena. For instance, Frys in Ernakulam gets good reviews on IndiaMike and in the Rough Guide, but it is, in my opinion, distinctly average, and is no match to the food found in this obscure small village in the mountains.

snonymous · Apr 19th, 2008, 21:54

Thanks Pundabee
We have eaten at such small shack type places often and the food is usually very tasty and fresh. Even on the highways going out of Mumbai, the tastiest food is at the dhabas where truck drivers stop. Will look out for Mareena next month. Hope the rains set in after our Periyar trip !!! Dont mind light rain while in Munnar as the mist will set in and it will be beautiful, but definitely no rain wanted while in Periyar.

dvdfjojo · Oct 24th, 2008, 06:47

Just another thank you from me for all your kind advice and tips. We fly out in the morning and will be staying with Beena at www.homestaykochi.com for the first couple of days in Fort Cochin. That was booked following recommendations on here and I've corresponded by email with Beena over the last few weeks - I'm so looking forward to staying there, she seems like a wonderful lady and I'm hoping she'll teach me some fabby indian cooking.

Then we're off to Periyar and rather than include trips, the holiday firm have provided a car & driver for the 5 days we are there so that we can please ourselves and go and explore spice areas, tea plantations, locals towns, etc as well as do a couple of Periyar activities.

We are so looking forward to our holiday - it's a once in a lifetime trip and we're going to make sure we get as much as we can from it.

See you in just over 24 hours Fort Cochin - can't wait to be there.

Thank you all again - will post a trip report when we get back along with photos.

Jo

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Apr 19th, 2008, 21:54	#18
snonymous xxx Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,749	Thanks Pundabee We have eaten at such small shack type places often and the food is usually very tasty and fresh. Even on the highways going out of Mumbai, the tastiest food is at the dhabas where truck drivers stop. Will look out for Mareena next month. Hope the rains set in after our Periyar trip !!! Dont mind light rain while in Munnar as the mist will set in and it will be beautiful, but definitely no rain wanted while in Periyar.

Oct 24th, 2008, 06:47	#19
dvdfjojo Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England Posts: 6	Just another thank you from me for all your kind advice and tips. We fly out in the morning and will be staying with Beena at www.homestaykochi.com for the first couple of days in Fort Cochin. That was booked following recommendations on here and I've corresponded by email with Beena over the last few weeks - I'm so looking forward to staying there, she seems like a wonderful lady and I'm hoping she'll teach me some fabby indian cooking. Then we're off to Periyar and rather than include trips, the holiday firm have provided a car & driver for the 5 days we are there so that we can please ourselves and go and explore spice areas, tea plantations, locals towns, etc as well as do a couple of Periyar activities. We are so looking forward to our holiday - it's a once in a lifetime trip and we're going to make sure we get as much as we can from it. See you in just over 24 hours Fort Cochin - can't wait to be there. Thank you all again - will post a trip report when we get back along with photos. Jo