My Kerala holiday - May 2008

htid · Jun 17th, 2008, 18:19

Well thanks for that, now my report will look like a childs work!

Seriously though, very good write up, I doubt I can compare, plus I don't really have time at the moment (what with the Euro 2008 being on!), but it will get done!

snonymous · Jun 18th, 2008, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by htid

Well thanks for that, now my report will look like a childs work!

You should never compare. At the end of the day, these are all cherished, or not so cherished memories. Everyones experiences are unique. Im an Indian living in India, so obviously my expectations and experiences were based thereon.

For you, its a first ever visit to India and that in itself will offer a different perspective. Please take your time, but do post.

nadreg · Jun 21st, 2008, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by snonymous

For you, its a first ever visit to India and that in itself will offer a different perspective. Please take your time, but do post.

Hear, hear! Posts and articles such as these are sincerely appreciated. There are a lot of folks who get the benefit of the collective knowledge of the community, but never contribute their own knowledge. Writing your trip report, whether you feel it's good or now, is a great way to help others learn as well.

pmvelu · Jul 5th, 2008, 11:56

snonymous ,

Great Great Report !..Not Sure How I missed this for so long !.

Your travelogue is sooooooo helpful as I came to know so many additional places which are so interesting around Munnar [ For instance , Kothamangalam I thought just yet another kerala Town with nothing in it & Kollukumalai,chellarkovil,Thee takadu I never visited till now and for sure will visit in my future trips]

More than sharing your experiences , What I like Most is the "Timely" Helpful information on the people [With Mobile Numbers Or URLs] who/which helped you.

And the Effort you have put in recording the Places names and the descriptions means you almost maintained a Tour Log in every place [By writing at the locations itself or compiling things on day end]which shows your Extreme helping tendency towards future Visitors.

And Photos are awesome [Especially Mist covered Mountains]

Salute !
Velu

snonymous · Jul 5th, 2008, 23:21

Thank you PMV. I also did it for my own memories. If you do not record your experiences soon after your trip, you tend to forget the details.

If you are interested in seeing some more of my photos of this trip, I have posted them along with this report at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...3220/tpod.html

p3rdes1 · Jul 6th, 2008, 00:02

Wow, looks like Kerela is gonna have to go on my must go list.

diane123 · Jul 17th, 2008, 01:52

brilliant report-am going to kerala soon.Do you know of any place in kerala where we see and touch very docile elephants without it costing us a lot of money?.

machadinha · Jul 17th, 2008, 02:18

Dang, what's the name. There's this elephant camp (or several?) down south-west where you can even help out to wash elephants, great for kids (and adults no doubt) and it comes recommended here.

Hang on, others will know the name.

(... Quick search later, apparently it's called Kodanand, again, there may be other such places. See Around south India with 2 kids. Come to think of it, not everyone speaks equally highly of the animals' treatment in some of these camps, so it could bear with a little further looking into.)

tstfs · Jul 17th, 2008, 03:49

very good article

vandy · Jul 17th, 2008, 05:42

Hi dianetorre,

Place to help wash elephants in the river is called Kodanand(as Machadinha said).It is approx
1 hour drive from Kochi by car.You need to go in
the morning,leaving Kochi by 8am.If you participate in helping washing elephants you are expected to make a small donation afterwards,I donated 100rps,after washing you can also go to
Elephant School if you have time and are so inclined.

If you intend to visit hill station Munnar,it is
possible to incorporate elephant washing on way to
Munnar,instead of making a seperate trip.Whilst in
Munnar you can also have elephant ride,situated
between Metapetty Dam & Echo Point lookout area.

rgds - vandy

machadinha · Jul 17th, 2008, 09:58

Thanks for getting back on it, Vandy.

What did you make of the experience, good, I take it? A little web searching would suggest some people found the elephants at Kodanand all chained up and the experience not exactly uplifting, what do you think?

Am I right it's actually an elephant training camp? I can't imagine they'd be that mistreated (if only because as far as I know you don't get a reliably workable elephant that way, can become very dangerous in fact), and/but chains will/may come into play I guess. Anyway, it'd just be nice to know more about it. (Come to think of it, I've seen movies of "breaking in" an elephant like you might a horse, neither is fun. You're essentially just breaking their will, or if you ask me. Maybe such visitors just didn't know what to expect.

The mahouts and their elephants I've seen I much respected and enjoyed it all though, I mean like with horses or our other pets there's a weird bond there, even though one might technically wish them all to roam free. I'm eternally undecided on the matter.)

Do you or others here know of other such camps, and if so, what were your experiences there?

vandy · Jul 17th, 2008, 11:39

Good day machadinha,

Thats correct,it is a Elephant Training Camp or
School

I found the experience of helping wash the
elephants amazing as it was the closest I had ever
come to an Elephant.Most enjoyable experience.

I did not have the time to visit the elephant school afterwards as I had an important appointment back in Kochi.I have yet to hear any feedback from anyone who has visited the school.
On my next visit to Kerala this Oct,I intend to
visit the Elephant training school and see what
goes on.I personally don't regard an Elephant being chained up as Mistreatment.

Rgds

vandy

snonymous · Jul 17th, 2008, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by dianetorre

brilliant report-am going to kerala soon.Do you know of any place in kerala where we see and touch very docile elephants without it costing us a lot of money?.

Machadinha is right.

I havent been myself, but I know that it is Kodanad, quite close to Kochi airport [Nedumbassery] / Angamaly or Alwaye railway stations.

Check this old thread:

Elephant training - Kochi
and
http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=892

Any local Kerala travel agent can organise this for you, or you could call the camp directly for timings and just go on your own.

If you are also visiting Tamil Nadu, and the Mudumalai sanctuary, there is an elephant camp there at Theppekadu.

snonymous · Jul 17th, 2008, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstfs

very good article

Thanks. Waiting for yours.

vandy · Jul 18th, 2008, 19:19

@dianetorre,Just thought you may want to know,

A local person from Kerala has just got back to me Informing
that the entrance fee to Elephant School in Kodanand is 15rps.

So the other person you reffered to on this site who mentioned
something about 6000-7000rps maybe was trying to buy the whole
Elephant to take home.

Rgds

vandy

Jul 17th, 2008, 02:18	#23
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,243	Dang, what's the name. There's this elephant camp (or several?) down south-west where you can even help out to wash elephants, great for kids (and adults no doubt) and it comes recommended here. Hang on, others will know the name. (... Quick search later, apparently it's called Kodanand, again, there may be other such places. See Around south India with 2 kids. Come to think of it, not everyone speaks equally highly of the animals' treatment in some of these camps, so it could bear with a little further looking into.) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Jul 17th, 2008, 05:42	#25
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,112	Hi dianetorre, Place to help wash elephants in the river is called Kodanand(as Machadinha said).It is approx 1 hour drive from Kochi by car.You need to go in the morning,leaving Kochi by 8am.If you participate in helping washing elephants you are expected to make a small donation afterwards,I donated 100rps,after washing you can also go to Elephant School if you have time and are so inclined. If you intend to visit hill station Munnar,it is possible to incorporate elephant washing on way to Munnar,instead of making a seperate trip.Whilst in Munnar you can also have elephant ride,situated between Metapetty Dam & Echo Point lookout area. rgds - vandy Last edited by vandy : Feb 23rd, 2009 at 07:08.

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Jun 17th, 2008, 18:19	#16
htid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 129	Well thanks for that, now my report will look like a childs work! Seriously though, very good write up, I doubt I can compare, plus I don't really have time at the moment (what with the Euro 2008 being on!), but it will get done!

Jul 5th, 2008, 11:56	#19
pmvelu Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 1,136	snonymous , Great Great Report !..Not Sure How I missed this for so long !. Your travelogue is sooooooo helpful as I came to know so many additional places which are so interesting around Munnar [ For instance , Kothamangalam I thought just yet another kerala Town with nothing in it & Kollukumalai,chellarkovil,Thee takadu I never visited till now and for sure will visit in my future trips] More than sharing your experiences , What I like Most is the "Timely" Helpful information on the people [With Mobile Numbers Or URLs] who/which helped you. And the Effort you have put in recording the Places names and the descriptions means you almost maintained a Tour Log in every place [By writing at the locations itself or compiling things on day end]which shows your Extreme helping tendency towards future Visitors. And Photos are awesome [Especially Mist covered Mountains] Salute ! Velu

Jul 5th, 2008, 23:21	#20
snonymous xxx Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,693	Thank you PMV. I also did it for my own memories. If you do not record your experiences soon after your trip, you tend to forget the details. If you are interested in seeing some more of my photos of this trip, I have posted them along with this report at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...3220/tpod.html

Jul 6th, 2008, 00:02	#21
p3rdes1 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Posts: 80	Wow, looks like Kerela is gonna have to go on my must go list.

Jul 17th, 2008, 01:52	#22
diane123 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: spain Posts: 193	brilliant report-am going to kerala soon.Do you know of any place in kerala where we see and touch very docile elephants without it costing us a lot of money?.

Jul 17th, 2008, 03:49	#24
tstfs Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 70	very good article

Jul 17th, 2008, 09:58	#26
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,243	Thanks for getting back on it, Vandy. What did you make of the experience, good, I take it? A little web searching would suggest some people found the elephants at Kodanand all chained up and the experience not exactly uplifting, what do you think? Am I right it's actually an elephant training camp? I can't imagine they'd be that mistreated (if only because as far as I know you don't get a reliably workable elephant that way, can become very dangerous in fact), and/but chains will/may come into play I guess. Anyway, it'd just be nice to know more about it. (Come to think of it, I've seen movies of "breaking in" an elephant like you might a horse, neither is fun. You're essentially just breaking their will, or if you ask me. Maybe such visitors just didn't know what to expect. The mahouts and their elephants I've seen I much respected and enjoyed it all though, I mean like with horses or our other pets there's a weird bond there, even though one might technically wish them all to roam free. I'm eternally undecided on the matter.) Do you or others here know of other such camps, and if so, what were your experiences there?

Jul 17th, 2008, 11:39	#27
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,112	Good day machadinha, Thats correct,it is a Elephant Training Camp or School I found the experience of helping wash the elephants amazing as it was the closest I had ever come to an Elephant.Most enjoyable experience. I did not have the time to visit the elephant school afterwards as I had an important appointment back in Kochi.I have yet to hear any feedback from anyone who has visited the school. On my next visit to Kerala this Oct,I intend to visit the Elephant training school and see what goes on.I personally don't regard an Elephant being chained up as Mistreatment. Rgds vandy

Jul 18th, 2008, 19:19	#30
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,112	@dianetorre,Just thought you may want to know, A local person from Kerala has just got back to me Informing that the entrance fee to Elephant School in Kodanand is 15rps. So the other person you reffered to on this site who mentioned something about 6000-7000rps maybe was trying to buy the whole Elephant to take home. Rgds vandy