Morning Symphony in the Cardamom Valley: A Journey of Connection and Discovery

It was 6:30 am. I woke up with the sweet warmth of the rising sun on my cheeks. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the rising sun behind the union of two mountains. Orange, purple, blue, and white blended beautifully in the sky. There was a constant “chak-chak” sound of birds as if they were all singing in the Cardamom Valley, urging me to get up and see them. With this thought, I put my bare feet on the floor, which felt so earthen. I took those five steps to the balcony overlooking the Cardamom Valley. Black pepper and jackfruit trees stood tall and sent me a whiff of breeze to say, “Hey, Good Morning, Richa!”

Energised by this, I took a few deep breaths and got ready for my morning hike up the tea estate. In the last few days, I had been coming across a dog on the way, so my mission to hike up to the top, which led towards sunrise and sunset points, had been aborted. As I started walking, I found a huge tree nesting so many different kinds of birds. Catching my breath, I stopped to take note of how far I had walked up. As I looked up, a clear panoramic view of the tea estate suddenly unfolded before me. I looked around on all sides to absorb it all. I wished I could experience this weather, this breeze, this greenery, birds, all of it, every day.

Also Read: The Joy of Exploration: My Passion for Travel

I spotted a giant boulder a couple of steps away. It felt like a couch waiting for me to sit on and embrace this moment more. With light, springing steps, I went and sat down facing the same tree where birds were at their best, having a kitty party. So many different sounds – sweet, sharp, melodic, in full excitement. Overjoyed, I smiled, and my heart fluttered. I felt like joining them and being one of them. I took out my phone camera to record this scene and sound so I could relive it when I returned home from my vacation. I started writing in my journal, feeling elated in this vibrant company of birds.

After a while, my gaze shifted to the top of the hill where we were heading for the hike. There was no human, no animal either, to be seen. I felt adventurous, and at the same time, I wished someone would come and be my guide to the top. Gathering courage and admiring the view, I continued to walk. A few minutes later, a local lady in her chappals overtook me.

I stopped immediately and said hello. She and I spoke different languages but managed to converse using gestures and a few familiar Hindi words. I followed her to the top, and in my heart, I felt something so alive, so in sync with the universe that it had fulfilled my wish then and there. Once again, the higher cosmic plane left me bemused by its presence. I thanked the locals and stood there for some time, feeling connected with the universe.