10-07-18
Dear Doddamma,
We are going to Maikuri (where may father-in-law lives) today afternoon. Tomorrow is my mother-in-law’s death anniversary. There are certain rituals performed by my husband and his brother. The date of the death anniversary is calculated according to the Hindu calendar.We will return tomorrow evening.
To continue with our trip doddamma,
On the 15th we reached Kausani at 12.30 after an interesting bus ride. We have always enjoyed traveling by local buses. We get to see people of the region going about their daily lives. Our hotel was just ten minutes away. We ordered lunch, here too they ask for time as the food has to be cooked. We liked the idea, the food is fresh and hot.
We were told there is Sarla Behn museum and Gandhi Ashram nearby. After resting we walked up the hill nearby. There were eucalyptus trees all around us, we sat on a seat and enjoyed the quietness. A black coloured dog came an sat a little away from our seat. I think this is his home, he sat quietly, without moving.
Sarla Behn was an English lady who lived from 1901 to 1981. She lived here and was a freedom fighter. She worked for the betterment of the people of the region. It was a small museum with photos showing us her life at different stages.
The Gandhi ashram also called Anashakti Ashram is a quiet and serene place on top of the hill. There were many people like us. There is a meditation hall and a small shop selling woollen and khadi materials. We sat there for some time watching people, there were grandparents, parents and small children. It is really interesting. There are statues of the three monkeys and people were enjoying taking photos there. We had tea in a small canteen nearby. We walked down, on the way we ate ice cream 😊 and it started pouring, we waited in the shop. There were others who were drinking tea. After the rain stopped we walked down to the ‘chouraha’. There were taxis there and we talked to some of them about sightseeing tomorrow. Some of them seemed like agents and we did not like their way of functioning. We walked back when a person came running towards us. He was a taxi driver, his name Devender, he said he would take us around the next day from morning to evening. He asked for Rs 1500. We agreed, he said he would come at 8 o’clock. We had dinner in the hotel, There were four youngsters who did most of the work. They were very efficient. Our order for food was taken at seven. We were told it would be ready at eight. The food was very tasty. The hotel is located on a terrace on a mountainside. On clear days we can see the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas. But there was mist covering them and we could not see the peaks during our stay there. There were other people and all of them were enjoying the quietness and fresh air of the place. We walked about before retiring for the day.
On the 5th evening we went round Manipal lake for a walk. We had a break from the rains for a few days.
The weather was becoming hot. Amma walked a little distance and sat in one of the seats watching many ladies playing throw ball in the adjacent ground. They come regularly. From the 6th we are getting very good rains. Sometimes we feel it would be nice to have a break. We are reading in the newspapers about the heavy rains in Mumbai and how roads are getting blocked. It is happening every year. We put out chapati pieces for the birds every morning. The tree pies and babblers are coming daily in the morning and mid morning. They come to eat the chapati pieces. There was one crow trying to come in, it came once but fortunately found its way out. The tree pies were eating everything. I put some chapati pieces outside, but by the time the crow realised it the tree pies had taken them away. The babblers came a little later. It is nice to see them talking to each other and carry away the pieces to their nests. The nests are far away.
We are all fine here doddamma.
With love,
Lakshmi
Mukhamani 
Comments are welcome :)