Ashel Castelino

Hi there!

It's a different feeling when trips come out of group chats and actually become a reality. If you are looking for a sign to go on a trip with your cousins, this is it.

Wayanad, a place known for its tea and coffee plantations, will leave you mesmerized by its beauty. This Kerala trip was on our bucket list for about a year and I’m so glad that we finally ticked it off.

We relied on public transport for easy travel and booked our stay beforehand to get the best prices. If you're like me, a student with limited allowance and doesn't own a vehicle, this blog is pretty much made for you.

Enjoy :)

Day 1

Breakfast

We arrived in Calicut at 7 am and stumbled upon 'The Bombay Hotel', a restaurant that has been around for almost 75 years.

In Kerala, it's completely normal and acceptable to have beef for any meal of the day, which is not something you see elsewhere. So without a doubt, we ordered beef curry and puttu, and it was a heavenly combination of flavors!

Bus stand

At 8:30 am, we arrived at the Calicut KSRTC stand and to the delight of my photography enthusiast brothers, we stumbled upon a red tube light situated in the center of the bus stand which was pretty much a treasure trove for them, so we had a cool makeshift photoshoot.

(‘Vogue’ worthy, obviously)

Beach

Next, we made a quick visit to the calicut beach about 5 mins away. Travelling for hours at the break of dawn was tiring so we soaked in all the calmness the sea had to offer.

Kalpetta

We embarked on our trip to Kalpetta and the bus ride was anything but ordinary - it was serene and breathtaking. As we traveled along the winding roads, we were greeted with stunning views of mountains and plantations, and we couldn't help but keep our gaze fixed outside the windows.

The view

After a two-hour journey, we arrived in Kalpetta and headed to a restaurant called 'Chattiyam Chorum'. There, we indulged in Thalassery Biriyani and a traditional meal served in a mud bowl called Chatti Chor, their signature dish.

If you’re wondering how the food was- delicious is an understatement!

Lunch

We spotted a cute ice cream shop ‘Frozen Pops’ right across the street from the restaurant and for a sweet tooth like me, it was pure bliss. They had so many unique flavors like fig and honey, rasmalai, and peanut butter, and to top it off, their prices were insane.

(under 30rs, if you're curious - yes, you read that right).

The 'Oh-so good' dessert

WildVibes

Following a three-hour journey, we arrived at our stay, WildVibes. The property was very well-maintained and offered unique options based on one's budget and the number of people traveling. There were three shared bathrooms and small huts in the common area added to the overall charm of the place.

It was a very secluded space in the middle of a forest with no cell phone signal, which is exactly what we were looking for- to escape the bustling city. The best part- they had free Wi-Fi in all common spaces. We found the perfect balance between seclusion and connectivity.

All five of us wanted to be in the same room so we asked them for an additional bed in the hobbit house. We had reserved a hobbit house for a night's stay and were eagerly anticipating what they had in store for us. It was an unconventional semi-circle-shaped room with beds and had a rack to keep personal items.

Our room

Our stay

After a friendly introduction over some tea and snacks, we made our way to our room to freshen up.

The weather was comfortable during the day and became chilly at night, so we didn't feel the need for a fan or air conditioning.

Tea and snacks

Hike

Next, we went on a hike to a nearby stream, it wasn’t a very tiring one for amateurs like us and by the end of it, we even took a dip in freezing waters.

Dinner

We cuddled up near the bonfire and ate Kerala-style chicken biriyani for dinner and let's just say, we all agreed it was the best biriyani we had in a very long time. We played a few games of pool before calling it a night.

Day 2

Trek

We woke up at 5:30am and trekked up a mountain that was roughly 3km away and made it just in time for sunrise. The view from the very top was breathtaking- quite literally.

We took a few photos and on our way down, even made a furry friend who followed us back to our stay.

Adios WildVibes

We explored the rest of the stay and got some group pictures clicked and decided to leave WildVibes at 11:30am after saying goodbye to a place that now nearly felt like home.

Breakfast

After the trek, we came back tired and hungry. Thankfully, the breakfast they served was a lifesaver, with daal and puttu that nourished our hungry souls. Don’t even get me started on the Sulaimani tea they served, it was so good I could possibly write a whole other blog on it.

Lunch

After the long three-hour journey from Wayanad to Calicut, we were exhausted and starving. We were too hungry to google “best restaurants for lunch” and instead ran across the street to a restaurant called 'Topform' and ordered Kerala's favorite meal- beef and parotta.

Described by many as not just a meal but a whole emotion, it was truly an experience.

The hardest bit

As the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end", and that's exactly what happened. As our train was leaving the station, we took a moment to pause and soak it all in.

The trip was nothing short of magic and I knew I was heading home with a heavy heart and a camera full of memories that I would cherish for a lifetime.

Were there absolutely no negatives? Mm, no.

Links

• The Bombay Hotel-https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bombay+Hotel/@11.2514681,75.7711479,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ba6593cbccdea4f:0x496e0de9b473aa48!8m2!3d11.2514681!4d75.7733366!16s%2Fg%2F1tz945bt

• Chattiyum Chorum- https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chattiyum+Chorum/@11.6046523,76.0816181,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ba67369840b2b3d:0xd4fa115112b3255c!8m2!3d11.6046523!4d76.0838068!16s%2Fg%2F11rhdb7g6f

• Frozen Pops-https://www.google.com/maps/place/Frozen+Pops+kozhikode/@11.2557886,75.7703511,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ba6599bbd7c5243:0x8fd875fd8cd1c7e3!8m2!3d11.2557886!4d75.7725398!16s%2Fg%2F11t65gg6p9

• WildVibes-

https://wildvibes.in/

• Topform restaurant-https://www.google.com/maps/place/Topform+Restaurant+Kozhikode/@11.2586091,75.7799821,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ba65ecdcd24830f:0x5b32bac99715a4d0!8m2!3d11.2586091!4d75.7821708!16s%2Fg%2F1tc_zxz1