Mae akela hi chala tha Jaanib-e-manzil….

Train journeys have always been fun for us… even at times when we were children in the 70’s and 80’s, travelling from Bhilai to Kerala was a mammoth task. Nagpur, Chennai where stations where we had to change trains. It took nearly 48 plus hours, and in the scorching summer did we mind the journey in the sleeper coach? What I remember is looking out from train windows to see the train coaches on a bend, making friends with the people travelling with us on the same coach, carrying water in a “surahi” and running to fill the water container on platform, waving to passerby from train window made the time on train very very memorable … my romance with the train journey still continues when I want to get down to the platform on major stations (annoying my husband), want to relish the tea at Palakkad station, or the podi-chor from Shornur station, or have the pazham-pori at Trishur station. There was a time when reading magazines and novels while travelling was a favorite time pass.

Recent times, with the advent of mobile phones, making vdos of sunset, the wind mills, the stones perched precariously on hills, country side is an addition to the above list.

Here is a vdo clip .. a sapnon-ki-rani-kab-aayegi moment for me while the bike rider sees me waving and acknowledges… yahooo!!!!

Very much like this Lone rider on the roads, we were fortunate to meet Anita of https://www.thelilacfarm.in/ this time during our Bangalore visit. Anita has developed a 13 acre baren land to a farm with 10,000+ trees, shelter for rescued animals, and a sustainable, vegan Farm stay. Just 100 km from Bangalore( towards Hebbal), near Maakalidurga Trek, Doddaballapur, it is a rustic stay developed by Anita with lot hard work towards making her land self sufficient.

We had booked two rooms for Holi weekend, and took a Uber intercity cab from Bangalore and reached ” the Lilac farm”. Anita has lots to tell us about how she dreamt about making a food forest, much like what she enjoyed during her childhood in Kollam, Kerala, to how water scarcity is going to engulf even her. Anita is very passionate about soil, its life, ecosystems, and she devotes her entire day with the guests and working for the farm. Best part of our stay at this farm was the food – totally unpredictable. Anita very consciously devises the menu using the produce from the farm. Breakfast served to us was “putt” (a steamed keralite dish) and a lentil curry. Usually it is made out of rice powder, but Anita made it from Tapioca powder, corn flour – because to produce a kilogram of rice she needs 4500 liters of water – which is from borewell which is depleting fast. Many such facts you will get from Anita, and she is very vocal about them. Listen to her talking about termite hill and I was totally flabbergasted! I am sure all of us were. To add to her credits a Miyawaki forest is coming up in her farm.

Our Holi weekend was fantastic when we got to make Holi colors from the available flowers in the farm with Christina (Anita’s daughter). … that was an experience – recipe for pure joy!!

Soon after our Holi party, we had mud pool ready… have you ever been into a mud pool? I never had … that is something I will always remember… the feel of the wet soil under my feet.. how my mood suddenly changed to playful, giggling, and my mastikhor persona danced in it. Both children and hubby easily went into the ankle deep mud and shrieked out in joy. … that was followed by rain dance !!! How cool ….Thanks Anita for that memorable evening.

A day spent at ” Lilac farm ” made me realize a ” Lone rider ” can do lots… Anita and her farm has huge fan following on Instagram – the.lilac.farm and has influenced many to vegan lifestyle, advertising Sustainable living. She walks around the farm without slippers comfortably much like my father did in his farm.

A big hug to you Anita. God bless you…