Trip to Coutrallam

This year's Santhosha Kudumbam Annual Get-Together was held in Coutrallam, during the last weekend of May 2007. About 10 of my mom's first cousins along with their families attended. It was as usual, a lot of fun. We went to the 'border kadai' in Sengkottai for hot yummy parottas. We were put up in the Kerela PWD Bungalow... it was truly a Chandramuki's Bungalow, in the sense that it was like it was not used for years... cobwebs and all.... lol. But it was really huge, with acres of mangrooves around it. It was like we were totally shut off from the world. The downside was that there was no water in any of the waterfalls, since the monsoon rains were late this year. But we had good chilly climate and we also got to see the rocks of the main falls with absolutely no water on them (a first, for me). We went for a picnic to this dam...which was again dry...so dry that we walked into it and had a tug of war for the kids. Talking of games...the amazing part was the games we played. It started with Murali Mama and the kids playing cricket. And about 17 of us playing cards (Donkey)...my, a game would go one for an hour, with Kanagu Mama with a hat trick record! And then, we decided to run around a little. So all of us played chain hook, help, lock and key (kids and adults alike). It had us all panting and hungry for the lunch that was waiting for us. Chitra Chithi (the host) had a lot of games prepared for us. It also happened to be Madhu's b/day. She cut a big cake, didnt blow candles though...the wind didnt allow the candles to be lit! We also had party hats, party poopers, candy, gifts etc. And I had trained the kids (Shiva, Guha, Dushmita, Arjun, Surya) for a few programmes to be performed during the Gala Nite....Kaarunya did a dance too and sang a song. Madhav and I did a dance.... it was all good. We did miss the others in the big family who didnt/couldnt make it. The pics should make them all jealous. Another memorable weekend in my life!