A Magnificent Cat-eyed Snake

This magnificent creature is known to prey on little frogs and chameleons, and is interestingly found on tree holes, thatched roofs. During the monsoons in Coorg, it is extensively found around coffee plantations as it preys on frogs found here. Its thin neck enables it to twist small mammals and make a kill effectively before swallowing its prey.

Surprisingly, its head resembles that of a viper. It is thus often mistaken for a poisonous deadly viper. What is amusing in this regard is that this snake is non-venomous!  However, it releases certain toxins on its prey, which get dizzy on account of it, and finally die.  It then swallows them.

The Wonderful Reptile Coiled on the Floor

Interestingly, there are two different types of cat snakes found in the Western Ghats: one species is orange in colour and the other, brownish. Both snakes have ‘cat eyes’ which fascinatingly appear golden in colour.

The amazing common cat snake has an important role to play on coffee plantations in Coorg as it feeds on insects that damage coffee plants there.

Therefore, on your next plantation tour at Orange County, Coorg, do not forget to look out for this glorious creature!

The Glorious Sanjeevani!

This herb is mentioned in the Ramayana when Ravana’s son Indrajit severely injures and nearly slaughters Lakshmana.  To treat Lakshmana, Hanuman was summoned to fetch the Sanjeevani herb from mount Dunagiri  located in the Himalayas. On reaching mount Sumeru, Hanuman, unable to recognize the herb, lifted the whole mountain, bringing it to the battle-field!

Sanjeevani: the 'Miracle' Plant

The popular word “Sanjeevani”, when translated, means “One that infuses life”. This in turn derives from the myriad medicinal properties of this plant; the Sanjeevani herb is thought to possess 101 types of medicinal powers! In India, traditionally, the dry Sanjeevani has been used to treat several human health ailments for centuries together!

The Sanjeevani plant is found in the Indian Western Ghats, especially Coorg. This plant grows in regions that receive plentiful supply of rainfall. Sanjeevani is extensively utilized by the tribals of Coorg called the Kurubas, who use it as medication for wounds and ulcers. They also drink this plant’s juice with milk and honey to stay healthy. Interestingly, this is also a special medicine in the tribal areas.

The Sanjeevani plant can be spotted in abundance in the Orange County, Coorg surroundings, where it is difficult to miss!

The Amazing Starfruit

Also known by other names including bilimbi, belimbing, Chinese star fruit, five-angled fruit and the star apple, the Starfruit derives its name from the fact that the fruit in cross-section resembles a five-pointed star. The Starfruit appears in two varieties: tart and sweet. Interestingly, the Starfruit tree grows rapidly and produces fruit when it is four or five years old. Starfruit possesses a waxy, golden yellow to green colored covering with a fascinating flavor that is a combination of pineapple, lemon and plum!

The Wonderful Starfruit Tree

The Starfruit is an outstanding source of vitamin C, and has low fat content.  Starfruits are amazing to eat out of hand as they need not be peeled or seeded prior to eating. You can simply wash this tasty fruit, remove any ruined parts, cut it crosswise to obtain the shape of the star, and relish it!

Hence on your next trip to Orange County, Coorg, you will not miss spotting this interestingly shaped fruit, which can be seen practically everywhere in this resort!

A Cluster of Bamboo Plants at Coorg

Surprisingly, the Bamboo plant only flowers once in 50 years! These flowers remain for an entire month. Amazingly, following this, they change into bamboo rice, which stays as long as three months. Astoundingly, bamboo rice is very expensive, costing a whopping Rs. 2000 per kg! It is exclusive as it can only be collected from certain tribes belonging to the Western Ghats, including the Jannukurbas, Kudias and Yaravas. This rice is known for its therapeutic properties, as it is good for treating hypertension, ulcers, sinusitis, severe cough and cold. Bamboo rice is thus highly in demand. After the rice appears, the bamboo plant dies. This reduces the source of food for elephants, which are then forced to go to different locations such as coffee plantations in the Western Ghats, in search of food.

The Base of a Bamboo Cluster

Shoots appear on the bamboo plant once each year. When young, bamboo shoots possess hydrocyanic acid, which is poisonous. Hence these shoots need to be washed thoroughly for 3-4 days continuously in fresh water before being used for cooking.

Tender bamboo shoots, interestingly, are used for making pickles and bamboo curry, which forms a sumptuous Kodava dish when eaten with ‘Kadamputtu’ (steamed rice balls). Therefore, if you decide to step into Orange County, Coorg during the months of May, June or July, you can look forward to this delectable dish!

A Trinket Snake: Splendid Beauty!

The Trinket Snake is generally found on plantations because of the presence of small lizards and rats there. It performs an important role on plantations as it feeds on creatures damaging coffee beans, thereby reducing the presence of pests.

A Magnificent Trinket Snake at Orange County, Coorg.

This snake, amazingly, can grow up to 4-5 feet long. It lays its eggs in regions that are moisture-rich and at the rate of 5-12 eggs each time. It takes 28-30 days for the young snakes to emerge from their eggs, rather more than usual where snakes are generally concerned. When the little hatchlings are born, the mother snakes divert them to grassy areas, where they are safe from predators such as eagles, crows and crow pheasants, which can otherwise prey on them.

As if Striking a Pose!

The bite of the Trinket Snake is painful; hence be sure to watch it from a safe distance if you spot it at Orange County, Coorg!

A Farmer Ploughing a Field at Orange County, Coorg.

Later, with the receipt of more rain, pre-soaked paddy seeds are sown in nursery beds made along the side of the main fields, which coincides with the start of the South West monsoon. The nursery is given special attention for about three weeks and the seedlings are ready for transplanting after 22 days. The main field is first kept ready with fine tillage, following which the healthy seedlings are transplanted here. The completion of the transplanting process is celebrated as ‘Kailpothu’ by the Kodavas. The transplanting is usually completed by mid-July, depending on the arrival of the monsoons.

A Verdant Paddy Field at Orange County, Coorg.

It is a visual treat to watch the paddy fields after the transplanting is complete, as there is a change in colour from the initial light green to dark green as the seedling matures. The flowering commences in a few months following this. During this period, the farmer gives the required chemical sprays to ward off pests and diseases, and performs the weeding. The weeding is usually done by the women folk. It is interesting to hear them sing local songs as they work, as this helps them complete this arduous task with ease!

Paddy Being Harvested in Coorg

By the end of November, the green paddy fields slowly change to golden yellow, thus indicating the harvest time, which is celebrated as ‘Huthri’ by the Kodavas. Special Poojas are held to mark this occasion. Interestingly, the harvest is also carried out with much singing accompanying it. This is followed by threshing, drying and winnowing of the grains. The rice is then sent to the granary, and some of it finds its way to Orange County’s main restaurant, the ‘Granary’. The straw obtained in the process is used as feed for cattle and also for thatching homes, as can be seen on the cottages of Orange County, Coorg. If the cultivation work is done properly, the farmer is bound to make a good profit; as the saying goes, ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’.

An Allspice Plant

What’s most fascinating about this plant is that it seems to possess a combination of the flavor of all spices! Interestingly, however, it has a flavor that is unique to itself. This remarkable plant is known by different names such as Jamaica Pepper, Kurundu, Myrtle Pepper, Pimenta, and Newspice.

An Allspice Plant at Orange County, Coorg

In India, the leaves of the All spices plant are used for preparing meat dishes and chutneys. In America, they are used for preparing desserts such as cakes on account of the flavor they provide. They are also one of the most crucial ingredients used in Caribbean cuisine. To exemplify, they are used in the Caribbean ‘jerk seasoning’, which is also used in Coorg for culinary purposes.

Leaves of the Allspice Plant

The All spices plant is a member of the Myrtle family. In Jamaican cuisine, the leaves of the All spices plant play a role similar to that of Bay Leaves in Indian cooking. These leaves are normally used in regions where they are grown in greater quantity. The seeds of this plant are valuable as they are sun dried and used for medicinal purposes such as to treats colds and coughs.

In conclusion, do not forget to take note of this wonderful plant on your next Plantation Tour at Orange County, Coorg.

Figs in Coorg

The fig trees surrounding Orange County, Coorg are of the cluster fig variety. Figs are also popularly called ‘Cluster Figs’, or Goolar (Gular).

Fig trees have an important role to play on Coffee Plantations as they provide the shade required by these plants. There is also more food available for birds due to fig trees, which also provides shelter for these birds. Interestingly, in historical times, Hindu and Buddhist ascetics on their way to Taxila used to consume figs during their travel.

Figs on a Fig Tree

Surprisingly, the flowers of the fig tree grow beneath the fruit. An astounding fact in this regard is that 96 different types of wasps enter a fig tree and pollinate its flowers. This causes the figs to ripen and provides birds their food, which comprises fruits and insects. Figs also act as food for squirrels and mongoose and are relished by elephants.

Figs are considered a major food and consumed as a vegetable. Tribal groups are known to survive on figs. Interestingly, figs are also used for making pickles.

A fascinating fact about a fig plant is that it is self-pollinated. Additionally, the fig plant possesses an organic nature. Figs are seasonal fruits. In the Orange County coffee plantation area, figs grow between the months of April and July. Hence if you decide to step into the Orange County, Coorg premises at this time, keep your eyes open for this marvelous fruit.

Coffee Berries

Yemen was our settlement 500 years ago. We resided around the city of Mocha there. Before 1500 A.D., my ancestors were known to Europeans as ‘Kaffa’. We were slowly introduced to the rest of the world by travelers. We were sent to Egypt in 1510, Constantinople in 1550, Venice in 1616 and England in 1650, where we had a special place. Coffee houses were also being set up for us around the world.

From Yemen, some of my relatives were sent to Kenya and Java. From Java, one variety was taken to a garden in Amsterdam, where my family grew. From there again, some were sent to Surinam in 1718 and Brazil in 1927, where they settled in Rio de Janeiro in1780. My relatives were constantly on the move. From Amsterdam, a few of them went to the Caribbean, Hawaii and the Philippines. We were soon well- known all over the world and were settling everywhere.

Coffee Berries on a Coffee Plant

A few of us were sent to Turkey from Yemen, where we were roasted, crushed and brewed. In 1700, my ‘uncles’ entered America and one of them traveled across the Atlantic, becoming the predecessor of over 19 million of us in half a century. By now, we were so famous that we were called the ‘National Drink’ in the United States. In the early 70’s, we were even introduced in Vietnam.

In 1600 A.D., a few of my ‘relatives’ migrated to India along with a pilgrim called Bababudan. He took seven of them with him to his hermitage in Karnataka. There our family grew and spread throughout the rest of the subcontinent. A few of them came to Nalaknad in Kodagu, and subsequently gave rise to the luxuriant Coorg plantations found there today.

Hence, here I am, sitting cozily in the corner of my jute ‘cottage’ in Chikkanahalli Estate, fondly ruminating about my past.

]]> http://www.coorgblog.orangecounty.in/the-story-of-a-coffee-bean/feed/ 0 http://www.coorgblog.orangecounty.in/in-loving-memory-of-bruno%e2%80%a6/ http://www.coorgblog.orangecounty.in/in-loving-memory-of-bruno%e2%80%a6/#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:20:09 +0000 Orange County Resorts http://www.coorgblog.orangecounty.in/?p=2279 Still fondly remembered by the resort staff, Bruno was the adorable 9 ½ year old dog once owned by the Chairman of Orange County Resorts.

This Alsatian was bought by the Chairman to be kept in his bungalow. However, the dog kept frequenting the resort, and the staff there became fond of him. The chefs started providing him special food, such as ‘Mutton Kheema’. Bruno remained at the resort, and never returned to the bungalow after that.

Bruno

Surprisingly, the Chairman didn’t seem to mind this, and allowed Bruno to stay within the resort premises. And the dog was well taken care of there. The guests at the resort were also fond of him as he was friendly, and would escort them to places. This was particularly useful when guests didn’t know their way around the resort.As the dog took care of everyone, guests talked about it extensively.

The resort took care of Bruno just like he was any other employee. It was I who took the most care of him.
The dog escorted guests on Nature walks. It was interesting, as he would lead the walks, and warn us of the presence of elephants – a potential threat. He did this by first staying quiet, and then coming close to me. He would subsequently make strange sounds, and scratch the sand beneath him. He could automatically sense the smell of elephants.

Sadly, Bruno died when he was was 9 ½ years old. Bruno’s grave can be seen on the nature walk trail today. This location was selected as children who visited Orange County, Coorg when Bruno was a pup, still remember him fondly and ask about him when they visit the resort. It was for their sake and to honour the role that Bruno performed that he was buried in the plantation.

Bruno's Grave in the Plantations at Orange County, Coorg

Bruno’s burial was a solemn procession where around 80 -90 staff from the resort participated, with candles in their hands. Bruno’s death was also lamented by the suppliers of various products for the resort.

Fond memories of Bruno linger on in my mind and I still remember him vividly.