Our Time at Amber Farms, Karjat

We just could not leave Mumbai early enough to get here in the perfect time for lunch. The drive from Bandra is not really that bad. It was nearly half past four as we pulled in. As you enter the gates you really feel like you have entered a different world. You are immersed in the extensive green zone that has been created. Bougainvilleas and frangipanis of myriad hues can be seen. Numerous varieties of mango trees. Leaves that we had never seen before. Various fruit trees. Immaculate lawns. Lotus pond. Water bodies. It is a feast for the eyes and the air is a veritable treat for the lungs. Sadly I don't know the names of the multitude of trees and plants that you can see. Numerous new sights, smells and sounds engage our senses and not data as in our daily lives. But being city folk we hungrily keep searching for data.

The house itself is charming. A lot of love and attention has been paid to detail. And every piece of furniture has character. Solid wooden entrance door, four poster beds, coffee table with intricate inlay work stacked with great books to peruse, colourful lamps and a grand wooden dining table. The spaces are large and luxurious.

Even though it was so late, Shantatai was sweetly waiting to give us lunch. Being so late we did have a snack on the way. So we didn't really attack the meal. But the local style home made meal was very yummy and nourishing.

Of course being late April it was warm in the day. Not unbearable. Not burning. The green cover ensures that some impact of the summer is mitigated. Around the patio and in the cabana there are fans to keep you comfortable.

Keep in mind that the internet does not work too well here and there is no wifi. Only the wife and you. There is a TV but we are not addicts and hence we did not even attempt to switch that on. But the staff assured us that it works. So it can get a bit quiet. Being city people we are all the time distracted by the data that keeps hitting us. So here is a chance to introspect, connect with yourself and with the one you love. It was just the two of us.

We chatted a lot, cuddled and kissed, tried responding to messages on 2G (horrible experience), read a little, wrote some, slept early and very very soundly, did a lot of thinking and planning, heard the birds and the crickets, saw the stars, discussed upcoming trips.... time like this is to re-connect, re-bond, to experience a peace and silence that is not possible in the city. Sexual intimacy is definitely on the cards on trips like this....But here we were so relaxed and the pure air lulled us into this gentle and sleepy mode that the night was spent sleeping and cuddling.

The dinner itself was just amazingly cooked mutton with some rice. Perfectly cooked, soft and yet not falling off the bone, spicy and yet not hurting the system, it was so so enjoyable. And with that we got the sweetest every raw carrot to eat in the salad. Simply loved it. Shantatai had outdone herself.

As the sun sets the place cools down and we were able to enjoy our dinner on the patio outside listening to nature talk. The biodiversity on this little piece of earth is quite amazing, kudos to our hosts for creating and preserving this space.