Flora & Fauna Eco Park of Munnar, Keralam!

Truthfully, we began this day with a long car ride around Kerala, but soon enough I fell carsick and needed a reason to take a breather between these scenic mountain roads.

Perhaps a word of caution as well: if you plan to catch a glimpse of a few waterfalls along the way, definitely do not come during the early months of the year like we did, because we only got to see dry stones and sticks instead — albeit with a bit of greenery. But during the monsoon season after June, you could witness something amazing like this.

We were lucky enough to catch a view of Valara Waterfalls, which, even though distant from our viewpoint, showed just how majestic and eventful these hills can be.

And so we arrived at this eco park with no idea what to expect, simply eager to take a walk. We were first greeted by these emu birds, which honestly deserve their own emu-ji considering how expressive they are! Right after feeding one, we were captivated by the birds around us, so I even tried whistling a hello to them.

I’m choosing to believe they understood.

We then entered the reptile section, where a trained guide explained facts about mice and chameleons’ habitats, and even let us hold a docile python. It felt slightly surreal — leathery and rubbery to the touch, and not at all as bulky or smooth as I had imagined.

We also found a small honey shop on the campus that sold interesting products like honey balm and stingless bee honey, which tasted slightly floral and tangier than traditional honey. Later in the trip, we even spotted a small bee hive against a rock.

We were also able to feed the many inhabitants of this fish pool and touch their scaly skin as they grabbed treats from our palms. I was careful not to drop my phone, or it might have ended up inside one of these goldfish. And if you happen to drop the treats on the ground, no worries — the many parrots and parakeets around the enclosure will take care of them.

Which perfectly places the cherry on top of your trip around Kerala, as this park promises a bright and colorful memory, no matter how long you stay here.

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