[SDP]

Originally Posted by laluks

SDP,

I was laughing at the story of the soccer fruit .

In fact that fruit is called Noni, and the tree is called the tree of life. This tree bears fruit all year round. The fruit definitely have a very distinct and unpleasant smell. This smell induces vomiting sensation and hence the nick name vomit fruit also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morinda_citrifolia

This fellow grows along the rivers all through out Kerala. The fruit is non palatable due to its pungent smell and bland taste, but fermenting it to make noni juice would be a good idea, if you have the time and inclination to do all that.

I have one tree at home for experimentation
Attachment 1132110

You are an encyclopedia!
All the best with the experimentation and the juice idea! Have fun.

[SDP]

There was always something new just around the corner.


Can you spot the dragonfly?


How about now?


Just the green freshness of simple leaves was soothing to the eyes.














The soccer ball shaped fruit again.


The kids were tired by now.


Looking for crabs.


Saw a caterpillar rapelling down from a tree.






Landed safely on a leaf.




During most of the trail, we walked through water.

[SDP]

That's Jignesh. He was extremely helpful during the trail...right from helping carry a bag to taking care of the kidos. Thanks Jignesh!


The trail has thick vegetation on both sides.


A man-made watering hole.


A machan used to watch and do annual animal-census.






10:15am: Suddenly we found ourselves next to a stream.


The team announced that this is the end-point of the trail and we would return from here post snacks.






Peaceful experince sitting next to the stream.




An umbrella provided a dash of color in the overdose of green.


Flowing water has that effect on many!


The cold water felt amazing on the tired feet.

[SDP]

10:45am: Time to head back.




Some clicks during the return journey.






Cup and Saucer!






We weren't stopping after every 20 feet. So the same distance took significantly lesser while walking back.


The bug on the yellow flower was still there.


The Shilonda trail gate.


Found an interesting insect.








Two baby monkeys playing.


A couple enjoying a private moment.


The streams were invaded by youngsters by this time.




The stream was tempting me for a quick dip.

[SDP]

Last set of pics.







We crossed the bridge again.




This seems like a major picnic area.


Police training.


This park has so much to offer and there are just so many things to explore, that its amazing!


















Bid goodbye to Jignesh and the rest of the team around 11:45am.
The SGNP is a paradise in the midst of a noisy, dirty, polluted city. Made a promise to myself that at least I would visit it more often.

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by SDP

That's Jignesh. He was extremely helpful during the trail...right from helping carry a bag to taking care of the kidos. Thanks Jignesh!

Helo SDP,

Thank you for the appreciation. Helping others somehow comes naturally to me. Also all the through the trail I was sorely missing my six year old daughter who could have had great time with other kids & nature around. Unfortunately she has to go to IMA classes on Saturdays.

Originally Posted by SDP

The SGNP is a paradise in the midst of a noisy, dirty, polluted city. Made a promise to myself that at least I would visit it more often.

That is precisely we Mumbaikar's need to do - Promise ourselves to visit the National park often. It is really amazing to have such a wondelful natural paradise inside one of the most polluted cities of the world. After seeing the beautiful Vihar lake, I wish to get permissions to visit the Tulsi lake, especially in monsoons.

Thanks,

[carzone]

And finally I gather time to go through this part of the trip. After the interesting thread from Jignesh, this had a complete different perspective. Loads of photographs as we BHPians like.

Yes, SGNP is a bliss for us Mumbaikars from all the pollution we have in the city. The freshness you get after a walk there in the morning is something that has to be experienced.

Heard in the news now that Indian Railways is now thinking of building a railway track that goes through the SGNP and are offering a huge sum for it. If this goes through, it would be a big blow for the environment we have in there and also the whatever little wild life remaining in there. There is no other place in Mumbai atleast now where you can experience the nature in such a way.

SDP, now we are waiting for the next part of your trips!

[Top-Gear]

Originally Posted by Jignesh

That is precisely we Mumbaikar's need to do - Promise ourselves to visit the National park often. It is really amazing to have such a wondelful natural paradise inside one of the most polluted cities of the world. After seeing the beautiful Vihar lake, I wish to get permissions to visit the Tulsi lake, especially in monsoons.

Thanks,

Oh, so how can we get permission to visit these places? You know, couple of weekends ago, we had to return back since Vihar lake is off bounds for peace loving people like us! :-)

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by Top-Gear

Oh, so how can we get permission to visit these places? You know, couple of weekends ago, we had to return back since Vihar lake is off bounds for peace loving people like us! :-)

Last year sometime in September, I was exploring Aarey Area with a colleague & we landed at Vihar lake gates. Luckily the security guard was not present there & we managed to enter the lake premises. On reaching the lake wall, we were literally taken aback by the beauty the lake has to offer. By no means we could believe that we are standing right in middle of Mumbai.
We were there for approx 10 / 15 minutes then a security guard came running towards us. He asked us could you read Marathi & we said no. He ask us to return back & pointed towards a notice board in Marathi mentioning that entry to Vihar Lake is restricted after 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

Anyways regarding permits to visit Tulsi Lake, I believe these are available to ecologists & environmentalists at SGNP Entry gate at Borivali. I have read on internet that Tulsi lake is a ideal place to spot fresh water crocodiles

Thanks,

[ampere]

The stream looks beautiful and crystal clear. It would have been painful for people sitting next to it to stand and move on !

@SDP can you mark the location on Google maps ? I cant find it.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by ampere

The stream looks beautiful and crystal clear. It would have been painful for people sitting next to it to stand and move on !

@SDP can you mark the location on Google maps ? I cant find it.

Should be 19.227868,72.877501.
Wikipmapia shows the entrace to the Shilonda trail a little bit farther. But its within 100-200 meters off the coordinates above.