Taj Fisherman's Cove - In the Lap of Luxury ....

           Have you ever wanted to spend a blissful weekend – absolutely doing nothing…just strolling around in a place surrounded by lush greenery…. great food… with the sun above and the sea waves touching your feet…?!! Then the Taj Fisherman’s Cove would be an apt choice..… !! The resort can be described as a serene and beautiful place sorrounded by lush gardens, a pristine white private beach and a perfect place to take romantic walks on.. .. ;-);-) The fantastic location of the resort along the shoreline of the Bay of Bengal and the tranquil garden settings that is cultivated within adds to the beauty of the resort.

  

      There are private cottages in various categories and perfect views - garden view, sea view etc.,..& if you like to have dinner by the sea shore, they arrange private dinners and also they have open air restaurants inside the resort, that cater food with incredible views of the sea, rocks and greenery !! This is a suitable place to spend time with family and unwind from the hustle bustle of the city – in fact, this is a perfect weekend retreat as they call it...!!  

     We went to the Taj Fisherman’s Cove a couple of weeks back and stayed there during the weekend - This was my first visit to the place & I was literally surprised to see such a beautiful place with a great ambience surrounded by greenery within Chennai…the place was way beyond my expectations… Right from the welcome drink to the shell mala with which they welcome a person in the resort , the shell-shaped cottage in which we stayed , the warm and the friendly staff, the golf cabbie rides within the resort, the excellant breakfast , dinner buffets and the impeccable service… the place was fantastic and the visit was enjoyable !! And ofcourse, quality and excellance always comes with a price … !!!

The cottage with a patio and  private garden ...

Love the simple pattern on the white brick wall....

 Wicker chairs and white interiors - simple and minimalistic ..

Mirror adorned with shells...

The tranquil garden and the beautiful landscape...

Beautiful sea-view villas ... Love those stone-like exteriors...

The shell-shaped cottages facing the sea...

Stone sculptures that are commonly sold on the

roads of ECR, chennai....

The swimming pool situated amidst trees ...  

Lounge chairs by the swimming pool - a place to relax

with a good book... !!

The 'Bay view' restaurant that offers incredible views of the sea..

I took these photographs when they were setting the table...

This is one easy and lovely flower arrangement... !!

My favorite photographs are those of the reading room..
Love the black and white rug and the embroidered pillows
that  co-ordinate well with it..

 The wooden book shelf...
Isn't that artwork and the stone mask beautiful ?!?!

The 'Upper Deck' restaurant - dinner setting by the rocks... !!

Love this simple tablescape and the blue glasses ... !!

All image copyrights belong to Liven Things Up. Please donot use without permission.

     All in all, this is a place to feel pampered and soak in luxury & if you don't expect something for every penny you pay, you might have a pleasant experience and an enjoyable stay here... !!

The Dune Eco Beach Resort - the Green Paradise ....!!

Ever imagined a stay which is bestowed with best of nature with achingly breathtaking views of sea and lush greenery or a night under the stars and moonlight ? The Dune - Eco Village and Spa, a sprawling 35 acre property of landscaped gardens and organic farm offers all the above and a definite breath of fresh air for anyone bogged down by the woes of a big city.        

 

     

 The pathway in front of the 'FUN' restaurant ....!!

The picturesque setting  of  the FUN restaurant ...!!!

 Children's play area at the Dune...!!

 Chandelier made from colorful soda bottles...!!

 How I would luv to curl up here with a good book to read ..!!

 We spend a weekend at the Dune and I would call it  - "total bliss in the lap of nature " ... !!! Whether it be the lip-smacking 'Watallapan' we had at the restaurant or the activities offered at the resort ... or the endless bike rides.... or the smiling friendly staff offering to help out with anything ..or the cute resort pets 'Nash' and 'Pongo' .with their non-stop wagging tails..... It was quite an enjoyable,memorable and divine experience... !!!         

The Seafood bar dining area amidst coconut trees 
besides a pool... !!!

I love the stone table top and the multi-colored place mats ...!!

 Outdoor seating in the lawn...I love the color of the bedding - 

                      such a lovely contrast against the grass...!!              

                      

Located in Pondicherry,The Dune's pristine beach lets one soak up the old-world glamour in tranquil surrounds, while its contemporary design provides a stimulus for an exciting unpredictable experience. Difficult to choose the best, each room is unique in design, architecture and concept - whether it be the exquisitely carved ceilings of the ancient Kerala house or the artist's studio room with private pool or the  kaleidoscope of colors created by the traditional glass bangles adorning the Bangle house or the magnificient view of the Tower House perched at a height of 50 feet offering an always exciting view of the sea. Each unit houses a piece of the past, inspired by the life and customs of people hailing from the Southern part of India and antiques and curios from former South Indian palaces and colonial bungalows are used as a part of the construction. Solar hot water systems, solar lighting equipments, waste water plants have been installed to keep the reduce impact on environment. 

 

Back at the hotel, the guests can participate in various activities like boating, tennis, volley ball, cow milking, balloon shooting, organic farming or pottery making... 

Last, in spite of the numerous snaps taken at the dune...

I had to post these pictures of 'Pongo' and 'Nash' - 

the lovely pets of the Dune who gave us company.. 

and made our stay even more memorable.. !!!

All in all, I think that the dune is a green paradise of sorts... !!
Note : It was after reading this lovely post at Saffron and Silk, I was tempted to visit the Dune. Thanks a lot for sharing, Kamini.                       
        

I am linking this post to Skywatch and the Weekend Wrap Up party here.

Lake Forest – a blend of the old and the new….

     Does anyone want to wake up to the morning sun streaming in through your windows,  the delicious aroma of spices ..., the chirping of birds..., the noises of insects ....? Yes, the lake forest is that for you....

    The lake forest resort, with its period and authentic interiors is located in a live coffee estate on the bunds of the Yercaud Lake.  The resort is situated amidst coffee and spice plantations and the place is so captivating that any person who is fond of nature's delights will fall in love with it at first sight.. .. !        

          The specialty of this resort is that  no two chambers are alike -  every cottage is "unique" in its size,space, feel, style and decor.

      Upon request, the friendly staff also provide a tour of all the unoccupied  rooms and that's how I got to click these pictures ;-). All the cottages are well-lit, spacious and well-decorated and have very fabulous views.

     The Anglo-Indian architecture, the artistic display of local crafts, the wooden outdoor furniture,the giant umbrellas that cover them,  the long stretch of steps that takes to the central lawns.. are a delight to one's

eye ..

    

     The hotel also contains a large collection of authentic and antique English furniture and artifacts of yester years, which are exhibited in the guest rooms and public areas of the hotel.

  In short, this place is art, heritage,nature and beauty all combined into one  -  and anyone will enjoy the stay at Lake Forest, Yercaud.