Self sufficiency turns Joypur a fresh heaven

Great food, by all means, acts as an inseparable component when it comes to a vacation. Over and above its core skill of producing energy, it also gratifies the human soul. Food cooked with passion, and care following all the textbook advises or with years of experience gets even better if the ingredients are fresh from the garden or farmland. The immense difference was felt when we spent three days at the Joypur resort. 

The resort has its own land which has been put to cultivation that produces an array of vegetables which is picked up before the meals are prepared. Adjoining field has also various kinds of animals and birds which also support the kitchen's ever increasing want to serve the travelers. During our knowledge tour, we learned the ways fields are treated and plantation carried out.

We walked around and in the process take you along with us...

Seen here, is a farmer sowing the seeds after uprooting the topsoil

Deeper shades of green gave way to lighter ones as rows of cauliflower plants furrowed through the sea of green onions that swung in the morning breeze. The earthy wet smell of the land hung like a blanket around us. Nature had painted with precision whatever we saw - the scudding white cloud racing against the blue sky, green and brown land were supreme in its rendering.

The man-made structures of the resort brightly colored by humans were simply no match.

Long lines of cauliflower jutted out from within the green onion fields

Every single seed was meticulously sowed after the tractors sculpted the land. A battery of farmers and day laborers used archaic tools to treat the soil. 

Farmland getting copious supply of seeds that are grown, collected and replenished for the succeeding season

As we trudge over the undulating field, we are faced with two more fields that flanked the un-metalled road of lateritic soil and dry mud. On one side it was the Broccoli which existed in larger numbers, and on the other, by green onions.

They looked exquisite with their white roughed bulbs that moved from side to side as the wind made its way through them. 

The broccoli stared at the sky catching every packet of sun energy that came its way 

The ground was dry and huge hoses like fat boa constrictors ran along the ground between the plants pumping liters of water from a nearby well or reservoir.

The rhythmic beat of the diesel motor filled the air.

Green onions formed a soothing view as I panned my camera from one side to the other catching its green and white glory

The land started to rise on the southern side and an escarpment formed a barrier between field sections. We jumped on to one of the dividers and was greeted with a bowl of purple cabbage plants. making our way, we saw tender and juicy green tomatoes.

They went miles into the horizon. 

Purple cabbage, a must for Chinese dishes that were served to please the diverse palate of the inmates 

We pole vaulted at places literally to see the plants. Patches of rectangular land blocks which were kept empty for the new crop to start looked bared and ugly compared to the lushness around.

Hardly couple of feet above the ground, the low tomato plants encircled the purple cabbage plants from all sides

As we continued our excursion over the lands, a long line of shaded plants caught our eye with its white puffy look. They sat lower to the ground with its leaves touching the ground. It was the cauliflower grown in abundance.  We touched the whiter outer edge and they were cold and hard, dewdrops clung to them. The feeling of freshness was supreme as I thought about the cauliflower which I am used to seeing in the refrigerator. White turning to brown, and black reminding of its decadent age.

In the city, you can hardly get to see this level of freshness.

Cauliflowers sparkled with its white brightness, soft and sturdy; ready to be plucked

We were happy to see peas plant. The flowers danced from its stock, reminding of its intended form of developing into sweet green peas. 

Green peas grew rimming the cabbage plants. Various forms out of the three base colors of brown, green and white lay scattered 

The resort gardener did not leave any place free of plants. Bringals or Eggplants were hanging with its fresh crop. The sun rays made it glitter as it wobbled from the tentacles that held it.

Green bringals were also found on the ground near the wall. The youngsters who never saw the vegetables in its natural setting were awfully delighted

Bottle gourd was hanging too on the wall openings. The big leaves of this plant act as umbrellas for little animals and birds during the heavy rains

The farm complemented the vegetation with its mighty resources of fauna that the resort can surely boast about. Right at the entrance beyond the parking bay, rows of large cages stood. The birds on display were rare and the children in our group had the chance of having a zoo experience along with the seniors who enthralled in its uniqueness.

Sharp and slender, the blackened head of an Emu jutted out through one of the iron grill that enclosed the cage

It was the Emu, we saw, stood about two meters over the ground. Extremely agile at its pace. Its long but powerful legs can catapult it at great speed. The bird was scuttling across the cage at frightening speed. The visitors gazed on at the second largest bird after an Ostrich. 

Emu scouring for morsels of food over the sandy terrain in its strong cage

The large cages were followed by smaller ones and were stacked up one above the other. A different shape was seen popping its head. We circled back to get a closer look. 

A big population of Quail made a racket inside. Most of us saw this for the first time and remained largely excited.

A sizable number of Quails sat snugly in their parlor, merrily making squeaks as we looked on

The star attraction was the pompously sitting Turkey in its large and single cage. Being a large bird, its requirement of food was more than the others. Quite a bit of small and large containers existed inside. 

Some sort of a contraption hung, perhaps some kind of a light for increasing the egg hatching exercises.

A grand Turkey basking under the glory of our attention. Pretty used to getting human stares

We were greeted with the Donald duck sound as we walked to an opening near the lake which had another bird population. Yes, you guessed it right. A family of ducks, feathers beating they remained firmly floating on the lake surface and paid a visit to the human shores when in need for a bird exploration, I guess. 

They keep looking like sleuths for something and that condescending look on their faces of being great when our eyes met was a tad irritating.

A battalion of ducks roamed near the lakefront, completely ignoring us as we closed in

The silence was shattered when a piercing neigh brought us back to our senses. Not sure, what was the reason, we saw a pony tied to the bamboo pole under the extending section of the cages. The horse was very quiet when we crowded around it. 

I am sure, it did not like too many of us disturbing its stupor.

The lone pony, quiet and expressionless stood without a sound. Its fluttering eyelids and sweep of its neck were the only gestures we could catch

We had reached the end of the line as far as the resort exploration was concerned. A self-sustaining outfit made to address virtually all the kitchen needs. The resort itself had so much to offer. The team headed for a round of tea and the sun was inching its way to the west.

We hurriedly started to walk outside the resort to know the unknown as much we could before the darkness engulfed.

Plan to catch up soon on what we saw outside the resort.  Until then...