Many kinds of flowers and plants in the agriculture area - Karma Lakelands.

THE LOCKDOWN REVELATIONS

Our residents recount their quarantine experiences at Karma Lakelands during the recent lockdown that brought life to a halt as the country braced itself for a drawn out battle against Covid 19.

PARADISE GAINED

It is 6:15 a.m. We exit our home and turn right onto Bougainvillea Avenue. Just a few steps past RD and Kailash’s home, the bougainvilleas are coming into full bloom. They’re paler this year—COVID, perhaps? Maybe they will deepen as the sun grows stronger. But the variety of colour is amazing: orange, pink, red, white—all resplendent in a beautiful palette.

It is so beautiful that we decide not to turn at the 5th hole but carry on down the road to enjoy the last stretch, which is always the most colourful. It does not disappoint. They say bougainvilleas bloom in misery, so this section must be the most water-starved, for they are in full bloom!

We reach the end of the drive and decide to turn right. Another slice of paradise—the Amaltas on both sides of the road are in full bloom, and a beautiful golden carpet of fallen flowers decorates the ground. The trees are bedecked with their golden ornaments, all set to embrace the passions of the summer sun.

We are too drunk on the beauty around us to notice some movement on the right—and almost walk past. Some sixth sense makes me focus on the clearing, and there is a peacock practising his seduction in full plumage. He twirls a couple of times for us and then stalks away regally.

A close up shot of the vegetation and tree in the outdoor area - Karma Lakelands.
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We decide to get adventurous and take a right along an abandoned path leading into the Karma jungle. Some movement in the bushes diagonally ahead—and yes, it is the swishing tails of a small herd of nilgai sheltering in a grove of trees. They shy away as we approach, and we are apologetic for disturbing them.

We emerge onto the main road and, after a few steps, hop over the checkpost on the right to enter the golf course at the tee box of the 7th hole. And there it is—one of the most beautiful sights at Karma Lakelands: the giant lotus ponds. We’ve never seen lotus leaves this big, and since it is a cloudy morning and the sun has not yet risen, the flowers are still semi-closed. An amazing sight, enhanced by the variety of birdlife around the pond.

We continue towards the 7th green and watch a golfer hit his (third?) shot onto the green. I lose sight of the ball, but miraculously, a white dot appears on the lush green surface, rolling steadfastly towards the pin. We are enjoying the walk so much that we decide to extend it—turning left and walking along the silver oaks towards the 8th green. The sky is cloudy, and the bare tree on the 8th green looks almost defiantly against the dark, brooding sky.

We make a U-turn and walk back towards the 9th hole. A kingfisher perches atop the tall tree to the left of the cart path, and a coucal scurries away. The 1st hole is getting crowded with Saturday-morning golfers, impatient to tee off. We regretfully retrace our steps, pausing only to admire the beautiful fountains in full flow. By 7:00 a.m., we are back home. What an absolutely glorious way to start the day!

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