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The experience at Orange County Kabini, begins long before you actually reach the place. Whilst... ..
The experience at Orange County Kabini, begins long before you actually reach the place. Whilst you make a booking, speak to the sales personnel at their regional office, or for that matter even the receptionist at the resort. Orange County resorts have their own opening salutation or a buzz word for perfect hospitality - ‘Namaskara’ which in Kannada is the equivalent of ‘Namaskar’ in Hindi or ‘Vanakkam’ in Tamil, or similar greeting in any Indian language. And the depth of this word is only fully understood when you reach the place and experience a stay. So as opposed to a mere ‘Hello’ this greeting is very emotional and the brand differentiation starts with your very first call to the resort or office. And it is sustained through your stay or return.
Once our bookings were in place we were called (and emailed) and the staff made sure everything was in order. Directions to the place (it is almost 3 hours from Mysore, mainly due to bad roads, but then any up-country road in Karnataka is pathetic) were bang on. Not just the antique design map that one can download from their website, but even the lady at the reception was bang on in her navigation to the place. We didn’t need a GPS. Besides we also had quite a few road signs leading us to the resort. Since we had underestimated the travel time we couldn’t reach there for lunch as scheduled. ‘Never mind, Sir’, she consoled us midway to the resort, ‘we will keep food warm even after the kitchen closes at 3’. And warm food it was that was served when we got there.
You pass through a typical village road or whatever there was of a road, but when we reached there it was paradise. The security was informed of our coming, gates opened without a fuss. Then we were welcomed in typical ‘Kaadu Kuruba’ style. (Orange County Kabini resort is based on the local Kaadu Kuraba tribe, who inhabit the areas in and around the forests of Nagarhole and Bandipur.) with the tribal trumpets and local wind instruments. For a moment we felt like a tribal chief heralded into the main building. (And Chief Vitalstatistix or for that matter Cacofonix would have loved it too)
So everything you see in and around the resort is 100% themed around this tribe. The resort (if seen from a helicopter would look like a Kaadu Kuraba hamlet). The reception too is very unlike any resort lobby. It’s like entering a large village house. Registration was done in a jiffy while one of the reception staff handled the introductions to the resort. All like clockwork. Informal but informative.
We were ushered into our Pool Hut (called Pool villa in OC Coorg) quite a distance away from the main reception and dining areas, as most resorts are built. It was walking through a real hamlet. Stone pathways, lined with trees and bushes that are part of the local flora. Each tree and plant had wooden signs with the botanical nomenclature as well as the local name. Our pool hut was a huge hut. Complete with a mini pool (complete with long beach chairs) inside each hut, large patio, huge hall, bedroom fit for a tribal chief (read king), and a large bathroom. All furniture made from local wood trunks, branches and bamboo. Roof, typically ‘Kuruba’. All of us looked at each other and said just one word - ‘awesome’. Everything was in place. The minibar was full of goodies (at no extra cost), stationery with the Orange County theme and all communication including the menus with one theme running across.
All around there was greenery. The grass on the sides were well manicured and cleaned from time to time. The pathways were cleaned every day, even the path lights were made of clay pots.
The restaurants in the main building were impressive. The food that was spread out mostly local fare. Loved the pumpkin curry, boiled rice, ragi rotis, among othes. Attention to detail was what struck us most. All the staff would greet you with a ‘Namaskara’ and a broad smile. The company HR surely did their jobs well. A Kuruba grill restaurant alongside also gives one a ‘home away from home’ food. Especially seafood.
We spent two days at Orange County Kabini. We did not just sit by the pool (it was the end of monsoon rains so we encountered wet weather all through) but the days were packed with activities. Early morning wildlife safari, evening boat safari on the Kabini river. Nature walks, tribal dance show (with actual tribals giving us a half hour song and dance show).
The Boat safari and Nature walk was a wonderful experience. Our naturalist Mr Venktesh was really a walking encyclopaedia. He had a wealth of information on plants, birds, wildlife and the local history. Amazing. Everyone were looked after well especially when it rained and they were well stocked with raincoats, umbrellas etc, so even the rains didn’t play spoilsport.
Most resorts do have similar events and leisure activities, but at Orange County Kabini, we rediscovered nature. We got a feel of the local tribal way of living (though in five star comfort), food and flora and fauna. Besides 40% of the staff were employed from local areas. The washrooms were immaculately clean (even in the monsoon).
After two days of experiencing ‘Namaskara’ and ‘Kaadu Kuraba’ we realized that we did check out of the place but we could never leave. Ask anyone who’d been there. We did and they all felt the same. One elderly Parsi couple from Nagpur who were with us said to us ‘see you here next year’.
That’s Orange County Kabini for you. There is something extraordinary in the place that will bring you back there. Perhaps it’s an old Kaadu Kuruba jungle saying.
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