Hi

I know you all are very busy with the releases and the project. I did not imagine that after a wonderful trip, the work will come to us so frantically. The entire mood – relaxed, calm and serene were all gone the very next day in the office! But would not you like to go through the same journey as we had already been last week? Alright, some of you might be jealous for not be able to make up to such a wonderful trip, but don’t worry we won’t stop making you all the more jealous!

Members of the trip – Sirjee, Baish, Probal, Sachin & his wife Mrunali, Kiran Nama, Shiva, Abhinav, Himanshu, Shalabh, Pallavi, Reema, Aishwariya, Jyothi, Sonia, Varun, Niranjan, Vignesh and Sunpreet.

Day 1

We started the journey in high spirits. It was not very long enough to realise that our stomach was crying for some food. Sachin and his wife, Mrunali came to our rescue. We had awesome methi paranthas in the bus which were the starters! P.S. Special mention to packing of the paranthas done by Sachin (Really good!!!). Our stomach still cried for some more.

Stop # 1: Maddur Tiffanny’s

The very famous maddur vada was not to be missed especially when we were crossing its birth place. At Maddur Tiffanny’s we had a good and hearty breakfast (we made sure that we don’t overstuff ourselves) and resumed our journey there on! Before we were boarding our bus again Vignesh comes to me to give me a very interesting piece of news. This was regarding the homestay which we had booked in Coorg. It was then that I came to know, that the homestay which we had booked, was haunted! I froze completely. Knowing this fact was hard to gulp in. But I still mustered my courage and chose to keep shut.. (I desperately wanted to know the truth about the stay.. I was scared..seriously).

It becomes a very long journey if you go all by yourself even for a 3 hrs drive. But with 19 mad people packed in a bus, how can the journey be uninteresting? Be it Aishwariya’s non stop laughing and teasing Abhinav (ok I am bound here to mention who she was teasing all way, but I can mention why she was teasing.. that is a bit confidential..) or Himanshu’s stand up comedies. There was never a dull moment in our bus.

Even though there was constant flow of energy in the bus, all were falling asleep and taking rest. After all everybody woke up early in the morning!! Sleeping is one activity which anybody can do at any given point of time.. talking about me, I was the first one to drop!! Did not realise what happened next...

Stop # 2: Namdroling Monastery Golden Temple

The bus stopped and I finally woke up! Crouching and lazing, we all walked up to the monastery. Its serene environment felt so soothing. We were lucky enough to catch the monks chanting their prayers. The whole surrounding was filled with melodious chants which mesmerized all of us. We did notice that some of the monks were on bunk! :) Alright I did not complain to the headmaster..lucky them who could bunk freely.. Ahh.. I miss college... I am sure, most of you would agree that college was the best time! Alright coming back to track, monastery was a place of learning for the monks. So it was no less than a school (and bunking was allowed!!). We left from there at 1.20 p.m.

After getting back into the bus, a wave of energy had filled into us. All the lethargic feeling was drowning away from us. Maybe monastery’s energetic environment had something to do! We played Dumb-Sharats after listening to repeated songs over again and again (the music player stuck and played one and half songs after every jerk it faced! Mauja hi Mauja was repeating again and again! We decided to give it a break!!!)
It was a long drive. Thanks to our driver, who thought we went out for an extended weekend and hence he was driving accordingly, slowly and coolly. The sun was shining at its best with breeze flowing through our windows. We were falling asleep, one by one till we reached our next destination.

Stop # 3: Nisarga Dhama

It was a short drive from monastery to NisargaDhama. This was the spot where we had decided that we would spend some time, have lunch then proceed to Dubare. But, where there is water, I must admit, people lose control of themselves!! Well before losing control, we all had the most delicious lunch prepared by all of us.. Starting from Puri (prepared by Reema), Aloo-Sabzi (Sunpreet), Chilly Soya (Me), Kesari Bhath (Jyothi) and dessert i.e. Gulab Jamun (Sonia)..Fruits were also a part of our mean (Courtesy – Niranjan). We have damn good chefs in our team!!

Short after the lunch, it was time to make a splash in water! The rest we not explain.. Spending 3 hours in water says it all.. The breeze was cool, made me shiver, but the team’s excitement and zeal was unmatchable. People came and left the place, but we were splashing till it was time to close the place!! Waao..I can imagine if they never closed that place, my team would have probably caught up there forever!!(Save Phoenix!!!!)

After a lot of splashing and swirling in the water, time to change. It was freezing (at least for me).. Not less than 2 cups of coffee would have helped. There was not time to go to Dubare.. we already spent so much time!! Time to go towards our homestay..

Stop # 4: Homestay

Homestay.... it brought me creeps whenever they discussed about it. They were very serious about it being haunted. I was hoping that it was all a prank which they were putting up on me! But wait, did I tell you that our homestay was the cheapest (325 per head with dinner included!!!) which was offered to us, amongst all of them! Thanks to Abhinav, Baish and Kiran, who made it even more horrid as they started to tell me stories about the house!! I was suspicious.. very very suspicious.. Could there be something wrong? Was there something we were going to experience?

Suddenly, our bus stopped in the middle of nowhere.. We all were struggling for mobile phone signal..At that point of time, there was no signal for any mobile operator! We were told that a guy would come and meet us who will take us to the homestay. It was drizzling outside. There was not even a single source of light coming from anywhere outside.

We were asked to walk through this small elevated path which was leading to our homestay!! (My god..that scared the **** out of me).. Walking through the dense forest, no source of light.. We all were definitely scared!! After walking for a while, we were called back in the bus ( thank god!!!).. But it was not helping us anyway.. we all were talking of the various possibilities that was waiting for us in the middle of the dense forest, away from the city with NO MOBILE SIGNAL!! Can it be any worse???

Finally, after so many chantings (Gayatri mantra, Mritunjaya mantra and what not!!), I mustered some courage to walk up to the room..We were given two rooms, which was upstairs..It was very scary as the breeze touched our faces (as if ghosts are touching you now and then), and drizzling rain made it more horrifying!!

Entering the room gave me creeps..the window was wide open with pitch black outside. Can it be anymore worse than this? I thought to myself. Then I made a point to cling to at least one person.
After a while, when I toured the place, I came to know that the whole story was bizarre! I mean how could such a beautiful house be haunted? Alright, the location and all gave me creeps, but that was a part of being in Coorg!! We spent the rest of the night talking and playing antakshri while the bonfire lit up for more than 3 hours, making all of us comfortable in the chilly weather!!

Day 2

After the creepy night (which was not all that creepy, once we spent some time together) we welcomed the new day with a healthy trek through the coffee plantations.
P.S. Clicking of pictures did not stop ever!! We made sure that we cross thousand mark (and yes we did it). That is the reason, even though we went for a morning trek, shutterbugs did not stop following us!! :)

If a trek was not enough, then our fitness freak MPL players found some place to practice. If cricket was not there, then I wonder what would men do without it? (and Jyothi was busy collecting her bouquet of flowers). We were served tea in the meantime. It was time to get ready! (what?? Do you guys want all details about getting ready as well?? I don’t think that’s allowed!! :) )

By 9.30, we were all ready and had initial phase of breakfast (bread and cheese – Courtesy Varun and meetha achaar – Courtesy Aishwariya). It was time to bid adieu homestay (which wasn’t haunted obviously, cause I am very much alive.. :) ). We marched towards our next destination..

Stop # 5: TalaCauvery

After almost two hours of drive, we reached the sacred place, TalaCauvery. Our shutterbugs did not stop following in the temple as well! And we clicked and clicked!! Way to the topmost point in Coorg was via this temple (or you can say it was inside the temple range!!). When I raised my eyes to look at the point where I had to reach, I almost gave up!! Thank god, my team never loses its spirit and makes the point that we all are together, no matter even if we had to climb 340 stairs!! (really steep ones...) I really thank my team for all the spirit and support which they had constantly provided while climbing. Reaching the topmost point was worth it! The view was exuberant and the cool breeze eased off all the pains.

After clicking hundreds of pictures, it was time to move forward! It was already 1 p.m. Our stomach started to cry again for food! (Till how long can we ignore ‘paapi pet ki awaaz’??)

Stop # 6: Restaurant

I wish I could note down the name of the restaurant, but was so much drowsy and sleepy that it slipped out of my mind! But anyway, I still remember the food. It was a very good North Karnataka Meal (much better than what is served in our campus- no offence Madhuram and Kamat!! ) It was already 3 p.m. To move further and catch Abbey Falls was now out of question! If we would have gone for it, definitely reaching Bangalore would have been very difficult on the very same day!

Still some of us wanted to visit Dubare. There were some disagreements, but finally we heeded towards Dubare (another water spot!! Time to make a splash again?? Naaah!!!).

Stop # 7 : Dubare

Reached Dubare at around 4 p.m. It was much calm than Nisarga Dhama. We were already worried about getting back to Bangalore on time, and thought of making any more splashes was clearly not coming across our minds (although many of us did want to jump into water.. but constraints!! :)). We went spent about half an hour at Dubare, sitting on the rocks nearby and obviously getting clicked!!

After having an evening break (tea and coffee), we marched towards our final destination - Bangalore. The madness did not stop even for a while! By the time we reached Bangalore, almost everybody was asleep.. I was trying very hard to keep my eyes open..and thanks to Sirjee, Abhinav and Hsoney who were my companions in staying awake while others were sleeping!!

Overall, the high spirits and amazing energy of our team did not cease at any point of time! It always brings good memories when I go through the whole course of the trip. I know it is quite an elaborated article, but trust me, I can fill pages and pages just writing about this!!

I am sure, good memories are always welcome to one’s thought!! With this I want to conclude our wonderful trip!! Hope we plan for some more fun moments together!!

Pallavi Sinha