At the outset-
A picturesque green field on the banks of a river with a farm house and a windmill rustling beside the house… This followed by an island, totally deserted and newly discovered on the corner of the earth with no inhabitants other than us…
Really?
This wasn’t the idea behind the masterminds of Saturday’s day makers. It was a solid trip to a hill 55kms from Bangalore. A trip bound to be written and recorded, lest to be forgotten without a trace.
Who we really are-
Aided by a 22 seating capacity Swaraj Mazda we (10 of us) left the office premises at 0815hrs – delayed departure. With one more pick-up spot to be cleared (3 more), we headed with full josh . With no higher managements, we were let lose as though like a raging bull – jallikattu? Try catching us rodeos, and face the music – was the attitude!
Fast, Broken-
With full steam ahead our penultimate stop was for the grub – idlys, dosas, vadas and duplicate Fanta, 7up (I'm sounding more like the ' kaapi, tea, chaya, garama garam moofali ' ) and finally the welcome relief . With Dumb-C rolling on the rickety mazda for a roller-coaster ride on a bumpy road, our enthu got pumped more as the destination was just around the corner.
San-gap-py-
All time around it was only riding poor San-gap-py around. He was made the COA for the entire journey, never given breather from one puller to another; it was a hard day for him.
Pilgrimage?
Though the place had to be given the due reverence, it was never done. All the talks and jokes and behaviour showed only the non-pious nature of ours – genNex (How did the ghee turn to butter?). This was shattered when the first temple was in the vicinity, all duly removed their sandals and shoes and went inside for the darshan (theirs or gods?). Then started the trek of a life, for many. Only 450mts above sea-level, it was one good task up the hill, with virtual stairs carved out to indicate that these can be used as steps. It tested every pilgrim and his belief. Hmmm… Pilgrimage, it was. Though defined as a journey to sanctum destination, we believe it was a pilgrimage for the un-happened life of ours. To define a place as sanctum, it must be qualified to give peace. It was one reliever and breather. And it was well respected by all.
Supreme-
Pit-stops ruling the journey, it was heavily competed by the unknowingly-cheeky remarks from Reddy- garu . Gyans, marvels and jaw openers also constituted the entire travel. What do we call the architect of this world? With nature showing how beautiful she can be, an atheist can almost convince himself of the existence of the Supreme. Words are mere descriptions of the arrogance, marvels, charisma – she can be. These need to be seen and felt and well, I respect all the pagan (?) worshipers.
Awe struck!
Well, let me try to word-play what we saw, first there was Sun peeking threw a largely grayish cloud threatening to unleash droplets of water which can drill a hole through head to feet only to be saved by gas medium providing the necessary friction to slow down. “Enough of your look at the meekly Earth!” says the clouds to the Sun and starts with warning of drizzle and then pours. By this time we were near the second pit-stop (first one – a sugar cane juice stall) – a lemon juice/ churmuri (hope I’m right!). The view from behind this stall can only make your jaw drop (remember the fox/wolf in Droopy and Dripple?) to the ground (just one of the large numbers to follow), with the blanket of cloud till the horizon, isolated showers hither and thither and with one huge shower approaching us, Oh My GOD! I’m loss at words to describe how it was. Pardon me! I’m dumbstruck to even imagine it or recollect, to pen them down.
Someone’s watching-
This was the last stop before the final climb to the summit. With announced warnings from the returners about the Monkey-Menace, we climbed bravely after hiding our bags under our jackets. The climb became more treacherous and reached vertical limits at few places. With un-reliable rusty railings running at the sides of the carved stairs, bags and bottles to hold on and many pairs of eyes watching our every step forward, we were dangerously moving to the source of the trouble. This is when the next force showed his power – Wind. Making everything in its way to whistle and dance to its tune, maan! we were heading strong.
Koothula-Komali-
Few more metres above, we would have had a touch down and relaxed a bit. But, the pairs of eyes that were following us finally appeared before us and the first thing it does, tries to attack (by climbing on the victim to snatch the hand-bag) the meekest of the lot – Shilpa, the ever Animal-Lover. Well, that particular incident would have made her to doubt on her animal loving habits. And who comes to rescue? Me! Clueless on how to deal with the situation, all I could manage was few ‘ shoos ’ albeit a stick in my hand (I couldn’t do more). Maan! That scared the hell out of me. And from then on to be mocked as a Monkey-Slayer. (Still wondering whether that was to be an insult or a pat on my back; I’ll take it be the former). Koothula-komali?! (translates to a clown in the show: circus).
Nandy (A stylish Remo uttering the same?!)
We finally reached the Nandi and people climbed the remaining stairs to reach the Nandi and circumnavigate it once or how many ever times their caste asked to do. The view from there was spectacular and the sound would be deafening with the wind reaching its top speed.
Man on top-
Then few more feet above was a cliff shaped like the hull of a ship. This was when the hilarious part started: there was a group with a foreigner with them. At the very end of the cliff were two pillars and on one of them was a thing to light the deepam , one of the people from group climbed the pillar and posed for a few shoots. With another person carrying a back-pack in their group, what was to follow was tension gripped and finally ended in a comic note. Seeing the man with back-pack, herds of monkey came on to attack (‘avalanche of monkeys’ would be an appropriate statement) and everyone tried to either shoo them or tried to defend themselves with sticks. All this while, the man on top (Sweekrath’s question on 360deg?) was still on top. And right at the bottom of the pillar were the herds of monkeys inquisitively searching the contents of the plastic that was thrown away to distract their attention. The poor fellow was able to get down only when the herd dispersed.
Descend-
We then stayed there for a while (How will it be to lie on your back in that place during the night with starry night, which would resemble a diamond studded black velvet?) and then moved on to the drop-zone, used by the king to slaughter or throw off their prisoners. It was one heck of a view down. With that it was time to leave; a downward journey with no monkeys was a relieving site. One more pit stop for drinks and then it was all the way down with ‘wait’ at few places.
Feast-
The next destination which was planned had to be ditched as we were already running out of time. We directly went to nearest food court (A Reliance venture) and gobbled up as much as we can, and started on the Jaw-Breaking Choco bars.
BANG and Subbu-
The booing, hooing and howling continued for the return journey as well. None were spared! We put a ‘O’ for our driver and one for Shwetha ‘aunty’ and then, disaster struck – BANG – the van ripped off the bumper of a Maruti 800. We had a long wait there. And the Public- Aapiser arrived from no where and explained that he saw the whole incident, and our hero appeared – Subbu! Maan! you need to be like him on these grounds!!! Well, there was chaos everywhere and Sanjay came in and explained that I need to escort the girls to home as it may be longer before the issue is resolved, but hmmm… we thought we’ll wait for some more time before deciding. So finally all ended after a vigorous exchange of words and a police man visiting and waiting no longer as it was petty and of no concern to him even though we were actually causing a nuisance on the middle of the road!
We finally reached office and dispersed.
Three cheers to all those masterminds and entertainers (It’s addressed at all, as without you orchestrating the show it would have ended up in a dull note, thanks for the symphony, guys!). Let’s make the next one more memorable. Guys, you really rock!
Pictures-
All of them are 640X480 VGA resolution, please bear!
A picturesque green field on the banks of a river with a farm house and a windmill rustling beside the house… This followed by an island, totally deserted and newly discovered on the corner of the earth with no inhabitants other than us…
Really?
This wasn’t the idea behind the masterminds of Saturday’s day makers. It was a solid trip to a hill 55kms from Bangalore. A trip bound to be written and recorded, lest to be forgotten without a trace.
Who we really are-
Aided by a 22 seating capacity Swaraj Mazda we (10 of us) left the office premises at 0815hrs – delayed departure. With one more pick-up spot to be cleared (3 more), we headed with full josh . With no higher managements, we were let lose as though like a raging bull – jallikattu? Try catching us rodeos, and face the music – was the attitude!
Fast, Broken-
With full steam ahead our penultimate stop was for the grub – idlys, dosas, vadas and duplicate Fanta, 7up (I'm sounding more like the ' kaapi, tea, chaya, garama garam moofali ' ) and finally the welcome relief . With Dumb-C rolling on the rickety mazda for a roller-coaster ride on a bumpy road, our enthu got pumped more as the destination was just around the corner.
San-gap-py-
All time around it was only riding poor San-gap-py around. He was made the COA for the entire journey, never given breather from one puller to another; it was a hard day for him.
Pilgrimage?
Though the place had to be given the due reverence, it was never done. All the talks and jokes and behaviour showed only the non-pious nature of ours – genNex (How did the ghee turn to butter?). This was shattered when the first temple was in the vicinity, all duly removed their sandals and shoes and went inside for the darshan (theirs or gods?). Then started the trek of a life, for many. Only 450mts above sea-level, it was one good task up the hill, with virtual stairs carved out to indicate that these can be used as steps. It tested every pilgrim and his belief. Hmmm… Pilgrimage, it was. Though defined as a journey to sanctum destination, we believe it was a pilgrimage for the un-happened life of ours. To define a place as sanctum, it must be qualified to give peace. It was one reliever and breather. And it was well respected by all.
Supreme-
Pit-stops ruling the journey, it was heavily competed by the unknowingly-cheeky remarks from Reddy- garu . Gyans, marvels and jaw openers also constituted the entire travel. What do we call the architect of this world? With nature showing how beautiful she can be, an atheist can almost convince himself of the existence of the Supreme. Words are mere descriptions of the arrogance, marvels, charisma – she can be. These need to be seen and felt and well, I respect all the pagan (?) worshipers.
Awe struck!
Well, let me try to word-play what we saw, first there was Sun peeking threw a largely grayish cloud threatening to unleash droplets of water which can drill a hole through head to feet only to be saved by gas medium providing the necessary friction to slow down. “Enough of your look at the meekly Earth!” says the clouds to the Sun and starts with warning of drizzle and then pours. By this time we were near the second pit-stop (first one – a sugar cane juice stall) – a lemon juice/ churmuri (hope I’m right!). The view from behind this stall can only make your jaw drop (remember the fox/wolf in Droopy and Dripple?) to the ground (just one of the large numbers to follow), with the blanket of cloud till the horizon, isolated showers hither and thither and with one huge shower approaching us, Oh My GOD! I’m loss at words to describe how it was. Pardon me! I’m dumbstruck to even imagine it or recollect, to pen them down.
Someone’s watching-
This was the last stop before the final climb to the summit. With announced warnings from the returners about the Monkey-Menace, we climbed bravely after hiding our bags under our jackets. The climb became more treacherous and reached vertical limits at few places. With un-reliable rusty railings running at the sides of the carved stairs, bags and bottles to hold on and many pairs of eyes watching our every step forward, we were dangerously moving to the source of the trouble. This is when the next force showed his power – Wind. Making everything in its way to whistle and dance to its tune, maan! we were heading strong.
Koothula-Komali-
Few more metres above, we would have had a touch down and relaxed a bit. But, the pairs of eyes that were following us finally appeared before us and the first thing it does, tries to attack (by climbing on the victim to snatch the hand-bag) the meekest of the lot – Shilpa, the ever Animal-Lover. Well, that particular incident would have made her to doubt on her animal loving habits. And who comes to rescue? Me! Clueless on how to deal with the situation, all I could manage was few ‘ shoos ’ albeit a stick in my hand (I couldn’t do more). Maan! That scared the hell out of me. And from then on to be mocked as a Monkey-Slayer. (Still wondering whether that was to be an insult or a pat on my back; I’ll take it be the former). Koothula-komali?! (translates to a clown in the show: circus).
Nandy (A stylish Remo uttering the same?!)
We finally reached the Nandi and people climbed the remaining stairs to reach the Nandi and circumnavigate it once or how many ever times their caste asked to do. The view from there was spectacular and the sound would be deafening with the wind reaching its top speed.
Man on top-
Then few more feet above was a cliff shaped like the hull of a ship. This was when the hilarious part started: there was a group with a foreigner with them. At the very end of the cliff were two pillars and on one of them was a thing to light the deepam , one of the people from group climbed the pillar and posed for a few shoots. With another person carrying a back-pack in their group, what was to follow was tension gripped and finally ended in a comic note. Seeing the man with back-pack, herds of monkey came on to attack (‘avalanche of monkeys’ would be an appropriate statement) and everyone tried to either shoo them or tried to defend themselves with sticks. All this while, the man on top (Sweekrath’s question on 360deg?) was still on top. And right at the bottom of the pillar were the herds of monkeys inquisitively searching the contents of the plastic that was thrown away to distract their attention. The poor fellow was able to get down only when the herd dispersed.
Descend-
We then stayed there for a while (How will it be to lie on your back in that place during the night with starry night, which would resemble a diamond studded black velvet?) and then moved on to the drop-zone, used by the king to slaughter or throw off their prisoners. It was one heck of a view down. With that it was time to leave; a downward journey with no monkeys was a relieving site. One more pit stop for drinks and then it was all the way down with ‘wait’ at few places.
Feast-
The next destination which was planned had to be ditched as we were already running out of time. We directly went to nearest food court (A Reliance venture) and gobbled up as much as we can, and started on the Jaw-Breaking Choco bars.
BANG and Subbu-
The booing, hooing and howling continued for the return journey as well. None were spared! We put a ‘O’ for our driver and one for Shwetha ‘aunty’ and then, disaster struck – BANG – the van ripped off the bumper of a Maruti 800. We had a long wait there. And the Public- Aapiser arrived from no where and explained that he saw the whole incident, and our hero appeared – Subbu! Maan! you need to be like him on these grounds!!! Well, there was chaos everywhere and Sanjay came in and explained that I need to escort the girls to home as it may be longer before the issue is resolved, but hmmm… we thought we’ll wait for some more time before deciding. So finally all ended after a vigorous exchange of words and a police man visiting and waiting no longer as it was petty and of no concern to him even though we were actually causing a nuisance on the middle of the road!
We finally reached office and dispersed.
Three cheers to all those masterminds and entertainers (It’s addressed at all, as without you orchestrating the show it would have ended up in a dull note, thanks for the symphony, guys!). Let’s make the next one more memorable. Guys, you really rock!
Pictures-
All of them are 640X480 VGA resolution, please bear!
Disclaimer: No one was intentionally insulted or pinned down in the whole journey. Also no animals were hurt during the entire episode.
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