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Trip to Kodai Kanal (26th of March to 28th of March)
Feb 26th –
8.00 pm- Abhi’s dad picked us up & dropped us at Egmore Station
9.30 pm- We board Pandian Express
10.00 pm – Hunger strikes! Thanks to Abhi and Balaji, they offered to bring dinner for us. Idli with tomato chutney, & curd rice. Eternal bliss to all of us, except Dada, who is unable to figure out the pleasure we south Indians derive out of eating curd rice.Mathangi resists the temptation as she had had her dinner at home, at last, she gives up and goes for a second roundJ
Feb 27th
3.00 am – Mathangi & Balaji are olarufying as they don feel sleepy! Dada is keeping an eye on everyone by lying down in Padmanabha swamy styleJ
5.00 am – We reach Kodai Road station from where we took a cab to Kodai Hill, which is an hour and half long journey. Actually, we hit straight to Mathangi’s estate, which is like 30 mins drive from Kodai Hills. The journey was simply mind boggling as our car zigzagged through the curvy hills. As we started climbing up, the chillness only increased and all our tiredness seemed to vanish due to the encapsulating beauty around.
7.30 am-Mathangi’s Estate – Till the time we reached the estate, we were all discussing of resting for a while, probably take a quick nap before we started towards Kodai. However, as we landed in this beautiful estate in the middle of the hills, we all were so captivated by the beauty of nature around us that all our tiredness of the journey just vanished. Nature at its best! That is what it was! No internet, no traffic noises, no pollutions, no programs on television (though they had done), the only noise was that of birds chirping, various noises from insects and cool breeze blowing across our face.
10.15 am- Break fast – Hot Idli with chutney and sambar
10.30 am- Trekking! – We trekked downhill and return inside the estate. A really short trek, but felt good doing it after years!
11.00 am – On our way to Kodai. We hit straight to the lake to do boating, guess what? We took a rowing boat with no clue whatsoever as to how to row. I totally freaked at the thought as I do not know swimming. Kamal took the task of rowing, after a short period of trial and error; he started navigating the boat towards the other end of the lake. He mastered the art so quickly that we rechristened him Capt.KamalJ. Guys, everyone time the weight shifted from one end to another, thanks to Dada who could not stay stable for long, my heart skipped a beat. It’s a different thing that all the others – Kamal, Indranil, Mathangi and Krishna promised to save me if the boat tossed upside down…grrrrrrrrrrh!
12.45 pm- Cycling – All my friends decided to go cycling, except me and Balaji. We decide to walk along the lake till our friends return. Felt nice to have a long chat with mama, caught up on a lot of
things!
3.00 pm – Lunch time – We grabbed a quick lunch at Hotel Hilton before we started our return journey to the estate. South Indian cannot cook good north indian food and vice versa. Period. Halted at food world to pick up some stuff…oh man, you should have seen the variety of home-made chocolates displayed here.
4.00 pm – Most of the gang are fast asleep, except Mats, me & Kamal. We decide to play badminton. It was after 8 long years that I held a racket in my hand and I was playing against a State-level champion (Mathangi). She made me realized how long it was since I had played the sport. But it was good fun. Balaji joined us after sometime and before we knew all of us played the game for 3 hrs at a stretch. It’s time to freshen-up and settle down around the campfire.
7.30 pm- Campfire – I, Mats and Dada had decided on having a small drink (just to ensure that we don’t catch cold, guys, believe usJ). Dada went for red wine & we both settled for Vodka (this is why we stopped on our way back home from KodaiJ). Bonfire, drink in our hand, friends around me, music to soothe the ears and the setup is in a estate house located amidst the hills with chillness biting into our skin – do I need to say more?
9.10 pm– Feeling a little high, I start off on a 4 course dinner!
10.30 pm- Time to hit the bed. Before I know I’m fast asleep.
28th of Feb
6.30 am – Woke up to a beautiful view of sunrise from our room. Could not think of anything but grabbed the camera and ventured into the estate to do some photography. I managed to get some great pics. After one hour for strolling in the estate I walk towards the kitchen to have some chai, and what do I see? 5people, vaguely resembling my friends, are involved in some serious discussion with paper strewn all over the dining table. What’s the occasion? IB exam that was due next day. I tried in vain to disturb them so they would wrap up and we could chit-chat L hard luck! So, I decided to go back to my photography.
9.30 am – Breakfast – This time its dosa and upma with pudhina chutney
11.00 am – Boating at Kodai Lake, yes, again! This time around it’s the peddle boat J
12.00 noon – Cycling – This time me & Balaji joined the group, we took a tandem cycle J(Why??Coz I donno cyclingL) It was an amazing ride (probably not for Balaji, as he was the one peddling and I was the pillion rider). After a while Kamal and Mathangi took turns with me on the tandem cycle. Guess what, Kamal managed to race on this cycle, leaving all other single riders behind…yippee! 3 cheers to cycling champion Kamal.
1.30 pm – Coakers walk (also called the suicide point) - A British guy roamed around in the hills and discovered this spot, hence the name. Truly a breathtaking view from the hilltop. One wrong step and it’s the end all of a person.
2.15 pm – Lunch at a Punjabi restaurant. South Indian cannot cook good north indian food and vice versa. Period.
2.45 pm – A bit of shopping, spices and fruits!
3.30 pm – On our way back to the estate, with a heavy heart that all good things have to come to an end
4.30 pm – Sat in the garden to enjoy the peace around for a while, pondering how much activity has transpired in less than 32 hrs…time to pack up!
6.30 pm – On our way to Kodai station – The topic of discussion varies from communism in Kolkata to history of politics in TN. How important is to love the company for one to love the job?? A heated debate continues….
8.15 pm – Kodai Road Station
8.45 pm – We start walking towards our platform, Mathangi is walking behind me. I just put my luggage on the platform and look around, only to find her shouting in pain. She has fallen and twisted her leg. We rush to her and help her get up and sit on the chair. Her leg is swollen beyond imagination L Kamal & Krishna managed to get some pain relievers and ointment. We kept ice pack on the swelling and it seemed to be subsiding. We have a train to catch in next 8-10 mins, she has to walk to the platform…she is not even able to put her feet down. Best part, train stops precisely for 2 mins at Kodai Road junction…what do we do? Take her to Madurai for treatment, she is in deep pain giving us a fear that it could be a fracture…Thankfully, swelling started coming down and we decided to continue our journey. Called for a wheel chair, shifted her to the platform… now the big question, will we be able to shift her inside the train, and all of us (6) manage to get in with our entire luggage. A real-time operations scenario- Kamal & Balaji decides to help her get on to the train. 4 of us decide to take the entire luggage and hop on to the train from the other entrance. Train approaches and the action began. We just manage to hop-on with all the luggage and train starts moving…right on time! It was a truly learning experience.
1st of March
5.30 am – Egmore Station – Helped Mathangi hop-on to her car and the rest of us took a cab back home.
Feb 26th –
8.00 pm- Abhi’s dad picked us up & dropped us at Egmore Station
9.30 pm- We board Pandian Express
10.00 pm – Hunger strikes! Thanks to Abhi and Balaji, they offered to bring dinner for us. Idli with tomato chutney, & curd rice. Eternal bliss to all of us, except Dada, who is unable to figure out the pleasure we south Indians derive out of eating curd rice.Mathangi resists the temptation as she had had her dinner at home, at last, she gives up and goes for a second roundJ
Feb 27th
3.00 am – Mathangi & Balaji are olarufying as they don feel sleepy! Dada is keeping an eye on everyone by lying down in Padmanabha swamy styleJ
5.00 am – We reach Kodai Road station from where we took a cab to Kodai Hill, which is an hour and half long journey. Actually, we hit straight to Mathangi’s estate, which is like 30 mins drive from Kodai Hills. The journey was simply mind boggling as our car zigzagged through the curvy hills. As we started climbing up, the chillness only increased and all our tiredness seemed to vanish due to the encapsulating beauty around.
7.30 am-Mathangi’s Estate – Till the time we reached the estate, we were all discussing of resting for a while, probably take a quick nap before we started towards Kodai. However, as we landed in this beautiful estate in the middle of the hills, we all were so captivated by the beauty of nature around us that all our tiredness of the journey just vanished. Nature at its best! That is what it was! No internet, no traffic noises, no pollutions, no programs on television (though they had done), the only noise was that of birds chirping, various noises from insects and cool breeze blowing across our face.
10.15 am- Break fast – Hot Idli with chutney and sambar
10.30 am- Trekking! – We trekked downhill and return inside the estate. A really short trek, but felt good doing it after years!
11.00 am – On our way to Kodai. We hit straight to the lake to do boating, guess what? We took a rowing boat with no clue whatsoever as to how to row. I totally freaked at the thought as I do not know swimming. Kamal took the task of rowing, after a short period of trial and error; he started navigating the boat towards the other end of the lake. He mastered the art so quickly that we rechristened him Capt.KamalJ. Guys, everyone time the weight shifted from one end to another, thanks to Dada who could not stay stable for long, my heart skipped a beat. It’s a different thing that all the others – Kamal, Indranil, Mathangi and Krishna promised to save me if the boat tossed upside down…grrrrrrrrrrh!
12.45 pm- Cycling – All my friends decided to go cycling, except me and Balaji. We decide to walk along the lake till our friends return. Felt nice to have a long chat with mama, caught up on a lot of
things!
3.00 pm – Lunch time – We grabbed a quick lunch at Hotel Hilton before we started our return journey to the estate. South Indian cannot cook good north indian food and vice versa. Period. Halted at food world to pick up some stuff…oh man, you should have seen the variety of home-made chocolates displayed here.
4.00 pm – Most of the gang are fast asleep, except Mats, me & Kamal. We decide to play badminton. It was after 8 long years that I held a racket in my hand and I was playing against a State-level champion (Mathangi). She made me realized how long it was since I had played the sport. But it was good fun. Balaji joined us after sometime and before we knew all of us played the game for 3 hrs at a stretch. It’s time to freshen-up and settle down around the campfire.
7.30 pm- Campfire – I, Mats and Dada had decided on having a small drink (just to ensure that we don’t catch cold, guys, believe usJ). Dada went for red wine & we both settled for Vodka (this is why we stopped on our way back home from KodaiJ). Bonfire, drink in our hand, friends around me, music to soothe the ears and the setup is in a estate house located amidst the hills with chillness biting into our skin – do I need to say more?
9.10 pm– Feeling a little high, I start off on a 4 course dinner!
10.30 pm- Time to hit the bed. Before I know I’m fast asleep.
28th of Feb
6.30 am – Woke up to a beautiful view of sunrise from our room. Could not think of anything but grabbed the camera and ventured into the estate to do some photography. I managed to get some great pics. After one hour for strolling in the estate I walk towards the kitchen to have some chai, and what do I see? 5people, vaguely resembling my friends, are involved in some serious discussion with paper strewn all over the dining table. What’s the occasion? IB exam that was due next day. I tried in vain to disturb them so they would wrap up and we could chit-chat L hard luck! So, I decided to go back to my photography.
9.30 am – Breakfast – This time its dosa and upma with pudhina chutney
11.00 am – Boating at Kodai Lake, yes, again! This time around it’s the peddle boat J
12.00 noon – Cycling – This time me & Balaji joined the group, we took a tandem cycle J(Why??Coz I donno cyclingL) It was an amazing ride (probably not for Balaji, as he was the one peddling and I was the pillion rider). After a while Kamal and Mathangi took turns with me on the tandem cycle. Guess what, Kamal managed to race on this cycle, leaving all other single riders behind…yippee! 3 cheers to cycling champion Kamal.
1.30 pm – Coakers walk (also called the suicide point) - A British guy roamed around in the hills and discovered this spot, hence the name. Truly a breathtaking view from the hilltop. One wrong step and it’s the end all of a person.
2.15 pm – Lunch at a Punjabi restaurant. South Indian cannot cook good north indian food and vice versa. Period.
2.45 pm – A bit of shopping, spices and fruits!
3.30 pm – On our way back to the estate, with a heavy heart that all good things have to come to an end
4.30 pm – Sat in the garden to enjoy the peace around for a while, pondering how much activity has transpired in less than 32 hrs…time to pack up!
6.30 pm – On our way to Kodai station – The topic of discussion varies from communism in Kolkata to history of politics in TN. How important is to love the company for one to love the job?? A heated debate continues….
8.15 pm – Kodai Road Station
8.45 pm – We start walking towards our platform, Mathangi is walking behind me. I just put my luggage on the platform and look around, only to find her shouting in pain. She has fallen and twisted her leg. We rush to her and help her get up and sit on the chair. Her leg is swollen beyond imagination L Kamal & Krishna managed to get some pain relievers and ointment. We kept ice pack on the swelling and it seemed to be subsiding. We have a train to catch in next 8-10 mins, she has to walk to the platform…she is not even able to put her feet down. Best part, train stops precisely for 2 mins at Kodai Road junction…what do we do? Take her to Madurai for treatment, she is in deep pain giving us a fear that it could be a fracture…Thankfully, swelling started coming down and we decided to continue our journey. Called for a wheel chair, shifted her to the platform… now the big question, will we be able to shift her inside the train, and all of us (6) manage to get in with our entire luggage. A real-time operations scenario- Kamal & Balaji decides to help her get on to the train. 4 of us decide to take the entire luggage and hop on to the train from the other entrance. Train approaches and the action began. We just manage to hop-on with all the luggage and train starts moving…right on time! It was a truly learning experience.
1st of March
5.30 am – Egmore Station – Helped Mathangi hop-on to her car and the rest of us took a cab back home.
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