Call it presence of mind?? :-)

This happened in my final year of Engineering. Time to start off with our projects and we had our 0th review (zeroth review?? sounds terribly crazy?? but that was how it was called). Each team had to come and give a presentation on the project that had been taken up. Premalatha and me had planned to automate the Attendance Management System (idhellaam oru project-a nu nariya per kettanga) and we were the fourth team to present. We were taken by shock when we saw the second team giving a presentation on "Leave Management System " (adhu mattum oru project-a?? ;-) ) . And when our turn came, as soon as I started giving my presentation, our HOD stopped me asking a valid question with a strict tone, "Looks like your team and Rajesh' team are doing the same project, tell me what's different about your project and then proceed with your presentation, if not, stop and take up some other project". Before I could realise, I found myself blurting "Sir, they concentrate on absence while we concentrate more on presence" just to see an outburst of laughter from everybody with a "Very Good, Very Good" from my HOD. But then, I saw the other team going red and I tried to soothe things saying "Well, we just touch leave system while they are analyzing it in detail" and had to stop to see my HOD still laughing.... :-)

Clay Modelling from Astha

My friend Astha, is pretty passionate about clay modelling and she had given this article earlier. Here she goes...

Got a Hobby: Clay Modeling!



1. What ingredients are required?

Clay modeling is an art that deals with shaping up soil. The basic ingredient is wet mud, usually covered with wet sacks to keep it moist. Nowadays an ingredient called ‘patti’ (used by glass workers to join pieces of glass) is available in the market. This is less expensive and can be used instead of mud.

Secondly, you require tools. There are many tools available for modeling clay. If you are a beginner on a tight budget, it is possible to make your own tools from hair pins to old credit cards; anything can be used as a tool here.

Last but not the least, you require good imagination. I’ve seen many people confuse this art with painting and give up on it. I’d like to clarify that these are two different art forms. I feel clay modeling is specific and simpler than painting.



2. How does one get started?

One just needs a clay blob to get started. Your hands are your best sculpting instruments.



3. Method for making clay models...

There are three steps to modeling clay:


Creating form
Adding detail
Finishing

When you start, you just have a clay blob. First, you need to create a rough shape. You can do this with your hands. This method is called creating a form.

Once you’ve come up with a rough shape, you need to add details to this form. You might require cutting some portion of clay or adding some more parts to it. Cutting can be done by using slim wires.

The third step is to smooth the imperfections. If you’re using clay, you can wet your hands in water and then use fingers to smoothen the edges.


4. Tips for beginners...

Always remember the CAF rule: Create Form, Add Details, and Finish
Beginners can work well with just plain mud and use their hands to craft it. This is the basic art of clay modeling
Begin by creating simple items like bells, jewellery, crockery, etc. Once you gain confidence, take on sculpting human figures


5. How can one enhance their models?

One can enhance their models by using paint or accessories. Using tools also helps. Clay modeling, according to me, requires an individualistic approach. Finally, it’s you ideas that are taking form.

Now that's a pretty good article...Any questions, contact : asthadhar@gmail.com

Is cooking an art??

Have always wondered if cooking is really an art.. For whenever I cook, either it is awesome or awful, never consistent. I have prepared rasam about hundred times already, and I still go wrong sometimes. Reminded of the Shahi Tukda that I prepared when I was in my eleventh standard. Noted the recipe from TV and prepared it that evening. It was awful, I had to throw it away just like that. Vaaila vekkakooda mudiyale. Was telling my cousin about how bad it was and she heard my Shahi Tukda as Saaptu Thuppuda!!! ;-). Right hearing and right name!!!! :P:P

Well, we have always loved our mom's cooking and I have always wanted to be a super cook too, but laziness never made me go into the kitchen and try out new recipes. I do cook, but take hours (not anymore , you see :-) ).. I remember preparing a supposed-to-be-Naan with a supposed-to-be paneer peas masala for three hours. My uncle and dad had come for dinner and 7:00 pm and I remember serving them at 10:00. Though it was good, I realised that cooking means tasty dish at the quickest time, add nutrition to it. And more to it, I usually cook in huge quantities, and just because we shouldnt waste it, we have excess food which prevents one from relishing it. And dad always says, that whenever you cook, cook the correct quantity or less, makes the consumer (consumer?? ;-) ) ask for more and leaves a lasting taste too. Have found that to be true. So one more recipe to good cooking skills.

And we need to love what we do for it to turn out well. And that holds good for cooking too. My husband has a passion for cooking, prepares multicuisinary dishes, mostly innovative stuffs and everytime they turn out to be jus yummy. Have seen how he cooks, he adds this, he adds that, he adds whatever he feels like adding and finishes. Thats why he cannot explain any recipe, because he has no standard way of cooking (like what I have). I've started admiring his way of cooking thats pretty neat and interesting and SIMPLE. When I see him cook , I just feel that cooking is nothing, just a matter of interest and love for food. He added vegetables, tomatos and onions to our Dosai maavu and called it Kuzhi Paniyaaram ( I've always thought that preparing Kuzhi paniyaaram was very difficult), stuffed all the remaining vegetables in chappathi maavu and made stuffed paratha and a lot of such things. Well, maybe they are really simple, but I never knew that things can actually be prepared with so much ease.

Actually speaking, seems that love for the person you cook for adds taste to food and thats why moms cook so well. Vivek heard about this from his mom and came home once when we got engaged and asked me to cook. I told him not to link this and that, was terribly worried :-) but actually, the dinner was pretty good that day. He said he really loved it (is that true or a consolation for himself?? I dont know ;-) ) but found my sis growing red saying that I'v never prepared such a food for her :P:P. But last Sunday I prepared a complete meal in less than one hour and Vivek said that it was terribly awesome and the best food I've prepared, well, we actually fought then :P:P Anyways, love for the food and for the person being served (provided he is a lover of food) is an essential ingredient to good cooking.

Cooking is definitely an art :-)

Me writing about cooking?? Difficult to believe, but looks like I've got a passion for it. My friend, Kaushik, was saying the other day "Aunty (Jayanthi ezhuthufied as Jayaanthi Jayaaanthi and Jaya Aunty) no more talking about work (have I ever done that?) only molagu kozhambu and seeraga rasam from now on"... well, I think that's right, Kaushik :-)

Do check out my cousin's site --
http://aarthirajesh.sslpowered.com/kitchen/

P.S : Cutting the vegetables is also an art, adds more interest to cooking, actually. And to add flavour, a passion towards maintaining the kitchen, using appropriate dishes and arranging them makes cooking an interesting art.

Are helmets really necessary?

Came across an accident last week at Kotturpuram. The guy should be around 25 only and had passed away the moment the accident had happened. Not sure if a bus hit him lightly when he was on his bike. But he had lost his life. No injuries anywhere in his body, no blood stains anywhere on his shirt or pant, just that his head was smashed with his brain lying partly outside. Does that ring a bell? Well, all of us know the vitality of helmets, yet, either we are lazy because am one too who doesn't wear a helmet just coz it has to be dusted or cleaned which I take ages to do or we feel that the helmet is suffocating and irritating. But isnt suffocation better than losing our life? Have heard people saying that its all fate and that if we are to die, however careful we are , we will die and if we are to live, even if we lie on a track, the train would just stop. Well, I strongly feel that they are mere justifications and aren't we supposed to treasure this life that comes just once? Helmets are necessary, both for the driver and for the pillion rider.

Do check out this site that I came across : http://www.bhsi.org/crashmor.htm

Jus wondering....

Well, created the blogspot today, finally... Have been thinking for a pretty long time about becoming a blogger, but laziness again :-) in fact, I had a few write-ups also. Have been wondering as to why I write essays, ore long long-a. Wont the reader be terribly bored? But then, at times, I feel that I write certain stuffs for myself, like the Wayanad trip, just to relive those wonderful moments, so why miss details. Otherwise, I'v always appreciated crispy writings and I would love to become a writer who is precise and sharp and I think am far away from that. I use a thousand sentences to convey one statement ;-). Have seen blood from people's ears :P... (reminded of a kid we visited yesterday, my husband was casually remarking to the kid's mom "Aunty, kaadhula irundhu rathama varudhu" and the kid said "enga kaatu" :-) ). Well, want to become a good writer first and then an effective one.. Let's see..

Sodhappals over the phone

Am so bad at remembering voices over the phone and have had my own share of what-to-say experiences.. Remember a few of them...

INCIDENT 1

I think the first flop was when I was trying to call up one of my school friends. Should have happened in my eleventh standard. At the receiving end was a lady’s voice and I immediately recognized it to be my friend’s mom. Now, am pretty much acquainted with his mom and she’s such a friendly and nice lady. I’v always felt a lot comfortable talking to her and here was how the conversation went.

Aunty : Hello!
Me : Helloooooo Aunty!!! Eppadi irukkael??? (How are you??)
Aunty : (After a small pause) Oh nanna irukken ma (am fine!!)
Me : Ellarum eppadi irukka? (How are everybody?)
Aunty : Everybody are fine ma.
Me : (Aunty talking in English, that too stylishly?? She talks in Tamil only na)
Enna Aunty, Peter ellaam vidarel??
Aunty : Peter-a??
Me : (I could have shut up, but then!! ) Peter na English pesarudhu aunty!!
English-la ellaam pesarel!!!
Aunty : Oohhhh!!!
Me : (Atleast now, I could have stopped talking and asked for my friend).
Samachaacha Aunty??
Aunty : Oh over ma!!!

I’v been wondering all through the conversation as to what happened to her voice, she sounded so different. I don’t remember what more I spoke, but finally, after about ten minutes (I generally talk to his mom for so much time)

Me : Aunty, Murali, Lalitha yaaravadhu irukkaangala??
Aunty : Murali, Lalithava?? Appadi yaarum illiye ma!!
Me : (Ooopsss!! Who am I talking to) Oh sorry aunty, naan nanachen en friend-oda
amma kitta pesittirukken-nu. Avangalum ungala maadhiri dhaan pesuvaanga
(appadiya??)
Aunty : oh!!! Naanum en ponnoda friend dhaan pesaraalo-nu nanachen ma!!
Me : Sorry Aunty!! Bye!!! (aaayyyyoooooo!!!!!)
Aunty : Bye ma!!!



Oops, what a kolarupadi, anyways, thank goodness!! As long as we don’t know each other!!

Now, Praveen is my best friend and I called him right away to tell him about what had happened. Now, when dialing his number, something struck me. Hey, this number seems familiar!!! Oops man!! I had called this number only earlier!! Oh !!!!! then I should have been talking to Praveen’s mom. Gosh!! I’v not spoken much to her and she was my school teacher too. By the time, I could realize all this, Praveen picked up the phone. I could have just kept quiet. But, alas!! I blurted out everything to him and he conveyed that to his mom when I was on the line only. Ayyyoooo!!! How embarrassing!! Had I kept quiet, his mom wouldn’t have known that it was me….me and my mouth!!! Huh!!!

Well, now, his mom and me talk so well and have a hearty laugh whenever we are reminded of this incident.

INCIDENT 2

I guess I was in the third year of my Engineering then. Puppy and me went over to Frank's place one Saturday afternoon. We had a lovely chat with him and his mom and all the three of us went to Candar’s place after that. And then, as it was growing late, I borrowed Candar’s vehicle, dropped Puppy home, came back to Frank’s place to leave the vehicle. Santhosh and me found that Frank and his mom had gone out and I was introduced to Frank’s brother. After mokkai pottufying with him , I decided to go home. Now, Frank had left a message for me. He wanted to call him up and let him know that I have reached home. So, as sincere as I am, the moment I went home, I called him up.

Me : Hello, Frank irukkana?
Male : Illiye, neenga yaaru??
Me : (Immediately recognised that it was his brother) Hey, naandhaan Jayanthi
pesaren!! Frank friend!!! Naan veetukku vandhuttenu avan vandha sollidariya?
Male : Veetukka? Enga irundhu?
Me : Hey, naan ippo un veetukku vandhen illa, puppy-ya drop pannittu
adhukkappuram anga vandiya vechutu, bus pidichu enga veettuku bathirama
vandhutten!! (hayyo!!)
Male : Oh appadiya?? Ok!! Kandippa sollidaren!!
Me : Thanks!!!! (oru smile-oda…appadiye phone-a vachirukkalaam illa!! I
went on) nee enna practice-ku poliya??
Male : Enna practice??
Me : Oye, Frank thambi dhaane pesare??
Male : Illa ma, naan Frankoda appa pesaren!!!!



Hayyo!!! What a kolarupadi!! Idhula “thambi dhaane PESARE” vera?? Hayoo!!!! And then I had to mutter a hundred sorrys, but uncle was so sweet. He was really cool and very very friendly. He was asking me what I spoke about reaching home and all that, and, normally only, I confuse; that moment, out of tension I confused him like anything and put down the phone, only to hear a call from Frank after sometime that he didn’t understand anything JJ. I am never easily understood ;-) But uncle was really cool and friendly...

INCIDENT 3

Once there was a call on our landline. I picked up

Me : Hello!!!
Other end : hello!
Me : yaar venum??
Other end : Rajagopal irukkara??
Me : Illa avar class-la busy-a irukkar!! Apram phone panreengala?
Other end : Aamam, adhu periya class-u!! aracha maavaye arachuttu busy
veraya?
Me : (blood boiling) Hello!! Mariyadhaya pesunga!! Yaar neenga??
Other end : pinna enna ma!! Avar kitta phone-a kudu!! Avar class-la onnum
solli thandhu kizhikkaporadhilla!!
Me : (fully furious) ungala pathi enna nanaichittirukkenga!!
Mariyadhaya kedukka vendaamenu parkaren, mariyadhaya pesu illaati phone-a
vai!!!
Other end : enna ammanikku romba kovam varudhu pola!! Naan dhaan
Selvakumar pesaren ma!!

Oops!! I recognised the voice to be familiar but anger kinda blindfolded me… so that was dad’s close pal and I was relieved…



romba pesitteno!!! JJ ennikku dhaan pesale-nu nariya per sollardhu en kaadhula vizhudhu!!! :-)

INCIDENT 4

There was a call on our landline once… My uncle used to call up almost everyday at almost the same time, afternoons.

Me : Hello!!
Other end : Hellooooooooo!!!!! (with all the intonations!!! So I immediately
recognised it to be my uncle)
Me : haaan…..heeellllooooo!!!! sollungo!!!
Other end : Sir irukkaara??? (again with an intonation)
Me : Sir illiye!!!neenga en kooda pesalaame!!!
Other end : Neenga yaarumaa??? (thirumbi oru izhuvai)
Me : Naan dhaan ungaloda marumaal pesaren, MAAMA!!!
Other end :
Me : Helllooooo (with the same intonation)!!! Irukkeengala illa illiya?
Other end : Sir irukkara? (this time no izhuvai, but the voice was similar, I had
a doubt, but am so much used to his games that this time I resolved…
Me : illa!!! (with the same sharp intonation that he used)
Other end : yaar pesareenga???
Me : ungalukku oru vaati sonna puriyardhe illa maama!!! Cha!!! JJ

And the line got disconnected. Now, I was used to this also from my uncle. So, I just left it at that. Told mom that uncle had called up, played the fool and put the phone down. Only to hear that uncle was not in town that day JJ



Think thats enough for the time being.... hope I dont remember any more kolarupadis.

1 year old's Birthday Invite

Wrote this for my cousin who turned a year old recently.. The child extending her invitation for her birthday.. Was sitting in the bus when my uncle asked me to write, just thought about her, whatever she does and lo, got this poem in twenty minutes. Journey does help :-) and Maama has been kind enough to put this in the card ;-)

Appa n Amma call me Prathu kutti,
I'v jus started doing a lot of looti,
Keeping my parents always on duty,
Dont you think am a cute li'l beauty?

Tapping my kutti feet, I stand up n try to walk,
Hey, very soon, you will hear my mazhalai talk...
When papa leaves to office, I rush to catch his feet,
And pamper sweet mama with my jus-come two teeth.

Am going to complete a lovely one year,
For which I want to invite my near and dear;
Evlo velai irundhaalum, please dont miss,
Come , wish , Bless and give me a lovely kiss.

With huggies (;-)) and kissies,

Prathyaksha.

A lovely trip to a lovely place - Wayanad!!!

It was mid 2005. At work, we believed and indulged in the “All chat and no work makes the team a lively one” funda. We hit upon a tour plan. There were loose talks about going on a tour for a pretty long time, but then things substantiated by the end of July when we realized that we were going to have three days off at a stretch (no office or no work at office are all the same, but for the attendance ;-) ). After a small round of discussions, we finally decided that the place is gonna be Wayanad in Kerala. Heard from a few people that it’s an awesome place and worth visiting. We started getting things ready immediately. The lucky people were finalized, train tickets were booked, accommodation was confirmed and the outings in Wayanad were planned too.

And as bad luck would have it, I was put into a hectic project at the wrong time and had a delivery happening then. Oh how much I wished I were idle to get into the wonderworld of going on a tour with a super lively team. Actually, it’s been a pretty long time since I went on a tour with friends and this was something I was looking forward to so much and the main enthusiastic factor being the group formed then. Anyways, managed to finish off work by 5:30 pm on 12th August, 2006 and we started for Central from office. Oh the superb feeling!!!!!!!!

We were twelve and there was so much joy and life as people started joining at the station. Finally, we started and had a chatty chatty night getting introduced to people we didn’t know earlier who had joined the trip. Slept well in the train that night. Oh!! That’s what I really love, night journeys in the train beside the window. Takes me to a state of high happiness and joy.

Got up early to see the sunrise and beautiful Kerala. The whole world might have fantastic and popular places, but Kerala is the most splendid place I’v ever seen. The lush green scenario is what attracts anybody there. And we spent a beautiful 3 hours watching the blissful sceneries.

Reached Calicut and boarded a mini van to Wayanad. Oh that journey!! One of the best journeys one can ever have. The light green surroundings, clean roads, cool climate and drizzles now and then made the journey awesome. The inner joy at the splendid scenes would find its way out through a smile on the lips. Oh man!! Could a one-hour journey be this wonderful too??

Reached Wayanad and we were pretty concerned about the most economical accommodation that we had to avail. We had planned so late that we lost the best accommodations. But then, surprise of surprises!!! The hotel we had booked was pretty neat and compact and just lovely. Oops!! Can never get a better accommodation at such a low cost.

We had a quick bath and rushed to Woodlands for a superb lunch. Hogged like anything as we skipped our breakfast and started for the go-around that we were looking forward to the most. We were going to Soochipara Waterfalls. Well, the van dropped us at the entrance saying that we had to go down-trekking. The place was unkempt. It had rained and the land was so marshy and slippery. They were steeps and we held each other’s hands for a safe walk (rather run, as it was so steep). I realised that my flat shoes were dangerous and removed them just to realize again that bare foot was still more slippery. Oops, I wore the shoes again and the marsh on my foot prevented me from having a grip on them…Oh what a kolarupadi!!

We were going down (sliding??) the hill and we seriously doubted if there was any falls. Huh!! There was no sound of the falls too. Was reminded of our Talacauvery trip. We went up the hill, it was an hour’s journey I guess and we didn’t have any clue of the falls. I had pictured a Niagara there with a hushing sound and heavy pour which is how possibly, such a big river could have originated. But till the end, the place was dead silent, and finally, to oru shock of shocks, we were shown a small pond with a tiny orifice at its end which is supposed to be the originating point of Cauvery. Oh how disappointing!!! Jus wished that Soochipara also doesn’t turn out to be one.

There were a bunch of school students who preceded us and the ground turned more slippery due to the disturbance. We just wished that none of us went rolling down. There were places where we had no other option than a small jump and that jump might most probably lead to a fall. There were places where we had to hold a tree trunk or a protruding branch to cross. Oh Oh!! Am somebody, who keeps tripping and falling quite often, this seemed like a big bo to me. (lookin out for what Bo means?? I use such words when I don’t find the right one ;-) )

I guess it’s been pretty long since we started and were seriously hoping for a glimpse of the falls. I was somewhere at the last, after all the shoe and slippery things. There was a sudden joyous yell from our team-mates who were far ahead of us. Yo, there was something waiting. And in a few minutes, I saw that too!! Oh what a scene!! In fact, the best scene in my life so far. We stood there agape with wonder at the panorama that opened up before us. There was a strong gush of white water fallin down, throwing drops and drizzles all over the place. The water was gushing away through the rocks and we had to stand on the rocks about ten feet away from the falls. Climbing down the huge rocks and crossing the water to reach the closest rock was risky. But after that, the few minutes spent there could be the best few minutes in one’s life. It was dusk, so the day had turned cooler, the cool droplets falling all over making one gradually wet, the sound of the hushing falls and the smile of the water flowing through and me standing between…A Blessing, it is!! God’s creation cannot be better. Makes you feel that God is truly great and His miracles and wonders are truly the best Blessings.

All of us literally fell for the blissful scene. The tiredness and longing just vanished as what we saw is what one might not even have dreamt to see. And slowly I realized, that I did manage to make my way down without slipping or falling which I never expected to J. It was then that I saw one of my friends standing at the edge of the rock and had her feet in the water. Oh man! How can I miss that, shouldn’t I feel the gushing, chill, fresh water too? I shouted to her saying that am coming too, moved fast in my excitement, and slipped fully into the water. Only my head and shoulders were on the rock thanks to Vijaya (yeah..thats the friend who tempted me ). She caught hold of my hands and prevented me from being washed away. At that moment, my hand which had my handbag was fully into water and the strong flow was almost sweeping it off. There was about fifteen thousand rupees in it (I was the accountant there J ) and I couldn’t afford to leave the bag too. Finally, two more people came to my help and I managed to hold the bag and slowly sit up. Oh!! That second! Had it not been for her, I wonder!!! Managed to say a HI to Yama and said “Will get back later” ;-).

After a bunch of “Are you ok?” “Jayanthi, do u remember me?”, “Jayanthi, what is this, five or four?” , people concluded that I was ok. We decided to move. After capturing a bunch of fotos there, we were asked to move out as it started to darken. I was among the first to move out (am a girl and girls and elders always moved out first L ). Guys stayed back capturing photos and dancing and bathing. And later I realized that two other guys fell down too at the same place. Lucky place eh ;-)

And when we started going back, we realized that it was still more tough. Places that we jumped had to be climbed now with no solid or rough surfaces. We held each others hands to climb up and that was when I cursed myself for having worn tight jeans. Huh!! I wasn’t just able to climb up steep rocks, couldn’t jump up either, no small rocks as a step too. Two people just pulled me up (thank goodness, if it were now, for my weight, I guess I’d have had to stay back there) and finally the most kashtamana rock was done with. JJJ

And we had to shout out to the guys who were enjoying there to come back (stomach burning!!! ). And we started moving up slowly. Our legs started aching immediately and found the up-hill task quite strenuous. After all, the eagerness and slippery downs took us quite quickly and the return was filled with tiredness and missings feelings for the falls. My white kurtha was filled with mud stains and my shoes were in an awful condition.

We returned to our room that day and my first job was to wash the kurtas and jeans and shoes and have a warm water pleasant bath. That the kurtas and jeans never dried is not be considered here J. We then went out to an enclosed restaurant to have dinner and the bill for the hungry 12 of us was just 185/- JJ.

We woke up early the next day, pretty eager to visit the other places too and got ready on time only to find the other guys still sleeping. Managed somehow to wake them up and it was ten when we were ready. Our planned time to start was 7. J. We had a quick breakfast and started to Kuruva Islands. The journey was again awesome. This time we were traveling between dense hills, travelling in a valley effect. We finally reached the place to find a river gushing across. Came to know from two young boys who were making boats there that the island was closed due to the floods LL. Oh, that’s really sad. The island is supposed to be the second best place there and we didn’t get even a glimpse. But we didn’t regret our travel as the surroundings were just too good. Uninhabited plain land, view of the hills, gushing waters, trees here and there, classical huts were so captive.

We had an amazing time enjoying the lovely scenery and started off for the Sanctuary. Now we were traveling in what gave a glimpse of a forest. Dense trees overshadowing the roads and the cool pleasant climate were mind blowing. We got down here and there to enjoy the lovely sceneries.

And the sanctuary was closed too due to the roaming of wild animals. But we didn’t regret it as many of us were not too keen about the sanctuary. But actually, what attracted us was a ride through the forest which unfortunately couldn’t happen. Managed to see a lonely tea shop and we had a really superb tea. It was afternoon then and with no hotels anywhere in the way, we hogged on the bags of snack we had brought (good idea, it did save) and moved on to Edakkal Caves.



Now, we had an amazing time at the caves. We had to climb the rocks which was pretty exciting. Managed to reach the top and we were dead tired then. We then heard from somebody that on trekking further up the caves, we would catch a glimpse of the Kerala, TamilNadu and Andhra borders. Now going there was pretty risky, and we weren’t permitted too. But two of my enthusiastic friends started, one another followed them, I followed him and another followed me. So the five of us were there, only to realize half- way that we had to squeeze in ourselves through a very small gap between two rocks. Yup, we managed to do that too. Although I thought I was bold, there was always this fear of falling.

We finally managed to reach a location where we found that we had to hold a rope and climb up another peak to have a glimpse of the border. Only 2% of the people who visited the caves were going further up. Actually, one had to climb a little up in that soft slippery mountainous surface, then hold a rope that extended for about 6 metres and then climb up again. I had picturised me going up, which wasn’t really difficult, but coming down….am sure I’d slip and fall.. No!! I wasn’t going there. In spite of warning, two of the most enthusiastic friends went there and came back with a victorious feeling, one still feeling bad that she wasn’t permitted to go till the end.

We were at the top, it was great looking at the vast expanse of the land below. Shouting names and teasing each other, we came down and washed our faces in a fresh tiny spring of water. Huh!! That was a super cool, fresh water was so refreshing. It was like an air-conditioned room with a tiny spring at a corner with the sala sala sound. How pleasant!! No other situation can help one relax better. At last we were out of the caves with hard feelings again. Had a fresh lime juice (truly fresh) and started off for a dam.

The dam was a usual one, but then the wide expanse of the fresh waters gave it such an appeal. And, the best part of it was that it began to drizzle and rain when we went there leaving an enthralling evening. We sat on the dam, played with stone trottings on the water, chit chatted for sometime, sat in silence enjoying the beauty of the evening for sometime and when it was pitch dark, we started.

Now, the unexpected thing happened. We thought of taking another way while returning which we presumed would be a shorter route. Only after we took the route did we realize that there was no road, no lights or lamps and pitch dark too. The ten minutes is the most awful thing to happen. We doubted at times, if we would reach the main roads at all. With deeps on both the sides and the width of the flat surface being just the width of our van, one small deviation could lead to a fall. Oh, we tried keeping cool and not creating any tension so that the driver can drive. There was absolutely no trace of light or anybody around and we had no clue as to where the road, sorry, the path, ended at all. We couldn’t get down and walk either as we didn’t have a torch and it was pretty unsafe. I remember murmuring prayers and hoping that I would still have my dream come true, to live a two-hundred years JJ.

And lo!! After ten minutes of the eventful drive, we finally managed to reach the main road. And guess what, the van lights went off at just that moment. Managed to drive to a restaurant supported by lights from other vehicles. We were awe-struck. What if the lights had gone a few minutes before. God is truly great!!!! And the driver too, he was just too good, never let any tension or fear grip him and drove at his best.


Had a heavy dinner at a supposed to be classy restaurant with a film running by ;-). Returned back to the hotel and caught a good sleep that night.

Woke up the next morning and we were planning to leave by 7 again as we had to go to the Pookot lake and then start to Palghat where we had to board the train. Again, these guys got up late and we were late by a couple of hours. The pookot lake was at its best too. With dense bushes and trees at its sides and fresh cool water, boating was as memorable and as enlivening as it could be. The fresh water lake, dark green trees, the cloudy sky and the mild drizzles….oh!! how splendid!!! Had a gala time boating and we returned back to see a bunch of naughty monkeys springing here and there.. With a very heavy heart, we started to Palghat.

The way back should have been just wonderful, but a heavy heart didn’t let me enjoy the drive. Had a typical Kerala lunch, and we were traveling again. We got down at a supposed-to-be-haunted tree, caught pictures there hoping for shadows behind us once the print comes JJ. We just didn’t feel like leaving to Palghat and were pleading with our Project Manager to extend the trip by a day. We wanted to go back to Wayanad and go to Chembra Peak (supposed to be the best place out there which requires a day as one has to trek for about 18 km). But then, pleading was in vain. Our PM had a heavy heart too, but then cant afford to bunk, that too, a mass one LL. Came to Palghat, bought chips and boarded the train.

We had our dinner and started planning for another trip. It always happens na, at the end of a wonderful trip, one tends to start planning for another one so that one gets the feeling that these moments will come again. Although, the next trip with the same gang never happened, the chat and discussion made us feel really good. Then, we were playing cards till about 1 or 2 late night and then slept only to wake up at 4:30 am with a very heavy heart.

Back at office, the day was really long and sad and it took me about a couple of weeks to overcome the missing feelings. Used to think that yesterday this time, we were there, last week, this time, we were there and the photos as they started coming helped us relive the fantastic moments there.

Oh what a trip!!! The lovely climate that prevailed, the lively team formed, the marvelous places visited…. can I ever forget it!!! Am going there again, for sure!!! JJ

P.S : Pictures from the net...waitin to scan and upload the pics we shot there...