Song Of The Little Road

The Prelude

It was all in-the-air for a couple of months, but wasn’t really shaping up. For several weeks, delivery pressures, production implementations, and even climate (cyclone!) were conspiring against our other get-together plans. Finally, with the Christmas vacation looming large and near, a sense of desperation came: to finish off the year in grand style. Desperation led to artistry: 3-4 on-the-fly meetings, probability & feasibility debate and finally the decision was made - the IAS Team were going to Pollachi and Topslip on December 14/15th!

All transportation and logistics got worked out. Last minute additions and alterations, suggestions and preferences, who won’t go if someone won’t go: all efforts were there to make the plan as complicated as possible, but whatever you come up with, Rahul will say - ‘Sure. Fine. No problem, man’.

Spirit of IAS, as old-timers say!

Time whistled past and the eagerly awaited day arrived: Saturday the 14th. All the tour participants were working on that day to compensate for the upcoming Monday: the ticking of the clock appeared slower than usual. Finally people decided they had enough: a roll call followed to summarize who will appear where, and we all dispersed.

The Journey Has Just Begun

‘Where are you, Ananda? Do you know how to reach Pe-run-ga-la-thur?’

I received separate calls from Venkat, Elam and Rahul within a span of 10 minutes asking the same question; and I said to myself - it’s going to be different. I was the first to arrive at Perungalathur (blame it on my idea of punctuality) - slowly people started assembling in. After a quick exchange of greetings, we started talking. Words started flowing freely: we talk enthusiastically about ourselves, about others, about what we are going to do.

Making my idea of punctuality a benchmark, the bus finally arrived after 30-40 minutes of our scheduled arrival time with three of our in-house escorts from Koyembedu: Siva, Subbu and Prasad. Another round of quick roll call and off we go! Bag-packers on road again.

A well-deserved dinner break didn’t interrupt our talks. Our enthusiasm lasted for more time – but slowly the pace decelerated. The night started engulfing us. With a fantastic moonlit landscape outside and the bus speeding through the flat Tamil Nadu highway, the horizons seemed remote, distant rims on the edge of space. Slowly yet definitely, the night’s black mantle covered all of us and we fell asleep.

I woke up with the sound of high-pitched Tamil songs which were being played in the stereo system: most of the other folks were still sleeping. The first sunlight of the day was peeping in through the glass window, and at once, it seemed to be a very promising day. I looked lazily through the bus window: the landscape was still flat, but much greener and soothing to the eyes. With plenty of windmills and coconut trees around, and blue mountain ranges beckoning on the horizon, I plunged myself in a stream of scattered and delicious thoughts.

The thread was broken with cheerful sounds coming from the backside of the bus. I turned around with curiosity – and there were Saravanan & Karthikeyan tapping their feet with the stereo music! Suddenly the music didn’t seem that out-of-the-place at all, and more people started joining in. Subbu, initially staring to the dancers like he has spotted a bus-load of extra terrestrials in broad daylight, ended up dancing a couple of steps himself. It was a celebration of youth, synergy, harmony and togetherness – cutting across personal differences, transcending all barriers. I wished the togetherness would remain forever.

‘Folks, we have reached Pollachi’ – shouts Siva. The journey has just begun!

A Day In Nature’s Abode

Located 40 KM south of Coimbatore, Pollachi has a pleasant climate throughout the year because of its proximity to Western Ghats. The hotel where we checked-in was called Hotel Sakthi, it was a nice 5 minutes stroll from the central bus stand. We refreshed ourselves with a quick bath followed by a long breakfast. At around 11 o’clock, we started towards Topslip. After reaching there, a quick change in plan happened to visit Parambikulam National Park which is around 8 KM from Topslip. We had to complete few formalities in couple of check-posts and then, accompanied with a guide/driver, we entered in the park.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a reservoir of tranquil greenery ensconced in a valley between the Aanamalai ranges of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathy ranges of Kerala. As we started climbing up, the
landscape changed dramatically : it was thickly forested with stands of bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak (apparently Parambikulam was once home to some of south India's finest stands of teak). We played some interactive team games as we drove through green meadows and scattered patches of grasslands with white cloudlets sailing graciously in crystal-blue sky.

To one who has been long in city pent: Keats aptly described our state of minds. The tranquility of the nature was enchanting – it was calm, serene, yet whispering in its own ancient love ballade. We spotted few unknown birds, wild lemurs, gaurs and packs of deers on our journey. We stopped by Thunakadavu and Parambikulam dam for team photoshoot – the locations were sublime. After lunch, we headed towards famous Kannimari teak tree, one of Parambikulam's prime attractions. The tree is one of the oldest and largest teak trees in the world.

Then it was time to return to Pollachi for the night stay. Fatigued yet unfathomed, we immersed ourselves once more into the lap of the mother nature: the motionless world outside the bus window appeared away from the daily hurry and worries, far from the madding crowd.

On the way, we stopped by Vishnu’s home, and were warmly greeted with hot pakoda’s and coffee. Subbu had to leave for Chennai on the same day, so we bid him goodbye, and returned to our hotel together: with chats, laughter and songs all the way.

I wished the togetherness would remain forever.

Day 2: Off to Vallparai

Sadly this was our last day, and in sync with the mood, the weather was moist and gloomy. Nevertheless, we started our journey to Vallparai after checking out from the hotel. We had a new member in our group: Subhasish, who joined us on Sunday night. We all were together again, and the celebration (often wild) continued.

About Vallparai: it is one of the famous tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. Located above the 3,500 feet from the sea level on the Aanamalai mountain range, it stands majestically with forest all around. The accent to Vallparai was one of the most breathtaking journeys I’ve ever had: 40 hairpin bends curling around the hill with projections of misty mountains in the lake waters – my first reaction to that view was ‘Scotland of India’!

As we climbed up, the fogs got cleared and nature smiled at us with its eternal offerings. Its stunning greenery all around in the form of tea estates around the valley – we have reached Vallparai. We visited the Balaji temple at Vallparai – placed scenically amidst the tea estates with blue mountains providing a gorgeous backdrop: it’ll surely make an atheist believe in God, too.

We had our lunch at the little town of Vallparai, which I found incredibly cluttered. On our way back, we stopped by monkey falls: people fanatically ran to have a bath. Several ones slipped in the greasy walkway in the fall-approach, but that hardly attenuated the spirit and enthusiasm. We hurdled and jumped in the falls and rejoiced our time of being together.

I wished the togetherness would remain forever.

Remains of The Day

After a final 40 minutes semi-trekking near monkey falls, we started our way back to Pollachi. The dim illuminated surroundings were calm, quiet and still – and so were we. In a bleak and overcast ambience, the remains of the day was slowly fading into tranquil calmness of the Aanamalai mountain range: writing the epilogue of a memorable trip.

At around 6:45 PM, we started our journey back to Chennai.

Slowly the dusk disembarked and the world within the bus started aligning with the night outside. The cataclysmic analysis of the day was done, and all that truly important became alive and sound again. Hardly people were talking, yet it occurred to me as if we were communicating in the cozy world of ours. We meant to stay like this – reassembled in our fragmentary self, yet connecting through the intangible calmness of the night.

I tried to think when we are going to be together like this again, if at all. And even if we do, will it feel the same exact way as it is now? Will the enchantment last as far? The thoughts dissolved away in dark, leaving me in the solitude of a disembodied soul.

We woke up with the sunrise: Chennai was approaching. Selvi winked a warm smile. Words started flowing again. It’s the start of a new day, new beginning, new hopes and expectations. We have promises to keep, and we’ll do it together, yet in our own way.

In the morning light, I believed the togetherness might just remain forever.

On a midsummer's evening ...

Dear Readers,

Welcome to my blog ! Today, quite out of boredom, I've created my blog - and to be honest, stunned by the power of this medium. This idea, that I can electronically revive my long lost 'diary writing' habit, and can reach millions of people simultaneously, is thrilling. Well, the number may be hundreds, or even tens - but for me its equivalent to the convoluted millions of audiences of electronic media.

A bit about myself : I'm Ananda, 27, and an Indian software professional working in UK. Still a royal bachelor, travel and travel photography are two of my passions. Add that to a devoted follower of movies (romantic/drama) and soft melodies - and you've understood my taste. At least some of it.

I can't promise to be frequent in posting blog : somehow I think its having a big factor of my mood. We don't want everything in life to be a routine - do we ?

Its a serene evening in Bournemouth (where I live) : in fact, its twilight time. The clock's showing 19:39, but plenty of light out there. However, its absolute silent : the only sound I can prominently hear is the ticking of the clock, and the fan of my laptop's processor.

I love silence - particularly the silence of night. Pay attention to it and you'll feel its personality : it engulfs, embraces and fills you. Be silent; and silence itself will form a shape, a dimension - and present itself to you.

My drawingroom, at one glance will appear as a mess : but while writing this blog, it feels like each one of those scattered objects are assuming their own identity, own soul and personality - without any words, movement or action. Its still a mess, but an organized and purposeful mess.

I think its enough for today : seems like I, myself is drawn into this silence - I better be off and have a nice stroll through the vibrant Bournemouth - the pubs, clubs, sea shore, chattering of the gals ... and feeling the last rays of the day over my wings.

I hope to write again soon. Take care, and stay happy !

~ Ananda