Day 0 :
Early than usual was ready & boarded the train with the
best company of a book. Fast forward got down at Coimbatore station &
landed at Relax rides, then the drama begins due to impulsive decisions. No
bikes available apart from Avenger which didn’t suit my length, Aprilla(gearless)
which wasn’t desirable was only available. After 2 hours of struggle with
lunch, Duke supposedly wasn’t available either. Through another contact sorted
out the bike & yes it was Pulsar, may be that’s what I was destined too. Met
the agent who also lended his hands to mount the bags firmly, filled the tank
and now all set!!!!! Rode till Aliyar from Coimbatore, getting used to the new
positioning.
Day 1 :
Ahmmm..damn biking has more morning rituals apart from sorting
bags, mounting & tying the bags sturdily, petrol & tyre check..etc. Reached
Aliyar dam well ahead with a sight of locked doors, gravitated towards egg
dosai & after a deep satisfaction stirred towards Valparai, enroute
spending time at vast aliyar reservoir & Annaikatti view. Setting up the
camera was a huge effort & dumped the camera in bag once for all. #Lesson1
Officially hair pin bends are welcoming with wide hands while am still acclimatizing
the gear ratio & syncing the mind. After 2/3 bends a bus took a deep bend
turn and my front wheel was kissing the bus. I was attempting to reverse on
slope, the driver lost the patience and moved ahead just sparing by a inch. Learning
my driving lessons on the go. #Lesson2. Okay gliding through the mountains
slowly & steadily reached sholaiyar dam and spent some valuable time posing
for pictures with tea and bajji & that good looking guy smiling 😊
360 degrees of Valparai is covered with tea plantations
& tall trees dissecting them with sun rays filling the space. Drawn & braked
at various picnic spots. My Cells, lungs are consuming surplus fresh oxygen
& heart is blooming with smiles, often moving to oblivion state &
transporting to a green planet. Didn’t have a heart to move on, but little did
I know what was unfolding on the day.
Reached the Valparai – Athirapally check post, with the
formalities done, marching towards Athirapally falls by entering broken &
narrow roads. With decreased acceleration & trying to cope with the roads
& skidded at a turn. People around tea shop surrounded me & while I
removed my helmet, people around me echoed “Penn kutty , Penn Kutty”. Several
helping hands to bring me & bike steady. The first fall ever since I learnt
with me & bike survived few scratches. After resting for a while, moved
inside the forest with few vehicles crossing with smiles. Exactly after 30 min,
bike was spinning at 20 km avg while on my lane, 2 cars were trying to overtake
each other at that narrow road & the one on the wrong and dashed me and I
landed in the bushes. This fall augmented the pain, turbulence hit me hard. Furiously
screaming at the driver who was lifting the bike, ailing look from other car
embarrassed me, fuelled the furiousness. Within a minute I spelled every
@$$$&*^(# word I learnt. Merely felt like a crab, crawled & spotted a
place to judge my shaken confidence. #lesson3 keep honking at all turns ☹
Should I go back?! Will I be able to make up rest of the
days?! Isn’t the 8 months riding not helping?!
he didn’t event apologize or I didn’t listen?! Mind is racing with only
questions & no answers ensuing. Driver face flashed several time, there you
go @$$$&*^(# ☹. Now that every part of the body is paining. Okay!!
Lets face it even if today is the last day 😉
Extra cautious eyes & thoughtful mind riding through forest
with enroute surprises of water falls, views with valley, giant trees ruling
the sky & a lonely lost soul trying to dissipating the bad episode. Legit
owing the forest a while, was on the other side of sholayar reservoir. A sight
of herds…
Witnessing an alleged miracle, reached vazhachal water falls
infested with holiday crowd. #lesson4 Water falls teaches squillion lessons, be
forceful, beautiful, stationary, transparent, soothingly pleasant, if at all we
adapt one quality “to go with the flow”, life would be enchanting .. hmmm 😊
After a good break found a place to munch though I wasn’t
hungry. Foodgasm energized to next stop Athirapally, witnessing the better
version earlier lead to the disappointment after the hike. Entered the NH with
expanded roads & chalukudy river flowing through endlessly. After an hour
of ride retired to hotel, had early dinner with every inch of pain, head ache
slept around 11 hours with painful movements. What a day to close!!
Day 2
Improved body ache & bruises led me to go
for a walk, while closing the morning rituals realizing missing the cash pouch
with ID cards, Okay the drama began I thought. Trace back every path I walked
in the morning but all in vain. After a thorough search in the room, unpacked
the bags and midway there it was hiding, With an unconscious state last night
plugged somewhere very securely. #lesson
4. Though I was riding in NH, took 40 kms to regain confidence on the speed. After
a while was normal to the roads with breakfast break. Plan is to reach
Coimbatore & stay, as I was ahead of the schedule extended the ride to Mettupalayam.
Better & scenic routes made the ride enjoyable, with a break at Annur reached
the hotel. Here comes the surprise on unwanted questioning on travelling alone in
bike by hotel attender, checked my ID several times. WTF!! I dunno why I
checked in, after 40 min my instinct was constantly probing me to leave the
place. Okay pack & mount, informed the hotel am leaving despite of paying.
Found another hotel in next 5 min near back thunder, checked In at peace and
sorted. Now the next thing to bother me is Run!!! With all those scratches, blood
clots.. okay lets me go for a run!! #crazynow.. managed to run 5 k , returned
back to hotel, refreshed and had some delicious dosas & tea at Tea Joint.
Despite of all the pain, thoroughly enjoyed the run in the view of coconut
trees & mountains and cold wind. When the hotel guy asked me, an impulsive
answer was “Police training”, rescuing false statement worked well .Akka neenge
police ah???!! Now that guy went and told everyone and then everyone saw me like
THAT :D
Day 3
Doubts clouded my mind last night, yet adrenaline widened
the swollen & puffy eyes. Completing the morning rituals, a short walk to Fuel
hot chai exposed to Misty pleasant weather. Clouds sprinkled, cleaned my dusty
mind & then with Valparai experience, early bird was ready to climb “Queen
of hills” @ 7.30. Giant tall trees gripping
the winding roads were hiding in the mist, ear are filled with gurgling of
water & hidden birds singing. Didn’t give an opportunity to any honking
being & let go ahead of me. The Cold wind flowed into the jacket changing
the state of blood & hands were naturally struggling with brutal cold. Gliding
through the curvy lady & realized to have reached at conoor. Ya, that was a
milestone! A hot piping breakfast led to me to non touristy spot, 4kms from
main road
Ketty Valley
Walking on a lonely roads with eucalyptus trees touching the
horizon & filing the nostrils. Those tiny steps, twigs I twisted with shoes
& rocks interpreted. A bridge Part of the valley was harvested and mist
covering didn’t get the real view. My breathe filled the space, shoes twisted the
twigs & I enter a bridge to a aimless railway track cutting through a cave.
These tracks were directionless, static yet functional at needy time, knows
only the path for few distance. With a satisfied soul, quick breaks moved &
reached Ooty Zostel. Rested for a while
and trying to figure how to kill the evening. Had screwed up some bookings,
current day and next day was sorted. Though I had to figure out on dec 31st,
didn’t have any mood to sort it out . Ventured out few places in the evening
After a bit of time, went to toda village a tribal village,
for some reason I was standing on the spot and was rounding the roads to find
out the village entrance.
Toda Village
Orbiting on the same place for while and discovered the
entrance to Toda Village, Mostly secluded with few families living around with 2
small huts strictly prohibited from women, tribes refer as temples. Hut has a
tiny small window where the poojari goes and offer pooja & the duty is
revolved between the men. These tribes had adapted to modern civilization through
education/work/agriculture but yet retained the early century huts & preserved
them as temples. These Toda Huts can be sparingly seen across Nilgirs &
found one another near Kotagiri.
Bruises were getting better and attempted a hill
run, hogged a briyani & walked back in darkness to Zostel. Couldn’t make
any further plans for next day, just packed minimal required for big day and
dozed off to unfold the next day.
Dec 4 : Big day !!
Hurray!!! Its my birthday and the hyper me yelled and got
ready at 6 AM on a cold morning, waiting for the slightest tint of light. Troubled
everyone with getting ready for the day. Ready at 6.30 and was waiting for the
sunlight. Bike was parked inside and behind was RE monsters, Okay go and
disturb the hostel attender & get
the monster moved. If you want something disturb everyone 😊
Cold wind burning the hands/face & shaking the body,
empty roads helped to catch up the Gudalur stretch. After 15 minutes entered into
solitary roads covered with tall trees, zigzagging into the Ghat roads. At pykara had to attend few family calls to
receive the wishes & also wishing for the sun to be harsh for a while. After
an hour, braked at a beautiful valley and tea shop to relish the birthday breakfast(Hot
samosa, bread & eggs with hot tea). After spending 30 min near the chimney,
started off to Mudumalai witnessing bamboo trees with spark of lights, mound of
tea estates, valley, delusional lakes as glaciers. Needle rock view gave a
shrill of being above the clouds & me flying into cosmic world, my damn imagination
& curiosity softened the cold too 😊
Mudumalai check post gave a green signal & riding into a
forest reserve. Black road dissecting the green blanket for a continuous stretch
of 38 kms & vision caught a magnanimous grey movements. A mother & baby
elephant chilling on the path & trying to cross the roads. Baby was lily liveted
for its age & wondering the directions, was constantly trumpeting &
mother was trying to calm the baby. The vehicles stopped to witness the
parental drama until they moved on. After a few moments on this special day I was
drawn back to my other, eyes were merely focussed on the raods & mentally
clinging with her for all that she had endured ever since I was conceived. Tears were rolling through cheeks cleaning the
dust, how grateful should I need to be for accepting me as I am & pillared always,
finally landing at Mudumalai Tiger reserve.
As a bus safari was over & due less crowded was clubbed
with a annoying Pune family who constantly questioning on why am travelling
alone? ☹ Panthers, Tigers weren’t lucky enough to visit me but
chanced a Tusker, deer & Sambha deer. After an hour of safari, contemplating whether to take a round about
Gudalur route for 80 kms. Intrigued by a sign board to Ooty is 38 kms &
based on blog knowledge on how tuff those hair pin bends made me dizzy.
Connected with few cab drivers & took a unsettled decision via masinagudi
route. Vehicles was moving slower than usual due to heavy traffic, stopped for
lunch and trying to make my mind for rest of distance.
First 10 kms was quiet easy and moving confidently, there
started the steep hair pin bends. Roads and mountains were beautiful & totally
wild for driving, long stretches, covered with mountains, mostly isolated. Bike
was erupting heat so took a long break at 16th har pin bend. There
were many bends where the bike struggled to get on. Uff finally crossed the 36th
hair pin and reached ooty. Now its time for celebration with a brownie & pastry.
Reached hostel and connected with friends who
attempted to ach out while I was out of coverage. Refreshed & dressed for wonderful
solo Italian dinner date. Resto was full of couples & merely there were
into the mobile/food & no real conversations were happening ideally there were
alone too 😉 Finally some hot delicious food for the day to
end. With Soup, Pasta & Panacota. Enquired about Avalance/Emerald bus at
depot and gathered bus timings before leaving. After a satisfying day & a
blessed birthday was trying to settle down. Few girls stormed in the room and
had a quick conversation & by this all I wanted is to zzzzzleep with a lazy
day behind
Day 5 : Pricked with tiredness & merely went for a walk
rather than run. Girls at the dorm were heading out and they asked me for
breakfast. Excused myself for 10 min, joined them for breakfast to A2b. Thought
I could come out before 11.30 bus to Avalanche & with a bit of wandering
with the pack reached at 12.30. Nik was checking to be a pillion rider for tomorrow.
Universe has a way to surprise you. Idea popped up to ask other 2 girls to leave
our bags at he hotel at Coimbatore.
Zain called me to check out, that’s when I hinted the other
lady is leaving early and I have a place to stay back. After reaching the hostel
everything was settled despite my unplanned behaviour. Was thinking to do a
Ketty Valley train ride & ended up exploring emerald /avalanche. The route
to emerald was super awesome with mounds & mounds of tea plantations. Those
lake views stopped jerked me at many places. While I Entered the dam, police
stopped me and told him others had gone and why was I stopped, then he allowed
me. Walked and feel the pristine emerald dam and while coming out can view the
full untouched lake. There were many limited visitors and felt I legit own the
lake. I didn’t have a heart, took a picnic break eating cakes. My alpha trance
state persuaded to let go Avalache, of course I should have place to visit in
ooty next time. 😊
Reached hostel, spent time reading book & chatting with
zain. Nik & I went for a long walk covering dinner & helmet shopping. Every
roads were jammed with beings including Mody Choclates, finished her shopping
& convinced her for a proper dinner at Pankaj Vihar. Walked back & it
was tiring day & trying to sleep it off for a while. The travel bunch at
dorm were noisiest, headed to lounge for reading. Later on joined Nik at the
kitchen for Bihari food preparation. At 11.30 was mingling with the crowd,
eating paratha’s and tasting Bihari food, helping in tandoor fry, getting
warmed up for new year eve. After count down celebrated new year with happy
smiles around people I didn’t even know & I felt alive and brimming with
happiness. Later had sevvai with nik, we excluded ourselves from the crowd
busily dancing and seated at the climb viewing the sky. Ooty was less
commercial in terms of celebration, serene and cold and we headed to bed around
12.45 with 2 dinners 😊. Decided to be at ready at 8 AM as almost
everything was already packed and passed to the girls.
Day 6
With a bit delay started around 9 Am, settled down the bills
with a free stay for one night. Breakfast stop at A2B , shopped at Mody chocolates,
filled the petrol & started the ride. Getting used to pillion rider with
small bags & climb. First few bends I struggled with the load and the gear
ratio, took several breaks at serene locations, to warm up the hands and ya for
the pictures too. Then we found a picnic spot to hang out with a view of
beautiful valley, tea plantations, spent around 25 min hearing songs &
entering the alpha state. Realizing we are short of time, started to kodanadu.
Took few breaks to relax the legs. Enroute found a toda hut and spent some time
there which also realized the bus which was booked from Coimbatore to Chennai
was cancelled, glad I had noticed the SMS and quickly did a booking. Serpines
roads with valleys around is kodanadu and the most of the places were covered
with mist. As we reached the viewpoint everything was covered with mist and
with no time started to return back. On the route to kotagiri, spotted a tea
shop , had tea & samosa refreshed. This refuelling helped the ride with
only break for leg cramps. After crossing mettupalyam, humid hit us and started
removing the layers. Took last break near Coimbatore for a tender coconut &
reached the hotel to pick up the bags. Got the bags and nik immediately left
for her flight. Mounted the bags back and started rolling to sowripalayam to
drop the bike. Handed over the bike with half tank of petrol, few scratches
which wasn’t noticed by them :D a big
relief!!
Now that I only want to eat eat. Went to RHR and ordered
everything I saw, the server gave me a sarcastic smile, but then who cares. Eat
eat!! Oh no the celebrations aren’t over Yet, next to IBACO. After an hour of
internet quench, reached the bus stop. Had chai and pazham pori and look at the
way universe surprises for all that you desires. After a struggle got into the
bus and slept, reached home around 6 AM
Fully tanned & burnt faces but then its #Neverlifebefore
trip until I make another one. Greatest new year & birthday celebrations
all through life. #ThankyouNext
No comments:
Post a Comment