An Average Indian rooster and his pathetic life

After Long years, I thought of starting writing. Many friends mentioned about making my blog active. Thanks to them for giving me confidence. 

Where to start with? My world is totally different now. Thought of sharing about people I crossed. We cross many Characters and only a few interesting remain in life.

2016

I met this fellow 4 years back. He is a normal kind of person. So he is one of us. He is a perfect representation of a new age middle-class fellow. Movies didn't talk about these Characters much. or they speak in a very unidimensional. 

He is from Shoranur, Kerala. His father is a Farmer and a Successful Kalakaaran( Artist / Creative person). His Mom still looks very young, like his elder Sister. He is from an Agricultural background. Unfortunately, he didn't receive anything fully from his Parents. Nor his Fathers health and creativity. Nor his Mothers beauty(Soundaryam). Finally in his mid 20's he becomes an IT Engineer, got a good amount of salary, back pain and so on. He designed his life with a lot of confusions and his face always looked 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄.

I always observed him. He is very much worried about spending money lethargically. He doesn't know what he really wanted in life. Like all men, he always wanted to spend a good time with girls. He has succeeded to an extent. During those years he always drove a pathetic two-wheeler without a helmet. He buys food from a very simple food stall (Puttu, mutta curry). Sometimes he spends on Liquor. Like all men, he wanted gorgeous young women as his girlfriend. He failed on his missions. 

If a girl proposes him, he always says NO after some time. He refused them if they are more intelligent than him. if they demand more from him.  He was always fond of fair-skinned beauties. He holds skills to attract them initially, after that he doesn't like them, because sometimes they reject, some times he feels they are dumb. So he has some imagination about his dream girl. She cannot be more intelligent nor dump. Without fancy words, it is also a kind of male chauvinist approach!!!

ok. Coming back to the story from philosophy. Below are his impulsive strategies for owning a girlfriend. For what? To lose his virginity in his dreamt way and do some rumpy-pumpy with her.

•  He drank one day and went to Railway station for proposing his ex-girlfriend. She cursed him with all bad words 🙄🙄
• He took a girl in his old bike and tried kissing her or a similar kind of action on the same bike. She protected her lips and replied, "hai you are my good friend!!! 🙄🙄
• One girl tried him and proposed him somehow. But he replied on her face "You are not my type and my dream girl looks like a Barbie, not a girl like you"🙄🙄

He always gets surprised when guys tell about their nooky adventures with multiple women and aunties. He always wondered how that was possible only for them?? From his guilt, he scolded them badly also. 

Then he tried more stupid ideas, like creating fake profiles in FB and tried flirting aunties. Like all men, he dreamt Aunties and Divorced women will fall prey on the beauty of him and surrender them physically and economically!!!!. Please don't raise the Feminism flag!!. These are the inner emotions of every man at their crucial age. Sexual poverty is really high in countries like India and we are its sub-products.

2018

He changed his strategies. He moved to a new job and bought a brand new bike with Helmet. Different cities, new roads, new sights, new bike. He was really happy at those times. He uses to call me and share his happiness. I also felt a bit relaxed. He started spending some money, took some girls for an outing and Dinners. Life went smoothly for three to four months. He even went to Nepal and some road trips and exposed him to others, that he likes traveling and he is nomad  

He dodged a few girls, and few girls dodged him too. Then the devil was back. He got bored and he said, girls here are dump, life is lonely and I want to come back to Kerala. A clear indication of a man suffering from testosterone. Only in India (not sure about other suffering countries), a man comes to puberty at the age of around 14 and has to wait for his first sex for the next 15 years. Till that he has to imagine his sex with his girlfriend in some filthy places like Bachelors bathroom, Uncleaned beds, Public toilets, Cinema theaters who run adult movies. Their imagination keeps on growing day by day, year by year. They thought sperms will stop coming one day, Erection will not happen if masturbates daily. Our Indian middle class, sexual poverty affected dreamers used multiple things like their sex toys. Water bottle, Mug, Hole in the bed, and so on Sometimes they even break their smartphone displays!!!!

 

2019

He got an offer back in Cochin and joined the company with loadzzzzzz of expectations. Misery always continues an unsatisfied man. Misery started loving him so much and it went along with him wherever he went.

His only happiness, ventilation, lying lazily is when he is with us. He never worried about anything, he got treated like a king and he was super happy when part of our gang. I treated him like my Son and others liked them seriously as a good friend. Unknowingly he found himself one day, that he can be a good friend. He started accepting our gang as it is without judgment and we gave him a huge space for him to remain as it is. Everyone wants a place like that in this world.

He sings well, performs, and mimics well, and he slowly started knowing him. His advantages and disadvantages. He started spending money for good reasons, he wanted to spend time with like-minded people, He spends his time with them and travels interstate to meet them. He becomes a charming angel in our gang.

2020 (Corona Effect)

Fate is always not very favorable for the Indian middle class. The point he started glowing, few marriage proposals came. Misery twinkled its eyes in the form of arranged marriage. His old dream girl imaginations came out furiously. He said strong YES for a girl, who is a well educated, good looking single girl in a nuclear Keralite family. Nowadays he is feeling a victory of Self-ego of attaining a beautiful Kerala girl

He wants to dwell upon Marriage life. No one knows, how happy he is going to be in the near future (We wish him though). Like all men, he may come back to us after initial excitements were over. He may talk philosophically about life, He may talk about his impulsive decisions and its thunderous results. We may discuss the same topic with couple of beers, nice kattan chayas, and beef roasts with our gang. I remember his Mother commented about the Marriage proposal "If it is a Jackfruit, we can peel it and see, whether it is good or bad, not with the Women"!!!

This story is a fiction blended with truths, gossips, and imaginations. Everyone can able to relate their Rooster adventures and Middle-class dreams with this. 

See you guys soon with more spicy stories.

*Note: Photos used in this post are from the Internet. They belong to the Owner who they shot the picture or the who created the art :)

A meeting that started with Questions and Ended with Answers

When I woke up that day in the morning I felt there is a peace in my mind. It’s the impact created after seeing the movie NAAN last night and personally I love the movie.

Usually I don’t like Christians and the impact they created in my country. Cesilya also may be one among them. Even at this moment I don’t have any justice to comment about her because I know her only before few months. Whenever I saw her it starts with HI and ended with Bye.

I am totally free for that whole day and my instinct says go and meet her. I invited her for Lunch. Without much hesitation she said YES. After doing my personal works I called her. She stays in Adyar. She came with simple T-Shirt and skirt, loosely pinned hair. She always resembles to be a school studying girl and never to be a Working Women.

 

I moved along with different girls in my life time and they everyone thought me different lessons and experiences including my Wife and Daughter. My Soul will be always wandering in search of relationship that comforts me. That is like when you sit in a hill top and watching the nature which is silent, virgin and the vibration created by the nature is awesome. I always seek relationship which is tender, loving.  It happens only with few persons and I didn’t really met a girl that kind of. My daughter is Exclusion because of her age.

Searching a restaurant in Adyar is so simple, but it took me half an hour to decide because I really don’t want any disturbance or pollution because of public crowd. We spoke very common things that’s happening day today in our life for a while. What to talk when you meet a person for a first time?

Restaurant ambiance looks pretty decent and Buddha in the entrance welcomes us.

Everything in this world revolves around money and Buddha in the entrance resembles that. There are no followings of Buddha other than his statue. We had some delicious food and our talks keep on growing like a plant. Everyone knows the plant is growing by its own natural arrangement but the growth is invisible and no one knows when the magic of growth happens.

Some instinct or belief or a kind of trust or comfort which makes our talk grow like a plant and it’s been a quite wonderful afternoon with Good food, Lip Licking drinks, knowing one another, Smiles from heart and we just want to continue the day prolonging like the same and not to end with. So without knowing the destination just drove my Car with her.

I accelerated my car in the ECR with a smooth speed of 55 to 60 KMPH.

My Car is always my good friend indeed and carried us safely in the road without any jerks like in all alone misty roads going for a walk holding which you someone you really love. Words dissolve in the air and silence came between us as the language. She is looking at the road calmly, hope the outside road and passing trees recaps her moments which she needs to remember and cherish.

Music on the Car slowly made us more comfort on the smooth road. Smoothness can be defined as a feeling good. It may be objected in any forms that differs from person to person like a morning coffee, Smile of a Kid, church choir, monsoon snacks, chatting in building upstairs, Hearing your lovable music somewhere middle of your day today life etc.. There are lots of things to share if we can discuss about feeling good. I always feel bad about not having very good reading habit. Travel and Reading Books can make a person more mature and sensible. Will try in future..????

My choices of music are very nuclear and cannot go beyond Tamil, few Hindi songs. I tuned to different songs to show her my playlist is very unique. Songs like “Paravayae Engu Irukirai from Tamil MA, Aasai oru Pullveli, vazhiparthirundhaen from Attakathi, Ullagathil miga Uyaram from NAAN are the songs which I am hearing nu number of times.

“View Point” is a place which you can see the view of Sea and chit chat with your dear ones. Now the place is highly commercialized and you can see lot of love birds hiding in shadows in search of something which they not yet experienced.  It’s close to Mahabalipuram, stopped the Car over there as I thought it will be a right destination and I cannot go beyond after that.

She simply stunned with the visual of the place and the view of the beach. I had a strong coffee and she refused to eat anything. She got mesmerized by the Silence and I hope it heals her inner wounds and pain. Nothing can give you solution nor will the feelings about the pain be postponed from your life for a while.

She repeatedly said the place was really good. The problem with Girls is we cannot predict what they thing and how they think? I cannot come to a conclusion that they are stable. “Girls are always Girls”. She said this to me, like whatever boys are good enough “Boys are Boys”!

I am sure she had good refreshment even though I am not fair enough introduced to her. It’s like travelling with a good lovable unknown person. We cannot conclude a person on what he been to this society. Because values and views of this society will keep on changing every few years and the society had a bad habit of running behind the things which they think most popular and good for their life style. It’s an endless running for the people here in India that is given to them as Safe sophisticated and wealthy life. It’s a mirage, but they will never stop running because the next mirage will be created by the Western society and as I said it’s an endless run.

We again started our back journey back to Adyar with leaving our traces in the air and it will have it for life time. While returning I saw happiness in her face and in my heart too. Our chit chats throughout the hours are not much interesting for others because they are not in the magical moments. Magical moments in our life will happen without informing us. You have to save it in your heart repository and in days go it will convert in to experience. You have to share it to others and it will create a vibration and you will show them the way to “DIVINE AND BLISS”.

Dropped her in Adyar and on the return she delivered me some sweet smiles with meaning. Shelved those memories in my heart and moved my Car towards the road.

Chennai - Mysore - Wayanad

Chennai - Mysore – Wayanad (Fun…Friends..Road Trip...)


“No One cannot say themselves a traveler without travelling 10 Lakh Miles.” – A.K.Chettiar

Hi Friends,

It’s been a quite a long time I shared my travel infos. This time it’s not a trek, it’s not an adventurous trip but we planned for a life time memorable vacation with our Kid Aditi. Always my heart says to travel alone or with the sweet ones. God gifted me Paa and Nirai to accompany the trip.

Plan as below:

1. Day 1: Start from Chennai, Reach Mysore. Local shopping, some sightseeing. Stay at Mysore. Booked Accommodation at KSTDC

2. Day 2: Mysore to Wayanad via Gundulpet. Booked Accommodation at Varnam Home stay.

3. Day 3: Wayanad local sightseeing. Stay at Wayanad.

4. Day 4: Return to Mysore. Stay

5. Day 5: Return to Chennai.

Travel Dates: Dec 3rd to 7th.

Day 1: Started at Chennai at a brisk pace around 5:30am in the morning. Nirai and Paa joined with us on 2nd Dec itself. The only thing strike in my mind when planning and execution is about my Kid Aditi. She is just 8 months. Everything we planned considering her in the first cause and took enough pre-cautionary measures.

Priya, my wife prepared breakfast for the trip and packed snacks. Nirai bought nice Cakes and cookies with some chocolates. Their family is completely fond of sweets. So there is no question of her bag filled with Sweets for us. Though Nirai and Paa look alike friends, they are the ideal brother and Sis..

I am the one drove the vehicle throughout the trip, and the unfortunate thing is no one knows driving. Driven the vehicle at an average of 70 Kmph. The pace is little slow for the highways, but there is no emergency for us to reach any destination within targets.

“Our whole life pace becomes fast and we become tired and bored very soon because of exploring of things much easier than before. So we don’t know the real price of the thing which we got and we the society of youngsters today don’t have any in-depth knowledge about anything, even for happiness”

Had breakfast in a tree shadow after Ambur, and proceeded towards Bangalore in the same pace. Reached Hosur in the afternoon around 1 and had lunch. It was quite decent. Throughout the travel I and Paa discussed about our common interests and he tried exploring his new Nikon SLR. Took the Bypass without entering Bangalore and from there it takes around 3 hrs to reach Mysore. Mysore to Bangalore road is quite packed with traffic but the countryside view engaged us thoroughly.

                                                         

Reached Mysore in the evening around 6pm and the real show started. Where ever we asked the address for KSTDC hotel, the local walas use to guide us in a perfect wrong manner. They use to guide us the place using circle, it took around 45 min to an hour to find that place. Even though KSTDC located very close to Palace it took us 45 mins to found that place. KSTDC property was there in JLB road.The KSTDC property is an old British Bungalow and it’s quite decent for the price. Settled in the room, in the due course travel time Nirai and Aditi become very closer and Nirai made Priya’s role easier throughout the trip. I found an intimacy between Nirai and Aditi, and I am sure it’s from the heart and not for any formality.

Went to Palace, but its closed and went for local shopping around the Palace. Paa bought few ornamental stuffs (kind of Jewel Box etc..). Final negotiation results with us paying around 700/- for two jewel boxes. And we came to know we really got cheated. Be careful guys!

For Dinner we chose Hotel Metro pole, a four star heritage hotel in Mysore. Ambience is awesome; price tag is equivalent to Price in Chennai ordinary restaurants! The only drawback is the service, but it’s quite tolerable. Food taste is awesome especially Lamb Leg piece grilled and served with Mint, Mayonnaise sausage. The whole place is like heaven and we ordered few cocktails for celebrating the night.


The one with the name of Pinnacolde (with the combination of pineapple, coconut water and white rum) is horrible, other tails are yummy.

One thing to remember at this moment.. We want to take printouts for our reservations for KSTDC. The time is around 11pm and we are sure we cannot go out and take print out at a browsing center at that time in an unknown place. So we asked the Hotel management, they have the facility of Internet and they charged us simply Rs.180/- for an hour. Paa and I really got shocked by the price but it thought us a lesson.

“If you are not conscious of doing the things on time, you have to pay unimaginable price for the same ordinary thing”

Aditi adjusted to the environment soothingly and she made wonders with her tolerance. For her age (8 months) she is quite down to earth.

Day 2: It was our third wedding anniversary (Dec 4th, 2012) and Priya flooded me with gifts (T-Shirt, Wrist Watch, Coffee Mug, Greeting Card and loads of Love. Sorry if I miss anything in the list). Started early in the morning and Proceeded towards Ooty road. Travel was quite amazing and enjoyed thoroughly the country side looks and took best photographs of nature, Nirai and Aditi . It’s not quite complex, unsafe ghat section and you will have a feel of safeness and extreme pleasure. Through Gundulpet we entered Wayanad, actually we took a bit lengthy route to reach Varnam Home stay. It took us around 5 hrs to reach Varnam. The shortest route is Mysore – Nagarhole Reserve Forest – Wayanad. Its only 130 km and it took around 3 and half hours to reach Varnam.

Reached Varnam home stay in the afternoon and the place is simply amazing as well as authentic. Don’t miss the home stay if you have a chance to visit Wayanad. We had a nice lunch and the couple (Mr. Varghese and his wife) who running this home stay are lovely. Roamed around the home stay, and chatted for long hours.

“If you are in a vacation, don’t rush to see the things. Being idle, chatting with your dear ones, absorbing the place is the best way of spending the vacation”


Day 3: Next morning started lazily around 6:30 am and we planned to visit Kuruva Island (which is very close to the home stay, around 6km), Thirunelly temple, Irupu falls. All the places are good; especially Irupu falls is just picture perfect. Paa and I had a wonderful dip in the freezing waters. Thirunelly temple is close to heaven and don’t miss it. The route traversing to Thirunelly is the heaven for Elephants and animal crossing, and we heard lot of sounds by Elephants but didn’t see anything. Day is just excellent and had nice dinner in the home stay.

Day 4: Started towards Mysore. Our initial plan was to return to Chennai on the same day. But due to vacation mood and everyone is free in our group except Paa. We convinced him, and he accepts to stay because of few reasons:

1. To see Mysore Palace.

2. To escape from the current living trend.

3. Aditi & Nirai

But his fate plays in a different way. We decided to stay in Mysore and again boarded in the same KSTDC Hoyasla Hotel. And went to Palace, its closed because of Moharam (govt holiday), Silk factory is also closed because of the Holiday. He felt really cheated and we had a laugh riot for the next 1 hour. Without knowing where to go we just drive inside the city we lot of laughers, and sense less chats. Finally the disappointment changed in to fun and happiness and as I said before, spending ideal time with your dear ones is the best way of spending a vacation.



Unexpected thing is we went to Wax factory which is been constructed and maintained by a single person. Hats off to him and his creativity. Don’t miss this museum if you have a chance to go to Mysore.

After that we had a nice drive to Chamundi Hills. From there you can get nice aerial view of Mysore. Don’t miss it.

That day Dinner we had it on Kings Kourt just Opposite to Hotel Metropole. It’s also quite decent.


On the return trip to Chennai we visited Chennapatna, a small town of Toys. It’s situated on the highway of Mysore – Bangalore. I am sure you cannot get those quality Toys anywhere in India. We bought Toys for around Rs.3000/- that includes a little Horse for Aditi.


The whole trip is full of Fun and happiness. I don’t want to explain those on words, since it has to be felt nor taught.

Whenever the trip is over, the biggest question will come to my mind “What’s next bravo??”



Crisp Factors:

1. Wayanad is not a hill station to enjoy. It’s quite situated inside the forest, and its completely country side. You have to be in aright mood to enjoy Wayanad.


2. Kerala Food.


3. Don’t miss evenings in Mysore. It’s quite engaging.


4. KSTDC hotel charged us 950 Rs/- for two with Air Conditioned. Worth a stay.


5. Varnam Charged per person 1200/- per day that includes everything..Food, snacks, beverages and their lovable hospitality. Quite a nice deal right!


6. For diesel total cost is 3500/- up and down. Total kilometers 1450. And for maintenance I collected 800/- per head.


7. Total trip costs around 5000/- per head for five days. 

Cheers!!

Aravindhan


More Photos Please visit Picassa...

Saduragiri Hills - சித்தர்களின் நுழைவாயில்

Saduragiri Hills - சித்தர்களின் நுழைவாயில்

It had been three months we went for treks and we want to overcome our daily routine. Planned for many things but none of the plans kicked off because of summer throughout in western ghats. So finally we locked with Saduragiri as a good warm up trek for our upcoming treks.

அலையும் மனித மனதில்

அமைதி சிவ நாமம்

அதை புரிந்தவர்கள் அவனை கொண்டடுவார்கள்

புரியாதவர்கள் எண்ணத்தில் பேயாய திண்டாடுவார்கள்!! 

 

Started Friday (01/04/11) night from Chennai to Madurai. We booked tickets from Chennai to Madurai and vice versa. The easiest route to Saduragiri is Chennai -> Madurai -> Krishnankovil -> Watrap -> Thaaniparai. From Madurai board any bus going to Sengottai or Rajapalayam and get down in Krishnankovil. From Krishnankovil board bus to Watrap. Its 15 minutes travel and get down in Watrap, board mini autos going to Thaaniparai.

We are totally four members. Crew includes Paa, Praveen, Karthik and Myself. Travel is been very comfortable and we started our trek by 9:00 am. Finished our breakfast at krishnankovil, Tamilnadu hotel. Don't expect more from the name, but the authentic care and the taste you cannot get from our metropolitan cities.
 

 

 

Climb is been gradually steep but for the trekkers it will take 3 hours of climb and for freshers it will take around 5 hours. The thing is you can enjoy throughout the climb with dense forest around even though the area is been more then commercially spoiled.

Since its hot summer some stretches are hot, but 95% of the trek is cool of the dense forests around. You can found lot number of herbals around and the place is more mysterious because of Siddhargal living around the caves. Its true and there are many myths around Saduragiri. For more information check this blog http://siththarkal.blogspot.com/ .Its high voltage impressive and writing style is tremendous. Hats off.

On the way we went to Koragar Caves. Do not forget to visit the cave, that is inside the waterfall. You have to climb the sleepy waterfall using the supporting chains. Its risky but its worth taking the risk. Inside the cave you can get the calm, quiet and mysterious Lord Shiva. We meditated for few minutes and continued the trek.

 

 

We reached the top around 1:30pm in the afternoon. Throughout the year Annadhanam was there. Food was simple,tasty and caring. So no worries for food!!. Throughout the way we saw names with depth meaning. Few names are

1. Rettai Lingam (ரெட்டை லிங்கம் திரு கோயில் )

2. Naaval உற்று (நாவல் ஊற்று )

3. Paccharsi Parai ( பச்சரிசி பாறை )

4.Vana துர்க்கை (வன துர்க்கை )

5. Periya பசுகடை (பெரிய பசுகடை)

6. Athiri Maharsihi vanam (அத்திரி மகரிஷி வனம் )

7. Mathimayagum vanam(மதி மயங்கும் வனம் )

There are two temples at the top

1. Sundara Mahalingam &
2. Sandhana Mahalingam

We stayed there at the night after getting blessings at Sundara mahalingam temple. Next day morning we visited Sandhana Mahalingam temple and we planned to return to Madurai. There are numerous places around that is more then 49 places are there in the dense forest to see inclusind Periya Mahalingam. Our crew member Praveen was not feeling so well. So we dropped the plan of trekking to other places and returned to Madurai. You cannot go alone to those places without the help of the guide. Guide will be availble near the Sundara mahalingam temple. 

Few things in our memories that last for the life time in the hill are:

1. Suku Cofee
2. Annadhanam Food
3. Cold weather even at the hot summer
4. Water streams throughout the trek
5. Caring and friendly people.
6. Easy transportation methods and accommodation. (We stayed in the koil mandapam itself).

Things to Carry:

1. Pain relief spray
2. Paracetamol tablets. Because of body pain many of th people feeling feverish. To avoid this have tablets handy.
3. Blanket. Since you are gonna stay at the top of the hill it will be chilling cold even at the dry summer
4. Water 
5. Glucose.

Other eatables you can get along the way. Happy trekking guys. See you in the next post. This trip is more religious then adventurous. Adventure seeking people go to the hill with conscious mind. You will enjoy the peacefulness in the mind and even you will get a satisfied trekking feeling.

Total Trek Distance: 14Kms approx.
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium ( Because of hot Summer!!)
Total Expenses: 1400Rs/- Approx from Chennai to Chennai.

For more photos check out my Picasso web albums

Monsoon Drive from Chennai to Pondicherry by ECR

பயணங்கள் என்றும் சுகமானவை..நாம் அமைதியாய் அதை ரசிக்கும் வரை..பயணமாகட்டும் வாழ்கையாகட்டும் வேகங்கள் என்றுமே  பயன்படாதவை..நிதானங்கள் நிதர்சனம் ஆகும் ..

It has been dream for everyone to have a drive in the monsoon..If it is in East coast road it is a sure heaven sake ride. I made this several times but this time i took my Camera along with me for shooting few pictures. I woke up by 4am in the morning on Nov 17nth. Chennai has a freezing weather these days. I had a deep shower and prepared Black tea in a flask with some biscuits as right companions. Started by 5:00 am and its quite raining outside.

Right to the mood my song collection is full of M.S.Viswanathan and Illayaraja. Geared by the songs i drove the vechicle at the constant speed of 60km/hr. I didnt rush up and when ever i got a chance i stop my car and took few pictures throughout the journey.
                           

Very few places only i didnt had rain and the experince is awestruck and love to have that more and more..I drove Chennai to Pondy by differnt means. By Bike, Car and even by Bicycle!!!.

                          

Everytime it gave me refreshing new experinces and happyness..
                         

Few places you can stop inbetween the travel are:
1. Kovalam Beach
2. View Point before Mahabalipuram. After Mayajal. Hope 16km from Mayajal.
3. Boating Point after Crocodile bank.
4. MGM, VGP and Crocodile bank.
5. Many good restaurants according to your choice and capacity of your wallet.
6. Kalpauk bust stop in which you can get some good tea.
7. Before Marakanam you will have a river bed kindof thing. Do not miss that.
8. Pondicherry beaches, Ahsram, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Aurovill, Authentic French architecure, Multi Cultural people, No language or dress codes.

                      

Toll Charges for Four Wheeler: 47Rs for One Trip
Most important Warnings when driving by ECR:
1. Dont encourage your friends or relatives or your dear ones to enter in to the pine forests and lonley beach shores. Safety is not at all guarenteed. Very sad part of ECR is Safety. But we have to accept the fact.
2. Drive with min. speed and fix your max. speed to 70.
3. Please Follow lane discipline.
4. Give 10m distance in between vechicles.

                      
Please ensure these warnings in your mind and have good travel. Enjoy.

Chakartha - Way to Wilderness..

சக்ரதா - உத்ரஞ்சல் மாவட்டம். சிறிய மலை பிராந்தியம். இன்றைய தேதியிலும் இந்திய இராணுவத்தின் கட்டுபாட்டில் இருக்கும் பல ரகசியங்கள் அடங்கிய ராணுவ கன்டோன்மன்ட் ஏரியா. எந்த எழுத்துகளிலும், பயணங்களிலும் மிகவும் பேசபடாத ஒரு பிராந்தியம்.
நாங்கள் மேற்கொண்ட பயணம் சிற்றின்பத்தை தேடி அல்ல. நாங்கள் மனதில் அனுபவித்தது அமைதியின் பேரின்பம்.

பேரின்பம் அமைதியின், வெறுமையின், மலை வளத்தின்  உண்மையின் வடிவாக உயிர்ப்பாக மனத்தில் அறைந்தது சக்ரதா மலை பிராந்தியத்தில் கால் வைத்த பொழுது..

I plan this trip in the month of August 2010. Intially i planned this trip to travel alone. Travelling alone is presious. but travelling with someone who understands you is a gift. Paa and Sathya wants to be with me along the travel.

Kodai - Mannavanur trek through Mathikettanshola Reserve forest

Kodai - Mannavanur trek through Mathikettanshola Reserve forest

After a brief break from Vellayangiri trek we guys planned for a medium trek and want to break up the hot Chennai summer. Nine member team finally decided that includes my father-in-law's brother Mr.Nagu. Everyone in our team is wonderful and very cooperative. Few members in our team are first timers including Venky, Praveen, Sandeep and Nagu. Other team members are Sathya, Praveen alias Panju, Paa, Sheik alias PB and myslef (Aravind). Booked the tickets in SETC from Chennai to Dindugal and in KPN from Kodai to Chennai.

Friday 16th 2010

Everyone gathered in Koyembadu for the 8pm SETC bus towards Dindugal. After introduction session quickly we mingled with everyone, so everyone in the team fits perfect with others frequency. SETC service is very better then expected and especially air condition in the bus is above average.

Saturday 17th 2010

Reached Dindugal safely at sharp 6am and got the tickets to Kodai in the TNSTC counter there and had some refreshment. Bus started at 7 and reached Kodai around 10:20am. Even though journey tested our patience we realy enjoyed the climate and the outside Scenes. Thank God! Kodai is still alive with its own color and not like Ooty.


Our Guide Mani arrived soon and we bought Noodles, MTR Ready to Eat for Dinner and next day breakfast. Mani gave us packed Lunch and we started our trek from Caps valley around 12:30 in the afternoon.

At the moment we started rain also join its hands with us. Makes everyone scary and wet due to the heavy rains and with the risky path. But we steadily proceeded the trek and had our lunch around 2:45pm. The lunch is memorable. Just think with thousands of A/C surround you and you are wet having parotta with chicken chalna. yummy...After 3pm rain just stopped and we entered Mathikettan Shola Reserve forest.

Mathikettan Shola is merely like "Pandora" with dark wet green every where with tall trees and no source of light in the day time also. Its really thrilling and place is really beautiful. We finally reached Berijam Lake around 6pm and its dark.

We started pinching tents and it again started raining. We finished pinching tents and kept our valuables inside the tents and we are in the dinner mood. All the newcomers were completely helpful in all the aspects and they were in great Josh. We had hot noodles in the drizzling chilling weather and Edwin our helper prepared for "Camp fire". Every one really enjoyed Camp fire and Nagu started to sing nice old songs. Very aesthetic night with nice songs, chilling weather and with the warmness of the Campfire. Actually no proper words to explain the beauty and happiness we had.

Sunday 18th 2010

Next day morning everyone woke up around 6 in the morning after a adventerous sleep in the tents. Sathya and myself done Yoga for some time and its really refreshing in the beds of berijam. After yummy brekfast we started our trek towards Mannavanur thru Thalavetty falls. Climbing down Thalavetty falls is real adventure and scary. Sheik and Nagu has height sickness but they managed well with their confidence and of course sense of humor. Sandeep, Praveen, Venky cooperated with us very well and especially Sandeep with his weight he came along with us. Kudos to his confidence. Few of us had a deep shower in Thalavetty falls and ran away from the falls because of leaches!!! :).

As usual Panju and Paa rocks to the core with their high spirit and stamina. Sathya is the Silent bird in our team (Only during treks!!) tops the charts this time. With Paa, Panju, Sheik and Sathya i can do any treks for sure.

Finally we reached Mannavanur around 3pm in the afternoon after the tiresome trek for more then 7 hours. Every one hunted the meals in the small hotel and reached Kodai around 5:30pm. Our bus is at 6:30, so we done few shopping etc. and boarded the bus with nice and fun filled memories. Hope that cannot be recreated again without the same team.

Thanks to our Guide Kodai Mani and his helper Edwin for all the arrangements. Kudos to our team for their confidence level. See you guys with my next travelogue!!

Total Distance: Around 25 Kms.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Expenses: Rs. 2500 from Chennai to Chennai including all meals and Guide Charges (Rs. 1500/- per head).