If he was fire Oh then, she must be wood

The One That Got Away

Ignorance is Bliss

Pass.
Megha hurriedly exclaimed and called the best friends to know about their first Semester engineering results. The best friend had flunked Physics. Shit. The close friend also flunked Physics. The neighbor flunked Physics. HolyShit. Anyway now she HAD to know Abhishek’s result, the guy who took her heart away. Way out? Facebook!
Yes he’s online, YES he’s online.
Megha was happy and she asked him ‘Kemon holo?’
A very wannabe-cool Abhishek replied ‘Dunno, ignorance is bliss’
Now, Megha was his young little girl, straight out of school and all the shin and shine of ‘coolness’ blew her mind. She kept on thinking of Abhishek the entire night. How cool he is who did not even check his result even though he knew 80% people flunked in Physics and her? She did all the superstitious nonsense that she could, to pass.
In movies they show right? One definite moment when the crush becomes the love and violins will play and butterflies will fly around? It was somewhat that for Megha.

While climbing down the stairs and telling Narmada about the late night Conjuring experience (Late night, check, but then, THIS movie, anyway) the topic of something demonic came up and she said ‘Shhh shhh, ignorance is bliss’.
Thus I went back to the Megha and Abhishek tales from my college days. Megha, who died a sad death later and Abhishek, who, touchwood is going to live happily ever after. Let’s not get into how and what happened, but have you ever acknowledged how one small incident in life can remind you of people and things so randomly.
You didn’t know the story right? Or you be the forgetful blessed category? Oh nah, today and forever, for everybody’s sanity,
Ignorance is bliss

Aaj Kuch Toofani Karte Hain

Okay yeah, a very very hyped up and pumped up title for this level trek but trust me, it’s something I am going to remember for a very long time.

As briefed, we started off for Anthergange at 10pm. Ria somewhere announced while the traveler started to cross the Silkboard Signal that ‘Hey guys, amra by the way Kuntibetta jachhi’ and we, as nice friends were still fine, as long as we still have the night trek swag. Food and some more food rounds later, at around 12:30, we still found ourselves at the Banshakri empty crossing. Why? Because Ria cannot be stern to anybody but me. Yeah! Let’s not get into this.

I was a little skeptic the moment our driver said that we won’t take the Kanakpura road because I was sure we would cross Guruji’s ashram on the right. Ajay kept on telling me I have trust issues. However, past Mysore road, past Rasta café, past Sholay hills of Ramnagara, we found ourselves at the Sula Vineyards. Now, I remember eating away Ankita’s head to come with m to the Nasik Sula Vineyards but then, when you find yourself on such a pitch dark night in the middle of the vineyard, it can be a little scary. However, the 9 of us got down for briefing and tea (chips and extra fat for me). Last time washroom scene and final 20kilometers later, we reached our base destination. For all those who actually read and remembered, no we did not reach Kuntibetta, we reached Narayangiri instead. And yes, Ria booked treks randomly, after shots, and, has no idea :D

Next was about 1.5 hours trek, with a backpack, a sleeping bag, shared torch and danda! Bangalore has been finally seeing a lot of rain lately and hence, rocks were slippery and rock gaps were muddy. I remembered Maa who told me one million times to buy trek shoes that morning  and I was too paka and went on with the converse. Mothers, how they always are right. However, I was tired within the first 10 minutes. It was very very sweet of Ajay to go I front and then come back after every couple of minutes to make sure everyone was in line. Last 30 minutes, although looked the easiest, was a little tough, for the rocks were slippery and there was no place for the grip of the danda. Also, the water on the rocks and my converse were not the best of friends. Add this to low placed and semi circular one sided railings to half formed steps at night, it was more dangerous than what it sounds. I stopped to look at the distant Ramnagara village’s few white lights. Nishita kept on telling me not to stop but I could not take my eyes off the view behind. Not even the Kolkata aerial view at night looked that perfect.

Panting and tired, we reached the hill top. There was bonfire and few other groups. No, we could not check the boys, or the girls for that matter since we were freezing already. Our little stunt of carrying on, on one corner of the hill top was flop and soon, we were all inside the sleeping bags, under the stars. I remember sleeping under the stars on a khatiya  at Dongargarh when I was a kid but that was nothing compared to this. Somebody said it was like a proper ZNMD moment but not just because I hate Katrina, it WAS a much better experience than what they showed or tried showing in the movie. I was at absolute peace when there was music from JBL, silence otherwise and a millions stars up above the world so high.

We of course missed the sunrise, woke up with clouds and fog all around because it was time for descent. Going down was more difficult because now, in light, we knew how narrow or steep the way was. Maybe I’m not fit for this but my legs shook the moment I stopped walking. And yes of course, in the last and final jump from the last rock to plain land, I tripped and fell with a knee bruise to remember the trek :)

After breakfast, these website people upgraded us to a free Kayaking at Manchanbele (okay so Ria is not that high and lost after all). Yay Yay Yay. This followed by a jump to the river. Yes it was deep and yes I had life jacket. Also, yes, I jumped various times in the wrong technique. Body pain? Leg pain? Arm pain? Yes, all of those followed from Monday morning after the night sleep and I had trouble taking a simple step. But those of course came later, I had just made great memories and checked a few items from the wishlist.

Night under stars. Check.
Jump in the river. Check.
And,
Oh did I miss writing about this meeting with a snake during the night trek? Ha Ha Ha.

:)

2 Years! Woah

As Blue As It Had Been In My Dreams

And if you have one last chance of learning something from somebody’s mistake, learn from mine and NEVER ever visit Kanyakumari in summer.
It’s a nice place otherwise if you are travelling with family but if you are a group of friends, not quite the ideal place.

The water here is Blue and you have to see it to believe that I have not exaggerated at all. Do not even plan to stay anywhere that does not have AC if you are travelling at any point of the year except for winters. The local Auto-walas and Cab-walas could trick you a little here so brush up your bargaining skills before talking to them, unless you are exceptionally ready to spend unnecessarily.

There are two basic “touristy things” that you can do here, one is to visit the Vivekanada Memorial and the other is to watch the sunrise/set or both. My friends and I as Bengali-s were extremely happy to find a large stretch of Bengali food joints and people speaking Bengali, and Tamil of course. The Vivekanada Memorial is exactly how you have seen it in the post cards and Google images and yes, without any tinge of editing the water surrounding it looks that blue.

The Vivekananda Rock is situated mid water. The line for the water taxi that takes you to and from this place could be long so plan our time properly. Do not be as foolish as us and always carry/wear socks when you visit here because the Vivekananda Rock is expected to be explored bare foot and God Bless your bare feet in the heat that the rock absorbs and gives out eventually. No foot spa and pedicure will bring back the old state of the feet later, I warn thee :P
There is a very peaceful and beautiful meditation hall inside and if the loud tourists cooperate, you can actually find a little peace within very short span of time in the meditation hall.

If you can wake up early, you must not miss the sunrise. Most of the hotels would have a sea facing balcony/terrace and you need not travel too far to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. We missed the sunset by 3 minutes after getting misguided by a local cab driver regarding the sunset point, anyway, the ambience and breeze right after the sunset was beautiful enough. So another lesson from our mistake, plan your time and do not miss the sunset. We also rode this super slow road trams (I do not know the proper name ;) ).

Since we had half a day more to explore, we also visited a few temples, attended Sunday service at a local church and finally visited an old fort surrounded by water on three sides. It was amazing to see how nicely it is maintained still. Too much of coconut water for hydration and last minute beachside shopping ended out trip. There is nothing great about Kanyakumari but then, you can always travel here once, for the blue sea and beautiful sunrise and/or sunset at least :)