By that time, rain started falling heavily. Drive became tougher. But the sceneries out there were very nice, which very few of us were enjoying. All others were singing, dancing, sleeping and having a free wheeler in the bus. Cipson and Kaila were constantly in touch with the home stay people. It was announced that, we will be reaching the home stay in another 5 minutes. People started setting up their bags, putting back their camera in their bags, because it was raining out. When our bus reached the Yavakapadi Post Office, there were 3-4 jeeps, all 4WD Mahindra waiting for us.

A number of us were planning to trek to the home stay while others have an adventurous jeep drive. But the trekking plan was a flop as it was raining, and there was a lot space left in the jeep. People started moving into jeeps as seen in Titanic movie- Ladies first, Children next and at last Gentlemen! I was thinking, why they don’t allow the bus to drive up! Answer was waiting for us. We were informed that the place where we stay is 4 kilometers away, up the hill. As we got into the jeep, the young jeep driver asked in a broken Tamil- “pokalama?”. I told in Malayalam- “Enna seri vitto!” (meaning- All is fine, go ahead). There is a super power for all Malayalees. They will recognize another Malayalee very easily. We had a short chat while he was driving. Suddenly, he stopped the vehicle and changed some lever in the jeep and asked us to hold tight!! From there onwards it was the answer for my doubt- “Why they use 4WD jeeps only”!! We were climbing a steep hill, that too in a curly-twisty-rocky-muddy road…mmm.. No, you cannot call it a road- A Way uphill! Yes, the thrills started. Madhan who was sitting next to me, in front seat, was enjoying with a big WOW on his face. In between, he stopped the vehicle and told, we have still 1 KM ahead to reach the home stay. In next 300 meters we found an excellent stream. We asked the driver to stop the jeep there and had a chilling face was in the stream water. As it was already very late for the lunch, we rushed further and decided that, after taking lunch, we are walking back to this stream! Ahead, Jeep reached the cute bungalow.

The next job was of course, lunch. We had some nice poories, kurma, rice, sambar, curd, pickle… a full course. For an ending note, banana payasam also.

[...]

Image attributed to PD

Mysore was great as usual. I have not counted how many times I have come to Mysore. Every time I come here, I wish to settle my life here itself. Such a well organized green and clean city with so cultured people always attracted me. Who will not get attracted to that beautiful city?! Talking about Mysore, the name Mysore itself is connected with hindu myth character “Mahishasura” a demon king. Original name of the city is said to be Mahishaoor, meaning abode of Mahisha. Later, our guys made it Mysore! Main attractions in the city are Amba Vihaar Palace better known as Mysore Palace, Chamundi Bette (a hill range, with a temple of lordess Chamundeswari). It is legend that Sri Aadi Sankara installed the idol of devi here. Chamundeswari is the guardian goddess of The Mysore Vodayar Kings. Indeed Vodayars are really really rich that even British rulers looted most of their belongings; still they are one of the richest royal families in this age. Oh! I went far away from our subject!! Back on track… Most of our people were coming to mysore for the first time and they were flattered with the cleanliness and nice atmosphere at the railway station itself. Reaching at the station itself, people were converted themselves to shutter bugs. Everything at the railway station- from the central tower of the station to the LED display board; to those normal ambassador cars parked outside became subjects for our photographers. As people were already after their morning duties, the plan was to head to a restaurant to have breakfast. We had to wait for a couple of minutes to get the bus which was parked outside the station. By the time people were done with the photography thrill, the bus came in. And all of us boarded the bus. Bus driver was directed by the Kannada interfaces of our team, to go to the next best restaurant. Thanks to Yogi and Prasad Mani for coordinating with them.

The first destination- restaurant was just 4kms away from the station on Hunsur Highway. Despite being a state highway, it was well maintained! I wondered what if all the roads in our country are like this. While gazing at the roadside buildings, I also watched some “Kannadiga Beauties”. Now I was in a dilemma. Mysore or the girls here; which is more beautiful?! We stopped at a restaurant called “Highway 18”. The restaurant itself was a visual cue. A well maintained garden with shortly cut lawn, dotted with yellow flowers. It also had a few rides for kids. And of course, food was available and was funtabulous. That restaurant was built in such a way that there is no need of switching on any of the lights! Indeed, no need of fan or ac… baby this is Mysore. We all had a sumptuous breakfast which included piping hot Idlis, poories and coffee. After the first round of belly pooja, our bus started moving again. Rrrrrrrr… to coorg.

In picture Ramakrishnan Narasingam

After we took a left turn on Hunsur, way to Coorg was so enticing that both sides of the narrow road was filled with paddy fields. Showers started somewhere in between. I submerged into my own thoughts. I left my better half at shore to take this trip. But I knew that is not a bad thing as all of us were doing the same. I was thinking very serious about my life after this IT age. At one point of time our brain will stop working and we will lose our capability of solving problems. That time, there will be no one to give you a salary. You will become a trash. When that time comes to me, what will I do? Will I join some old man in a village as his assistant in agriculture? A security man in front of an ATM? Running a grocery shop? Breaking stones at a quarry? “Who is there for playing anthakshari?” That question from Kaila reminded me one thing- “No need to think of those things I was thinking about; at least now. This is the time for party!”

People were so loud that the bus driver started driving the bus much faster. Birds in the roadside trees were flying off. People in sitting in the roadside tea shops were closing their ears..err a little overa? Ok. Somehow, we all were singing very loud. Illayaraja, MSV, Burman brothers and all were there with us. For those peppy numbers like Dum maro dum, people were dancing nicely; even Helen will fall for them!

[Continued...]

Event co-ordination team planned to handle the 50+ crowd in a little different way. They split the crowd into five small teams. May be; it looks like a British way of ‘ruling’. But, this is something that English people taught us- “I will work well”. So, EC team split the whole lot into five lot-lot-lot-lot-and-lot just one day before the journey date. Team splitting was a random process, to make sure that there is a chance of mingling for the newly joined folks. And Sreeraj Kamaraj, the newest entrant was an exceptional person; he was selected as the captain of one team! Hence the pre-journey processes came to an end.

journey starts

As for keeping the teams engaged throughout the trip, EC made a pointing system with which each individual will be rated for their punctuality and enthusiasm. The points collectively go to the teams’ rating. Teams were assigned with a few tasks one-by-one. First and foremost- “Reach Chennai Central Rail station at 8pm on 23-jul-2010. The first full-team to do so gets maximum points”.  Usually this is the first pain point any tour will have. But to our surprise, almost 90% of people reached by time. Thanks to those good English men who taught us divide and rule. All of us were very comfortably seated in the train, before time itself. Train hauled from 11^th platform of Chennai Central on right time.

Heading North west to Mysuru via Bengaluru.

[Wait... Part 3 - Goggukala jodayalli guru kanda kodagu]