An Unplanned New Year

(Disclaimer : The time mentioned in the following article are but mere speculation as per what the mind perceived them to be. The time frames have been chosen so as to try and effectively convey to the reader the true feeling that the writer experienced and by no means need be the exact correct timing at which the incidents occurred. )

        The insect on the flowing water kept jumping up and back against the flow of the water. The stream proceeded unrelenting in its quest to complete a enviable 20 to 30 feet dive and not so enviable crash right onto the rocks below. The insect proceeded, equally unrelenting, in its quest to keep jumping up the stream to effectively maintain its position constant. I could see no potential reason for this tedious and strange behavior of the insect and can only presume that it was performing this tedious activity as a part of the training regime for insects enrolled in the Ninja school for Water Walkers.

          If anyone is wondering how I got to this insect on the water, then here is the Recap

Dec 29^th, 16:00 – Entered Bus to Bangalore from Pune. Immediate aim - “catch bus to Coorg from Bangalore on 30^th morning and spend evening being trampled by elephants with Friend #1”

Dec 29^th, 23:30 – Phone call from bangalore. Around ten minutes of trying to tell the person at the other end 'I don't understand Kannada' in Hindi and phone gets cut. Lesson learnt. I booked the ticket to Coorg for 29^th instead of 30^th.

Dec 30^th, 10:00 – Touchdown Bangalore. Change of plans. Getting Trampled by elephants has to be postponed. Ticket to Coorg Booked for 30^th night on the 23:57 bus. Plans made to meet with friends in bangalore till then.

Dec 30^th, 17:30 – The meetings start. Rendevous with three friends planned and process starts

Dec 30^th, 21:00 – Rendezvous complete. A satisfied feeling and it was not because of the food at Coconut Groove.

Dec 30^th, 22:30 – In an Auto in Bangalore. Being taken for a ride. In serious doubt of making it in time for the bus.

Dec 30^th, 23:15 – Ride complete. Looks like will just make it in time for the bus to coorg.

Dec 30^th, 23:25 – Friend #2 calls. Change of plan. Need to get to Mysore on 31^st morning instead of coorg.

Dec 30^th, 23:40 – Friend #2 calls. Change of plans. Coorg back on!!

Dec 30^th, 23:55 – On the bus to Coorg. Just in Time.

Dec 31^st, 06:15 – Touchdown Coorg. Check in at Seethalakshmi Lodge to freshen up. No power, tiny dark rom and a candle and matchsticks.

Dec 31^st, 08:45 – Candlelight shower done. Friend #2 arrives. Pick up Friend#1 and New Friend#3. And the journey without a plan begins!

Dec 31^st, 09:00 – Heading of to Wayanad via Nagerhole.

Dec 31^st, 11:00 – Heading of to Wayanad but apparently not through Nagerhole.

Dec 31^st, 12:30 – At Kuruva Islands. Its closed due to an unfortunate incident that occured a couple of days back. Enquiring about places to stay for the night in and around the region. Finally after much deliberation we move on even though some random guy was nice enough to offer his very own house to us.

Dec 31^st, 14:30 – We reach Banasura dam. Stop at 'Homly Foods' for Lunch. Very friendly chechi, great food and we push off.

Dec 31^st, 16:00 – Still near Banasura Dam. Arrangements for Tenting in the forest for the night in progress.

Dec 31^st, 17:00 – Tents up..!!

Dec 31^st, Rest of the Night = Brilliant!!.. Campfire, Bread and Sambar, some wine, some home made cake, lots of talking and not many mosquitos.

Jan 1^st, 6:30 – Good morning 2012. Nice orange skies@sun rise. Freshen up. Off on a trek to the forests on the hills of Banasura.

Jan 1^st, Around about noon – We reach the top of the water falls, where the water is cold and happily flowing before just before the several feet high drop. An insect is sitting on the flowing waters doing Ninja Training for Insects.

             The Ninja insect was not even close to being the highlight of this trip. A brilliant trip consisting of four people, a maruti swift diesel car, a borrowed tent and lots of driving. At a point of time during the sleepy conversation we shared over the campfire my mind couldn't help but wander of to that gory yet brilliant comedy of a movie 'Zombieland'. More specifically to a particular dialogue in the movie. Couldn't remember what exactly it was, but it had something to do with enjoying the small things in life. A very big thanks to the other three members of this trip for extending to me an invitation to share space with them on this new years eve.