It was a wish come true!!!
A gang of girls off to a trip!
Many people where asking me to call them when I go for the next trip. But when the planning starts, everybody find their own excuses to back out. However, this time, things where different. There were eight girls ready for the trip. The eight-girl squad (er… gang)! The gang comprised of students, a working woman and a house wife. All with a common passion – To Travel!
Hiba- who came all the way from Muvattupuzha stayed with me the day before the trip while Jyothi was staying with a friend at Trivandrum, whereas Neelima was riding her own scooter and joined us at Aryankavu. The rest of them were waiting at their doorsteps waiting for our vehicle to pick them up.
Our journey began an hour late but we reached early at our destination – Aryankavu. From there we should hire a Jeep and head to Kurishumala. So our friend Ram, who arranged everything at Aryankavu, suggested dropping in at the Check dam at Thenmala. It was an ice breaking session for those who fell asleep in that 1-hour journey.
Our vehicle parked at a corner and one by one everyone stepped out to see the view of the blue hills and the waterfront. First group photo was clicked there. Then slowly everyone got down to the way that was leading to the water.
Everyone was with shoes on and stared at water for a while and then started removing socks and shoes one by one and got into water. We had planned to spend 10 minutes there but it was extended to half an hour. The trip mood was slowly getting into their blood by now. With that energy, everyone got back to the vehicle and in less than 30 minutes, we reached Aryankavu, where Neelima was waiting for us in her scooter.
With her following our vehicle, we found a space to park our tempo traveler at the shades of trees at Aryankavu. 2 Jeeps with our guide was waiting patiently for us.
Everyone took their bags and moved to the Jeeps. Rajani got the front seat in one Jeep whereas Bindu got the Front seat in the another one. With others in the back seat, we started our Jeep safari through the off road of Rosemala. Our driver, Maathukutty, was saying that the road is better when compared to the early days. It was just boulders before and the jeep had to jump from one boulder to another tp pass through that road. But for us, it was still not that better road :)
In few minutes, they stopped the Jeep in front of a house where our food was ordered. When everyone moved to wash hands, there we saw a Dragon Fly! Then it was a rush to snap pictures of the "red-star". In between, some one got a seat at the dining table and started having the breakfast, and was appreciating the house wife for the tasty homely food. That made everyone's attention shift from Dragon Fly to food.
Jyothi who was making the team more lively was quite for a while when she reached in front of a plate which filled with spicy Sambaar and Iddly ;)
The laugher was never ending and the team dispersed to wash hands after the food. Yes, to the same place where we saw the Dragon Fly. This time we saw another host- a Chameleon. Everyone was mesmerized to see its color changing from Green to Orange . Once again, everyone took their mobile and camera for some "Wild Photography". May be noticing this, the Chameleon was slightly shaking his head for a better pose.
It was getting late for the trekking. Everyone rushed to Jeep and it started with 8 crazy "nomads". I stood back from this group due to the health issues but still I could see the hills at a distance where a Cross is standing at the top. The rocks were too steep.
After the 1.5km journey, the trekking team reached at the down hill with 2 guides. The guides explained about the terrain - it was a thick dense forest for the next half a kilometer, then a Meadow. As it was summer, most of the meadow was dry but still a good part was greenish. It was getting more steeper as we continued our hiking. The 8 people split into 8 groups as each one's speed narrowed down compared to the first excitement. In between when we passed through some Guava trees, we saw two Bison. However, the luck was only with the first one who reached there. By the time the rest of the gang reached there, it disappeared somewhere around the trees.
When the altitude got higher, we could see the long view of the Tamilnadu town - Thenkashi. There was a fresh water pond in between. People often come to the pond to clean it as it is many people's fresh water resource. They have put horses at the downhill. Also Elephants comes there to drink water. Enjoying the scenery along with the strong wind, we reached the top of the hill in 2 hours. There were two boulders that were connected with a small boulder in between.
Our Guide was saying that no one has tried to climb that rock yet. But that record was made by our Jasna who climbed it in ease. Then series of photo clicking was going on. The scorching sun was on the top of our heads but the strong wind made us forget about the temperature. After spending 45 minutes at the top, we started climbing down slowly. When we reached down, no one forgot to pose for a group photo in front of the Jeep.
When we reached back to the same house where we had breakfast, mouth-watering lunch was waiting for us. Everyone relaxed for an hour and then started roaming around the house. This time Neelima took our Guide's bike that was parked near by. Hiba was sitting at the back seat and Neelima rode the bike here and there. Once again, it was time to pack the bags and head to Rosemala for a Jeep safari.
The real off road was starting there. In the two jeeps, we headed to our destination. We stopped at every place where we got to see running streams and any animals which was here and there, jumping from one tree to another. The 12km off road trip ended at the shades of some trees and from there we slowly started walking towards the viewpoint of the catchment area of Thenmala.
Neelima and Bindu denied to walk to the top but others forced them to climb. It was worth the effort when everyone reached the viewpoint. Few laid down over the rocks and few others were trying to get some good snaps. Then it was time to say good-bye for a fun filled day with a bunch of like minded-lovely women.
When we reached Aryankavu in the Jeeps, our tempo traveler was waiting there. Said good-bye to Neelima and Jyothi who headed to Kollam in Neelima's scooter, the rest got into the vehicle, too tired to speak anything.
The first trip of Appooppanthaadi ended with tons of memories. Everyone reached home safely and said good nights in the WhatsApp group which was created for the trip and for the upcoming ones...
