It would need a patience of about 10 months for a mother to get a glance of her new born, but my desire to unravel my thirst for exploring the nature demanded more. The many years of planning and waiting was already crushing me from inside and this pressure helped me to dig in for contacts with similar aspirations and after a series of enquiries and chains of friends I met my destiny and it was named “Appoopanthaadi”. As a note of thanks to all those who helped me to connect with dear Appoppanthaadi which I refer as AT’s , I was determined to sign up for the first trip they plan for which was happily a spot with refreshing greenery and mesmerizing beauty – “Rammakalmedu” and the trip was named ‘Wind Valley’ as we had a great pasture filled with giant wind mills to be the first in the visit list.
There was a little preparation for the trip as I have been prepared for this from the day I got my first salary. Train travel is one of the most comfortable plus affordable as any traveler would certainly know and obviously the first choice if time permits. Our train which was accountable for taking us from Trivandrum to ERN arrived. My eagerness and excitement to meet those new friends with whom I share something in common was overwhelming. But the meeting of new friends actually didn’t feel really new as it was just a re-union of some old friends who shared the same bench in the school where one was taught to follow your instincts and not to live a life to impress others. Though none of them were familiar, they were not strangers too and I was definitely not travelling with strangers. More of them joined on the way and the delayed train took as to the promised point where our traveler was waiting for the kick off at about 2AM.
As we had almost the entire team assembled in the bus we started knowing each other not with personal questions but just with a question of name and then about trips and travel. It was a group of positive and broad minded ladies accustomed to adjust and accept anyone who is ready to do the same. A group of hydrogen balloons all connected to the same string swaying high above in the cool air without any preset direction but a determination to get the extreme experience of exploring the unexplored.
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| A distant view of the wind mills amid greenery.. |
As our traveler started climbing the high range we could see the nature welcoming us with its greenery, mountains and breeze which was politely asking us to stop clattering to hear its music in the background sponsored by itself. On reaching the home stay after all necessary replenishing we started our so called “Wind Valley “ trip whose first destination was the Wind valley itself. It was assumed that it would really blow our mind and body with the strong and icy winds but the reality was something different, the wind was mild, sun was calm and the giant wind mills even stayed a statue at the beginning followed with slight movement.
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| A close-up of the giant wind mill… |
But we were not empty handed because we were welcomed with the pastures that flow like river in the calm wind and the cattle’s blissfully with the privilege of privacy that the greenery was reserved for the AT’s for the time being. The nature was giving us a slow start to have the main for the yet to come. As the AT’s started to capture the slight into their frame for a glimpse later, the sun shone more mighty posing for his fans and the breeze changed to winds and the wind mill increased the pace. The valley filled us with fresh air and positive energy with every single touch. One could easily sleep in the meadow ignoring in the mid noon sun where the grasses grow unattended or unrestricted. Time schedule asked us to leave the valley which slopes to rocky hills on one side and steady pastures on the other, so as to move to the next destination.
Our next mode of transport was the most common in such area where earth surface is unsteady and irregular- Jeep, which could easily gear up to climb steep hills and deep slopes with untarred roads between landmass bounded with wild hibiscus were path width is suitable for just a single jeep at a time. We were lucky to avoid any hassle in that form which could affect our schedule throughout the journey. As we reached our second destination – Aamakallu we could see large rocks arranged together below the sun who was at his full might. The huge rock didn’t give a clue that it had a 100 percent natural air conditioner arranged between them ,to experience which we need to go back to the age of 1 were we took the first chapter on crawling. After crawling for about 2 to 3 meters with flat large rocks above and below separated by less than 2 feet we land on breach supported at base by another rock sufficient to stand bowing to the surprise from nature.
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| The grand entrance to Nature’s AC showroom |
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Be a spider women, Stick to the walls.
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The next in the list was yummy homemade lunch followed by visit to a waterfall 25 km away.
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| Waterfall atop the rock awaiting AT’s to join. |
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A closer glance of the thunder fall- Unknown.
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Another jeep journey through much more complicated and restricted route took us to the “Unknown” water falls. Again with the privilege of privacy the fall was booked just for us . It gave us two options : either to play in the shallow-slow water or climb the rock to catch the fall before it reach the pool. The adventurous AT’s will not be satisfied with nothing other than the second option to climb those slippery rocks to dive into the ice cold water. Only with the capability to balance in flowing water and a grip on mossy rocks one can reach the fall where the water from rock falls like tiny rock particles capable enough to push to the pool. Not to ignore many of the AT’s has to bow to the earth before tasting waterfalls as the slippery rocks gave away. As it was Diwali there was an unexpected celebration too in the list where we had different types of crackers and option to try to light the same which we usually hesitate due to fear of getting hands burned. As night approached we prepared to sleep chatting to each other with hope to explore more in the coming day.
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| AT’s at the unexpected Diwali celebration. |
At 5.45 AM after the morning tea the AT’s gathered for the next destination which was the actual trip destiny –Ramakalmedu. It was still dark and the path was not very clear as we started to climb the slope. The zigzag path took us to the peak after a climbing about half an hour. As we planned to settle to watch the sunrise our guide told us this is not the point and there is more challenge to complete the show. As we followed him, the path through assembled large rocks ended between two large rocks with sufficient gap allowing us to stand but not sit. The experimental movement didn’t end with crawling and sliding , now the most extreme for the first time travelers climbing 3650m high was hurdles that question our physical ability and mental determination. As we had an expression to what next , he said yes climb the wall of about 6 feet to reach the highest point.
That was really a ‘No way’ for many. But the courage to take the challenge rather than accepting the defeat without a trial was our choice. With little help and a lot of body balance and care we achieved it. It gave immense pleasure not because we could reach the highest point but we could prove to our self that it’s still possible to conquer the dream which hide behind the cloud of hassles. One by one all the AT’s reached the peak we could see the sun was waiting for us to settle down and watch the show. The site was gaining clarity and the snowcapped hills were exposing the statue of “Kuruvan-Kurathi” .
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Sunrise atop Rammakalmedu .
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The far below village and the cultivation came to life from dark patches with the touch of the golden rays of crimson sun which mesmerized us with its miraculous beauty. The statue was contemplating the show. The experience of sunrise from 3650m was something new and special as the show was exclusive for us as we were not disturbed by any other team. The moments were captured for later cherish and we posed with all our creativity with utmost care as this was one of the highest suicide pointy available nearby. As we started getting busy with shooting there came the original owners of the show and the peak point daring us to leave the place or bear the consequences- a bunch of monkeys who were ready to check the camera sling bags for any possible foodies.
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Ahh the Real owners …
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Carefully one by one we landed between the rock walls and proceeded to available nearby points. One among which was an echo point where we can lay down between rocks and speak to the nature which guarantees a reply.
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The echo point where all your questions get answered instantaneously..
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Risk was a default partner for the all these points as these always end in an open space that will be a suicide point. But each of them offers a unique risk of itself. On our way back we could see many more people arriving to climb the hill but the best part of the show was over and we were the only audience.
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| A distant view for the short pause at the echo point. |
With the last set of homemade breakfast we bid goodbye to the homestay and rammakalmedu for our last destination – the statue of Kuruvan and kurathi which was relatively a short visit as there was no trekking. The couple was watching the miraculous hills and sun along with their Kid and a rooster. As they sit shining in the sun watching the scenery we may feel that the sun compliments them.
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| As the kurathi murmurs to her kuruvan staring at Rammakalmedu.. |
On the way back a glimpse of the earthen dam of Idukki was yet another fortune. As we started our return journey we got view of the same greenery asking us to visit again. I could hear the earth calling to explore the unexplored. Asking me to move out of my comfort zone, break the ice with the people whom I don’t know well and to put sincere effort to live the life I have dreamt all the time. May be a travel without a camera or mobile would give me a chance to explore Mother Nature without a mediator but leaving the responsibility to cherish this moments later with the capability of my brain. Without much words or goodbye AT’s left one by one as they knew they are destined to meet again at a later point for sure.
Marking my favorite quote below:
“Travel around the world or you will see only one page of an endless book of mysteries… “
- Radhika S Nair
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