A fantastically planned trip converted into a photographic exploration by me. That is how I would describe the trip. 6 of us made plans to visit Coorg during the end of March. But as luck would have it, I got very sick and based on everybodies convenience, we postponed it to mid of April (12th and 13th to be exact). As luck w0uld have it, one of us had to drop out at the last minute because of project pressures (we work in such a lovely company). So it was with much enthsiasm that we planned and packed for the travel, a hotel was booked, a cab was booked and the time to depart was decided as 6:00 AM on Saturday the 12th of April 2008.
As soon as we started moving, with Naveen in the front seat, Jayateerth, Anita and Shivani in the middle seat and me spread out on the back seats, I slept. I am still amazed how Jayateerth had managed to stay awake at all.... Well, I awoke almost an hour later when the vehicle stopped to have the stepny changed. B
asically it was the heat which got me awake and staring. I looked at the guys standing outside and taking snaps. I was in no mood to get out so I just dozed off again.. I was again woken up when all of them piled into the qualis not able to bear the bangalore heat any more. We started chatting and Naveen started to feel hungry.
As it turned out for me, the previous day was the birthday of one friend's (Deepak) sister and hence we also planned to go to his home and wish the sweety. 2 of the 5 finally travelling were also part of the celebrations that happened (me and my sweet lil sis - Shivani). That night, deepak crashed at our place for the night and we ended up playing UNO the entire night. Jayateerth was also with us and hence in the morning, there were 2 people out of the five who had not slept a bit (me and jayateerth).
At 4:30am, I called up all the others, to wake them up. Everybody complained from arguments ranging from "There is a lot of time left" to "I had set an alarm" to "5 minutes please". But my work was done and everyone was awake. The taxi driver reached our office by 5:30 itself and by the time we assembeled, it was already 6:45. I had bought a new camera (Sony Cybershot DSC H9) and I was busy shooting pics after pics in the morning itself.
As soon as we started moving, with Naveen in the front seat, Jayateerth, Anita and Shivani in the middle seat and me spread out on the back seats, I slept. I am still amazed how Jayateerth had managed to stay awake at all.... Well, I awoke almost an hour later when the vehicle stopped to have the stepny changed. B
asically it was the heat which got me awake and staring. I looked at the guys standing outside and taking snaps. I was in no mood to get out so I just dozed off again.. I was again woken up when all of them piled into the qualis not able to bear the bangalore heat any more. We started chatting and Naveen started to feel hungry. Soon we started from there and by the time we were 20 mins away from out last stop, all of us
started to feel hungry.. So we stopped at one of the roadside places for breakfast. We were amazed to see the number of people there... but we found a table and sat down to have breakfast. we had a fulfilling breakfast of Idly, vada, dosa and puri (hey that is what all of us, not just me.). This was followed by tea and cold drinks. Poor JT was the last to get the food and he kept wondering 
if the waiter had forgotten about his order. He would have reminded the guy thrice before the order actually came. On our way back to our vehicle, the girls wanted to have a go at the swings. We went there and met Junior, a little pup with a big attitude. He wanted Shivani's sandals and Anita's pants for himself and kept pulling at them. Again I was running aroung to get one good snap of the pup, but he proved too fast for me.
started to feel hungry.. So we stopped at one of the roadside places for breakfast. We were amazed to see the number of people there... but we found a table and sat down to have breakfast. we had a fulfilling breakfast of Idly, vada, dosa and puri (hey that is what all of us, not just me.). This was followed by tea and cold drinks. Poor JT was the last to get the food and he kept wondering 
if the waiter had forgotten about his order. He would have reminded the guy thrice before the order actually came. On our way back to our vehicle, the girls wanted to have a go at the swings. We went there and met Junior, a little pup with a big attitude. He wanted Shivani's sandals and Anita's pants for himself and kept pulling at them. Again I was running aroung to get one good snap of the pup, but he proved too fast for me.We set out with our filled stomachs and stopped only once in between to drink some coconut water. The journey till Mysore was very smooth (thanks to the beautiful roads) but the roads from Mysore to Madikeri(Coorg) were a bit bumpy (again thanks to the roads) in patches. We asked a lot of people about the route and would have had a difficult time, if we did not have JT with us. We would surely have managed with hindi and whatever broked kannada all of us knew, but it was far easier because of JT.
We reached Coorg by 1:30pm and all of us were eager to freshen up and have lunch. We had
some difficulty in finding the hotel, but the locals were pretty helpful in the same. The location of the hotel did not promise a very good settlement, but it turned out to be pretty good. We had pre-booked two rooms at the hilltown hotel. We talked to the receptionist to find out what sequence he would suggest for us to travel for the two days and he gave us a brochure with the list of places to visit. He suggested that we should not miss talacauvery, Abbey falls and Raja's seat. Looking at the distances, we decided that for that day, we would cover, Abbey falls, Raja's seat and omkareshwari temple. Then we went up to freshen up.
some difficulty in finding the hotel, but the locals were pretty helpful in the same. The location of the hotel did not promise a very good settlement, but it turned out to be pretty good. We had pre-booked two rooms at the hilltown hotel. We talked to the receptionist to find out what sequence he would suggest for us to travel for the two days and he gave us a brochure with the list of places to visit. He suggested that we should not miss talacauvery, Abbey falls and Raja's seat. Looking at the distances, we decided that for that day, we would cover, Abbey falls, Raja's seat and omkareshwari temple. Then we went up to freshen up. It was 2:30pm by the time we got out of our rooms. As decided earlier, we started looking out for a hotel which would server traditional Coorg dishes. We walked around town and found a hotel called as Coorg Cuisine and went up to eat. It was a small setup and tastefully decorated with traditional coorg items. There were rifles, knifes and traditional dancing props lined around the walls. We looked at the menu and ordered whatever we felt was unique there. We ended up with a table filled with bamboo shoot curry, dry fish curry, Rice noodles, rice balls, plain rice, mixed vegetable curry and chicken curry. The last three was the result of the suggestion by naveen, that we should have something to bank on incase we did not find the other food good. The moment the fish came on the table, JT started making odd kinds of faces and asked us to get the fish off the table. I guess most of us were troubled by the smell, but Shivani, Anita and I had little bit of the fish. Later all of us had fresh lime water with honey. It tasted very nice. We paid the bill and then called the driver.
Now our ride continued towards abbey falls, the ride itself was as beautiful as we could imagine,
we stopped at a very picturisque location to take some snaps and then proceeded from there. Abbey falls is some 16 kms from Madikeri and is known to claim a few lives every year, but still a lots of people go there to take in the beauty of the falls. We also enjoyed the scenary there...It was lush green all around. Shivani, who had been there earlier, told us that during the rainy season, it would be very difficult to stand on the bridge on which we stood on to look at the falls as the waterfall would be in its full swing and send lots of water would be falling on the bridge. She also told that there would be lots of fog there...
we stopped at a very picturisque location to take some snaps and then proceeded from there. Abbey falls is some 16 kms from Madikeri and is known to claim a few lives every year, but still a lots of people go there to take in the beauty of the falls. We also enjoyed the scenary there...It was lush green all around. Shivani, who had been there earlier, told us that during the rainy season, it would be very difficult to stand on the bridge on which we stood on to look at the falls as the waterfall would be in its full swing and send lots of water would be falling on the bridge. She also told that there would be lots of fog there...
Next stop was Raja's seat. To describe it is simple, it was the point on top of a mountain from where the kings used to enjoy the sunset and also watch the cultural programs being held in the lawn. It was a non amusive simple structure. What was amazing though was the view that we got. We were simply mesmerized by the view. We saw a point some way forward where some people had gone through uncertain paths. We also decided to go there and trekked (so to say) to the point, where the cliff literally seemed to drop off... The view was amazing. We could have sat there the entire time, only if it was not starting to get dark. Some clouds spoilt the sunset but truly gave a very scenic view for us to enjoy. I would have liked to put the snaps taken, but i am not able to decide which one to select.
After enjoy the view and pestering everybody with my attempted photographic genius (boy 
were they pissed). We went to the lawn in front of the Raja's seat to view the musical fountain. Here, Naveen bought ice creams for us and we all enjoyed it. We were also entertained by a little kiddo who was next to us and was troubling the dad like anything... And the best part was, the kid was enjoying it... we also enjoyed the entertainment while we were waiting for the fountains to start. It 
started as soon as it got dark. We all enjoyed the beautiful light and water works. I took a video of the entire thing which is too big to upload. It went on for some half an hour and then we left the place to go to Omkareshwari temple. Oh yes, I did forget to mention the flower beds in the yard. The entire yard was made into a flower garder with various flower designs and formation. looking at them was a heartful experience.
were they pissed). We went to the lawn in front of the Raja's seat to view the musical fountain. Here, Naveen bought ice creams for us and we all enjoyed it. We were also entertained by a little kiddo who was next to us and was troubling the dad like anything... And the best part was, the kid was enjoying it... we also enjoyed the entertainment while we were waiting for the fountains to start. It 
started as soon as it got dark. We all enjoyed the beautiful light and water works. I took a video of the entire thing which is too big to upload. It went on for some half an hour and then we left the place to go to Omkareshwari temple. Oh yes, I did forget to mention the flower beds in the yard. The entire yard was made into a flower garder with various flower designs and formation. looking at them was a heartful experience.The next target, omkareshwar temple (dedicated to lord shiva) was a beautiful temple with lots of paintings of various deities hanging around in the temple courtyard. The Shivaling in the temple was supposedly brought from Kashi by king Lingarajendra II who had built the temple to get rid of the curse, that he bestowed upon himself by killing pious Brahmin protesting against the kings misdeeds.
After offering our prayers and comparing the power of my camera's flash with another camera present on the temple premisis, we went back to the hotel. Once there, we all retired into our rooms to get ourselves cleaned. In about an hour, all of had cleaned, scrubbed and were ready to have dinner, but before that JT wanted Tea... (I believe, next time, we go anywhere with JT, we should carry a hot keg full of tea, to satiate his thirst for tea). But when we found out that Tea was unavailable at such unhumane hours (only 8:00pm by the way), we ordered for lassis for everybody and horlicks for Ants.. Then we sat down to watch the snaps on the TV. JT had fallen asleep while we were getting fresh (he was the first one to take a bath) and when we woke him up, he was a bit gorgy and lost. I guess it was only now that the no-sleep of the previous night was kicking in.
Dinner was ordered in the room itself and it consisted of chicken fry, chilly chicken, roti's, couple of veg sabji's (I didn't touch them, so i don't remember their names) and veg fried rice. The food was filling. One thing i should mention about coorg is that I feel that the food there is quite cheap when compared to bangalore hotels. Well food disappeared fast and soon we saw that anita had rolled in comfortably under the bed covers, all ready to sleep. We slowly moved out of the room, waiting only for the attendant to come and clean the room. All things done, it was time to sleep. I gave the responsibility of making sure that the camera batteries were charged to Naveen and went to sleep (he said he would sleep late).
As usual the music of the title track of Tare Zameen Par (that's my alarm tone) woke me up at precisely 7:00 AM. First job of the day, wake up the girls. So, I called shivani on the phone who grudgingly answered the phone and pleaded for 10 more minutes of sleep. I accepted that and then debated weather I should actually pull myself off the bed and start getting ready or just get back to sleep for another 10 mins. Well common sense prevailed and I got myself off the bed and got on ahead with my daily chores. Again called Shivanj after 20 mins to find her wide awake. Next job of the day get the lads up. That was an easy job and was accomplished in a matter of minutes with JT rushing in to work out his daily habits. Another 20 mins passed and I went and knocked at the girls door, only to find them still on the bed, when asked why they were not ready, I got an answer from Anita in the sweetes possible manner "We were talking". Asking them to get ready soon, I went back to my room.
Time: 8:00AM, all the guys are ready and we go and knock at the girls room again, one is ready
the other is not... Finally by 8:15AM, we all went down to have the complementary breakfast. It consisted of a bread omlet, 2 plates of idly vada, 1 dosa, 3 aaloo parathas, 2 teas and 3 glasses of horlicks. Again, stomachs full, we went up to our rooms to get the bags and by 9:00 we were all ready to go. We checked out and went to our vehicle. We loaded ourselves into the Qualis and started our journey towards Talacauvery. It was approximately 49 kms from the hotel and took almost an hour and a half to reach. 1 hour of the entire journey is best forgotten by both Shivanj and me. Both my lil sis and me were on the verge of puking because of motion sickness. We also had a hard time finding lemons to purchase as it grows in almost every house. One lady gave us one out of courtesy. I don't know whose face triggered the feeling in her. We were both in pathetic shapes.
the other is not... Finally by 8:15AM, we all went down to have the complementary breakfast. It consisted of a bread omlet, 2 plates of idly vada, 1 dosa, 3 aaloo parathas, 2 teas and 3 glasses of horlicks. Again, stomachs full, we went up to our rooms to get the bags and by 9:00 we were all ready to go. We checked out and went to our vehicle. We loaded ourselves into the Qualis and started our journey towards Talacauvery. It was approximately 49 kms from the hotel and took almost an hour and a half to reach. 1 hour of the entire journey is best forgotten by both Shivanj and me. Both my lil sis and me were on the verge of puking because of motion sickness. We also had a hard time finding lemons to purchase as it grows in almost every house. One lady gave us one out of courtesy. I don't know whose face triggered the feeling in her. We were both in pathetic shapes.When we were some 4 kms away from the destination, we decided to take a hike and asked the driver to go ahead and reach the top. I was grateful to be out of the vehicle. Solid ground felt like heaven. The trecking was tiring for me (I am sure about that). I am surely out of shape. No one else complained. But the journey was in every way worth it. Clouds passed us at regular 
intervals and the climate was very pleasent. We saw the thalacauvery (place from where cauvery originates) and then went up the mountain to see the view point from where the entire region was beautifully visible. The climb tired all of us, but we were crossed easily by a 93 year old man, who thought it was his responsibility to remind naveen that age doesn't matter, fitness does and talked only to him while telling him that "Look, I am 93 years old and I am climbing the stairs with ease and you are taking break".
intervals and the climate was very pleasent. We saw the thalacauvery (place from where cauvery originates) and then went up the mountain to see the view point from where the entire region was beautifully visible. The climb tired all of us, but we were crossed easily by a 93 year old man, who thought it was his responsibility to remind naveen that age doesn't matter, fitness does and talked only to him while telling him that "Look, I am 93 years old and I am climbing the stairs with ease and you are taking break".Once on top, we dispersed in various directions to get the view available from all directions. I 
developed a sore index just because of all the clicking I was doing. I just went crazy. Naveen and Ants had problems walking on the rough ground barefoot, so they just stayed on the top, while, Shivanj, JT and I went exploring for better views accross. Now the scenary in all directions was just green and we could not see many houses except from one point. The three of us sat on a precipe for some time and wondered how it would be to go on other mountains as these. Time played the villain and we had to leave, we did not go towards the left of the climibing point where we could see the windmills. I may probably regret it for the rest of my life.
developed a sore index just because of all the clicking I was doing. I just went crazy. Naveen and Ants had problems walking on the rough ground barefoot, so they just stayed on the top, while, Shivanj, JT and I went exploring for better views accross. Now the scenary in all directions was just green and we could not see many houses except from one point. The three of us sat on a precipe for some time and wondered how it would be to go on other mountains as these. Time played the villain and we had to leave, we did not go towards the left of the climibing point where we could see the windmills. I may probably regret it for the rest of my life.The trip down was simple and luckily, our shoes were still in the exact place where I left them. On the way back to the cab, we had some majjige (buttermilk) which freshened us and elavated our spirits. The travel back to Madikeri was univentful, mostly because I was sleeping. If I was awake, I would have probably spoiled the entire environment and mood by puking. Shivanj however could not sleep, but didn't puke either. People who have this problem will understand what her situation was.
At Madikeri, we went to a hotel for lunch, only to find that the food was over. Dijected, when we came out we found that the driver and car were also missing (The driver had gone someplace else to have lunch). Naveen then took it upon himself to get the food from this hotel only. He used his charms to get lunch for all of us. It consisted of 5 meals, 2 chicken curry, 1 bowl dal and cold drinks. I was not feeling hungry, but the first morsel of food increased my hunger and I ate a lot. Then we left from there and stopped only to get some anti nausea medicines for shivanj and me and later to drink tea till we reached mysore.
We played anthakshari throughout with Anita, JT, Shivanj and Naveen being in one team and me on the other. At the end of it all, we were drawn at 1,1.
At mysore, we went o brindawan gardens and spent some time there looking at the flowers. People were royally angry with me for taking photographs and I got a solid scolding from Shivanj for wasting too much time in taking photographs. We left from there at about 9 and reached M3 office at around 11:30pm. We then left for our homes, our lovely trip over. Looking forward to the next trip to enjoy the seasons and beauty of nature....
