A Throwback to College Days

When I was requested to accompany the first year students for a six day trip I was surprised, skeptical, excited, terrified and responsible, rightly in that order. Surprised since I haven't even seen these kids ever, skeptical as I am not the best of roll models out there, excited as we will be scaling Meesahpulimala, terrified as its a crowd of 52 kids and two of us and responsible as the parents started calling me. 

In my write up I will be referring the students as kids not because they are little kids but that is how I thought of them and of course that will make me feel big and wise ! They were a heterogeneous group composed of instantly likable ones, the ones who run the show, the cool gangs, the ones with too cool to school attitude etc. The key point from my perspective is to keep a straight face while screaming internally or laughing my ass off to keep the kids in line. I could be super friendly with them but then at some point I will have to shout at the unlucky one who takes it too far and that spoils the day. Better keep the illusion of fear than that. Now kids, you know why I kept my distance.

The trip began with DJ Snake and Dillon Francis screaming the roof off the bus while the bus rocked by the dance moves and I was like 'It its hardy six minutes and I have to endure six days of this'. Day one at Waynadu began with a disappointing breakfast and an even more disappointing morning as Idakkal caves, our first destination was closed due to some reason. We backtracked and went to Meenmutti falls where the kids had a real blast while I preached on a high rock to keep an eye on them. For me water bodies and youthful enthusiasm is always a bad combination. The lunch was messed up as our timings were behind the schedule and the tour operators could not fix it. I had to step in to usher the kids into a hotel and get them seated as each seats got vacated. I must appreciate the cooks on the marvelous dish they had. Every thing from boiled rice to fish fry had the same bland neutral taste. The rest of the day was spent roaming around Banasurasahgar dam and then to bed at a not so bad hotel after a good dinner.

The right snack to be had, anywhere, anytime

The second days plan was to start at 5 am and we did so by around 8 am and Ooty felt so far yet so close when in the highrange roads. After a tedious trip full of hairpin bends and vomiting kids and the movie 'Kali' we checked into Needle view point, the Shooting point, some crap restaurant that served food that was probably sourced from some college mess and finally the Lake. I requested the other staff Shamaz sir to accompany them to boating while I stayed back with the kids who were too weak from throwing up in the bus. Around six packed up and stared to Munnar. And there was a surprise, a camp fire out of nowhere. Half heart-ed dances and a few dumb songs later we hogged down the food that was actually good for a change and continued to Munnar.

Camp fire fiasco !

For me the day at Munnar was the most exciting one as we are attempting to hike the second highest peak in Kerala. The experience is too great and warrants a whole blog which will follow up shortly.

On the fourth day the kids were super excited to be at Wonderla because Duh! they are kids. I wandered around planning my blogs to come, enjoyed the water rides and the wave pool. 

My opinion on amusement parks !

By evening I could sense the sadness creep into the otherwise lit faces of the students as they realized their week at heaven is about to be over. The day was finally summarized with a visit to Lulu mall and the movie Oppam at PVR, which I must say, I enjoyed and by the next day morning we were back home.

From the view point of a staff, I think the trip could have improved a lot in planning and execution. A bit more care in selecting the itinerary, promptness in timings and most importantly the booking of hotels, food etc would have made the trip even better.

Visit by Jinu at Ooty with his Bullet

From my personal perspective, I enjoyed the trip a lot. It reminded me of the college days of the old. Those jubilant days that I thought was lost forever was gifted to me by these unknown students. I made a lot of new friends, met one old one (Jinu I am looking at you and your bullet bro) and reconnected with the joy of watching Mallu movies. I enjoyed all that were screened -  Kali, Aadu, 2 Countries, Happy wedding and Oppam. I was in touch with the new-gen and their way of selfie taking, chunkkz calling, tagging everyone in the world in FB... life and I felt truly alive and in time. 

Thank you guys for that.

I too had a selfie spree :)