The Perks of Being a Teacher & a Trekker.

Travel has always been a passion for me and like many other passions, it had been on the backburner due to other commitments like work and time constrains. But when a bunch of students approached me to join them for their study trip, I just couldn’t refuse them due to these reasons.

 1)  http://acynictalks.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-throwback-to-college-days.html

2)    http://acynictalks.blogspot.com/2016/10/taming-mustached-leopard-hill.html

The main difference from the previous adventure was that this time I was joined by my colleague Mathew Sir, my wife Mintu ma’am & Sid the kid.

We kicked off on a beautiful evening with 49 screaming students from the college towards our first destination of Chikmagalur in Karnataka. I have heard that the place is a heaven for hikers and looked forward to experience it. The Kerala – Karnataka roads were severely damaged and it took us forever to reach the place. Finally after a quick brunch, we set off to our first destination, a shooting point. Most of the route was covered in jeeps, so we could make time for some other spots also. The place had some spectacular views when we went up the nearest summit. Mintu & Sid stayed at the base and they didn’t want to climb the steep region. 

In my mind I was wondering if they would miss all the places due, but they had different plans! Next we stopped at Honnamma falls, a small cascade upstream to the famed Jhari falls. It was a disappointment at least for me as I subconsciously compare every falls to our beloved Athriapally and Miss Honnamma just didn’t make it. The students enjoyed the place and so did Mintu & Sid. By this time, Sid has started to shed his shyness towards the students and started interacting with them. He found Anitta, a student much to his liking and named her Friend Chechi.

We then drove to a place called ‘Z Point’ and I have no idea why it is called so. The place offered beautiful views and everyone went snapping pictures. Mathew sir had taken up the role of Mr Nishchal with his DSLR. There was a bit of walk to the top point and both Mintu & Sid walked up before I reached there ! On the way back to our jeeps, the driver told us about a sub-terrain cave mosque/temple complex in the area and before I could say anything, half the guys were off to the place. And it would have been a great loss if we missed it. Beautiful relics of the past complete with dripping ceilings and cold floors; with roof so low that I graced my dome a couple times even after bending low. Unfortunately photography was prohibited and I didn’t risk taking any. 

Our final stop was almost an hour’s journey with the last kilometer offering good off-roading. Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in the state welcomed us with a beautiful sunset and there too we had to climb a bit to the summit. On our way back we encountered some cows running up the slope to spend the night on top of the hill where there is a small temple. Not a very pretty experience when you try to go down a slope while cows charge upwards.

The second day was a long bus day. The only thing of note was the food from a Punjabi dhaba. I had a butter roti that actually had butter on it and paneer curry so rich in paneer that there weren’t much curry. We reached the second destination Dandeli, at the northern tip of the state by evening and checked into a jungle resort. I don’t want to waste words on that place as it was so horrible and will not be staying there ever again even if you pay me to do so. Google Dandeli Simba Jungle Resort and check for reviews if you want to know the place.

The third day kicked off by us escaping from that place after a short walk through a plantation and visiting the banks of a river. We then wandered around searching for the Hornbill adventure park where we booked some watersports. The place was on the banks of the mighty, beautiful Kali River and was a well managed place. We did a bit of kayaking (me after a lot of encouragement from the students to conquer my aquaphobia), river rafting and natural Jacuzzi bath. The last thing is just lying on the rocks while white water gushes past you. Wonderful stuff. Mintu & Sid could not join for the rafting as the guides took safety pretty seriously but they were kind enough to arrange a separate free boating for us. The goons at the jungle resort could learn a thing or two from these fellows about hospitality.

In our original plan, we were to proceed to Malpe for a trip to St Mary’s island in the Arabian Sea but we got word that the sea is pretty rough and the boat services are suspended. After a bit of brainstorming, we picked up Kodachadri (Kudajadri), a mountain peak with dense forests in the Western Ghats in Shivamogga Dist. I was a bit worried as the trekking path up the summit is a bit steep and when I visited the place ten years ago as an obese drunk, I couldn’t walk up the entire path. Well here is my shot at redemption.

After a quick morning visit to the famed Mookambika temple with the faithful, we went out for our second jeep ride of the tour. This off-roading is said to be the most thrilling one available in south India and I must say, that statement don’t do justice to the place. As Ashiq put it, travelling in the 4x4 jeeps, it was like being in a grinder on the gravel roads and in a washing machine on the off-roads. Sid was the one who enjoyed the ride most while some of the students threw up and the others teased them for throwing up. Me on the other had was wondering what to do with Mintu and Sid when we start the hike.

We started the hike and Sid simply walked up the peak with his mummy and friend chechis like it was a walk in the park. The place was ethereal with a lovely mist, rolling meowed hills and deep gorges. The cave Ganesh temple and the Sarvajna Peeth, a small temple like structure near the peak where Adi Shankara meditated gave the place a spiritual vibe. The entire route was peppered with wild flowers of all colors and the entire atmosphere was akin to a fairy land. All the students easily climbed up and down the hill with ease and the leeches along the way had their full. Mathew sir had a ball of time clicking all those beautiful views and leading the trek up the hill while I stayed behind to leave none stranded. On the way down we were surprised by the temple people who offered us a stupendous vegetarian meal complete with a delicious paysam.

 The return trip was enjoyed with some raving DJish music & dance, couple movies in the bus and a visit to a mall at Manglore. I must confess that this is the best college tour I have ever gone as a student or as a staff and the memories will stay on for a long time.

PS: I thank all the students for inviting us, taking care of Sid, for the well organized trip and for not making a mess !

PSS: The images are from the collection of students, Mathew sir and mine. Haven’t got the DSLR pictures at the time of writing this blog.

PSSS: Without the wonderfully coordinated trip, the experience would not have been so great. I salute the efforts by Anwar, the tour package man, Ajith & Eldho our drivers and the student organizers Shambu, Ashiq, Umesh, Amal, Gokul, Anandhu.…….. and co; and Manu for dropping us back home.

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A few snaps from the trip, will update when I get more pictures.