Mundakayam Trip – A Date with Nature

The Seed

Journey began friday evening (3rd of August) by train from Chennai to Kottayam. Named ‘3-Idiots’, this group where we have friends and families, is more active on WhatsApp than on a physical sense and so had wanted a get-together, after a gap of two years. We are three families – the men [Prakash, Prabha, Dilli] hold the title, wives [Priya1, Priya2, Vijaya] and children [Sasi, Yamu, Yashu, Akshay and Abhi] are part of this WhatsApp group. Noisy, we [minus Sasi & Akshay; plus Sheela and Chacha] were, sharing jokes and pulling one-another, till late in the night. On the train, many passengers didn’t mind, or by ignoring us, allowed us to vent out our pent up expressions for one another. While the few who could relate, acknowledged with smiles, there would definitely be some who would have wanted us to be silent. Open apologies, we assure them that the next time we get-together, we shall keep the decibels low.

Morning came, came with it sight of lush-green trees, cleaned by the rains. All along, could not miss the sight of Colocasia Elephant –Ears plants, made the Green greener. Earlier this week rains got so heavy that the Idukki Dam was on the news almost every day, full up to the brim. Many friends had advised us to reconsider the dates for the trip. We said never mind, if it rains, we shall stay put inside the rooms and enjoy our time together. Then why go all the way, was the question. To which we had no answer then, now, could happily say, to Date with Nature.

To add, even inside Hell, it is better to have someone along, whom you know. They help you bribe the guards sneak out and in – sometimes. This was anyways God’s Own Country that we were visiting. We did have two guardian-angels with us, one, Sheela, a friend who belonged there. The other, Chacha*, her husband, who knew this part of the Country inside-out. [Chacha* – while he has a different name, has been and is being called by many of us, including his wife, so. Maybe, because these two syllables bring everyone closer to him, than by any other Name.]

The Journey

We all got down at Kottayam station, still sleepy and lazy. Few, relieved our-selves at the station pay-and-use rest rooms. Hired a couple of Autos, and rode to the bus stand. Boarded the Bus going to Mundakayam. Ladies got reserved seats in the frontal (better) half of the bus and boys got unreserved (lesser) half. Those who have traveled the Hills by bus can clearly understand. But roads were so well-laid and smooth, it didn’t make a difference. Half-asleep and half-awake, we traveled for about an-hour-and-a-half. The journey was very pleasant with the moisture of yester-rains joined by the clean and chill air of the hills. Pleasantly surprised, the rains that had lashed for four weeks till two-days ago, took a break, for our Date.

For someone spending a lifetime in the City, moving away from noisy and polluted space, sights, air and finding the sparsely populated hills is a boon, truly. I get a strong feeling, maybe some sociologists may affirm this as a tested phenomenon. We can find more smiles on people’s faces in smaller towns than in the Cities, where we get very indifferent to fellow beings. This got further endorsed as soon as we landed at Mundakayam. Ammavan and Zubin where waiting for us with Tavera vehicles, beaming with smiles while receiving us. The pure Duchenne-smile, for someone who is too used to gauged-smiles or the Botox-smiles of the city, this is the warmest Welcome. They both are closely related to Sheela and Chacha.

We were taken to Rooms close-by for a quick change. We went through black-carpeted roads, thanks to the Authorities and Governments that made and maintained them. The sight of well-groomed Rubber trees with spiral stripes on their trunk, showed man’s obsession with orderliness and discipline. While on the other side, there were wild trees and plants with beautiful flowers propping out of crevices and large ridges between the rocks, reiterating the beauty in wilderness. The local drivers’ exchanging smiles and greetings with Ammavan while passing by, displayed the warmth and brotherhood, we seldom see in the grown-up cities.

Rise to Fall

Therefrom, we went to Wembley Falls, a secluded one. One group left as we entered and another came in when we were to leave. This could be due to the monsoons just being over, and regular tourists waiting for Dates. Water was aplenty, Water-Fall was huge. We took Seats amidst the cut rocks, thanks to the pains taken by our ancestors who cut the rocks for the grip that made it safe for us. At very few places the green-algae had succeeded in making it slippery. Water came down over in such speed, hitting my head, reminded me of days at School, when being hit on head with knuckles were so common. Quickly we found the bliss in the sound of water. After a while, we became so familiar with the place. Body-and-Head-massage for an hour or more or so, had kindled hunger and so we took a break. Sitting over the rocks, we had Lunch and quickly got into the water, without losing much time. Some things in life, we cannot have ‘enough’. This was one such thing.

The Spine Pines

Our Chais (Tea) and Chacha made sure that we exited the comforts of our bed by eight. The spirit to explore the vast expanse of wonders spread out by our Maker – but without such an elaborate thought – was very visible with all of us. We started off to Vagamon. Chacha made sure I got Kuzha Puttu and Kadala Curry my favourite breakfast today. I carried some for my Lunch as well. It is in this route we could see a number of Elakkadus-Elaichi fields with its fragrance filled in the air, as we drove through the roads. We reached Vagamon and visited the Pine-Valley. A wonderful sight for everyone, especially, for those who have an eye for photography. Nice romantic place, surrounded by tall pine trees and the sight to vast expanse of mountains is a pleasure to watch.

The Bald Head

Parundhupara – Suicide point – Like a half-bald man’s head, it had a plain on Top of the mountain, from where we could see for miles and miles of mountains on all directions. Likening the trees around to a bald-man’s head too had dense forest on the surroundings, while the centre was bald. The path could take different directions, with each one taking us to the end of a cliff. One instance you would face a rain and another instance it was gone. One instance you are covered by thick clouds – making it difficult to see the person in front of you. Another instance, you can see innumerable mountains in all directions. Chill breeze, made us desirous of Chai and to our surprise, atop the hills we did get Bread-Omelettes too. We had as many, while with acquaintance with the vendor – Senthil, I prepared my favourite Omelette for the children. On our way back we found Daddy#. A bit sour, but having come here, we wanted it for being the product from Nature. [Daddy# – since we had children with us, named Toddy, Daddy for convenience. In our look out for the Shop, we could say – there comes Daddy. Thus, after initial stares, everyone, including children clearly understood Daddy in the context of this Tour.]

Yendayar – where Sheela, Ammavan and Zubin belong, is a small village, eleven kilometres from Mundakayam. Here we got into a broad stream of fresh and chill waters, with small stretches very apt for swimming. In a sense, it was a private family Bath, without the hindrance of crowding people. The entire family bathed to bliss. Elder boys had taken to Daddy# between dips. We were joined by chubby-Muthu, swimming-girl Surya and Vishnu. Houses were made at different heights, between the cut-mountains. The houses merged so well with nature, neither the elements nor the people can see harm to the environment they were in. Each house had their own gardens, wherein Rubber and Teak were an integral part. Each one knew the people around so well and their care for one another was obvious when they spoke. Here, we were introduced to Granny, two Chechis and Ammavan Junior. The one – who wakes at three, and works till late evening on different occupations, starting with collecting rubber. It is here I learn that one person has to scrape 300 to 350 trees between 3 and 4 and after two hours, collect the rubber that would drip into the Cups placed for purpose.

Dinner time, we had Kappa – made from Tapioca – a favourite dish state-wide. It was served with Kozhi Kuzhambu – Chicken gravy. On special request, Gandhari chutney was served too. The near bland Kappa went really well with Gandhari Chutney – the hottest chutney in the planet. Kozhi Kuzhambu later took position to Kappa as a standard accompaniment. We did have rice, the big brown rice, of this land. It would be unfair to not mention that we elder-boys had some Rum and Whiskey, which made things merrier for us. I have started a liking for Kappa after this trip. While the village seemed to have gone asleep by seven, we sat till as late as ten. While our lady-wives made faces to us for the ‘extra’ time and the high on ‘spirits’, we said byes and reached our Rooms by another half-an-hour.

On Top of the World

After some good sleep, again with Chais and Chacha, we began the day at eight. We started off to Urimbikara. This time it was nothing less than a Jungle. We had our Lunch – Appam and Kozhi Kuzhambu prepared and packed. There wasn’t a place to hide – if it rains hard. We had to change to Mahindra Jeeps from the comforts of Tavera. Later we could feel that even Jeeps had a tough time negotiating the road. The journey was at snail’s pace, maybe less than 5Kms an hour. Elakkadu-Elaichi Plantation along the roadside made it fragrant. Roads were laid with smoothened rocks – or can we call them marbles. No two vehicles can cross at a time. With rains at high frequency, road was worn at more places, as the mud beneath would have given away. One has to appreciate the creation of the Jeep. If not for this vehicle, this travel would definitely be by foot – denying the sights to the elderly in the family. Outside, the vast mountains, each throwing gallons of water through waterfalls, is definitely to be engraved in the memory for decades. At this place we get reassured of the thought that Nature Has Its Own Ways. At the end of the strenuous climb, we could find a big bald Rock, which overlooked the entire mountain range.

Chacha, Ammavan, accompanied by two Jeep drivers, of which one happens to be a relative and the other a family friend to Ammavan, had taken extra pains to pull all, including the lady members, up the Rock, which gives about 20 sq ft space of flat surface. Sitting on top we could see 360 degrees. We had spent about half-an-hour till the last one had climbed. Dense clouds that curtained our vision, Chill Winds (not breeze) and the rain that drenched us while we were on-the-top shortened our stay on the Rock. Moisture on the rock had made our descent a bit more difficult. All Men in the Family, played roles of ‘Pebbles-for-a-Foot-Hold’.

Beside the Big Rock, we found a Stream-in-the-making. A stream of flowing water, slowed down by rocks, making a small pool with rocky bed. We all sat in the waist-deep water, enjoying the jitters and shivers that came with the cold winds and chill-water. Boys tried climbing up stream from between the rocks’ crevices and gained some distance. As the time shortened and the pleasure increased, we were running out of time as we had a flight to catch.
Downhill journey was still yet slower as the smoothened rocks were no grip and would slide. Yet the able drivers made sure it was as safe for all of us and we had returned to Yendayar. After some Coffee and Neyyappam and a quick change-over, we bade goodbyes to Chechis and started for the Airport.

Plight to Flight

Drive to the Cochin Airport was a bit tiresome, as it was three-hour long with tensed waiting at traffic-signals while crossing towns. To add, the next day was declared Harthal and so all vehicles tried competing to ‘finish’ the same night. Sheela and Chacha got down at Perumbavoor, a place well ahead of the Airport. We couldn’t do a proper good-bye since all were tense with traffic and time. Ammavan and Zubin, accompanied by Zubin’s friend gave us the comfort through their expert driving and reassurances that we can catch the flight without a fuss. They stood their word and made us reach an hour in advance. To spare some money, we packed some light dinner from outside the Airport – any food inside the Airport(s) is at least three times costlier than food outside. At Departure, Ammavan’s tears shook us all. We city-breds aren’t as honest and true in Love and its expressions.

After having the light-Dinner at the Waiting Hall, and a small fuss over surname in the ticket, came by a small delay at baggage check-in, followed by a small inquiry on carrying food item in the cabin-luggage. We finally boarded the flight to Chennai. Children were pulling legs with mothers, who were flying for the first time. Some delays for luggage at Chennai Airport, then bear-hugs and goodbyes.

Thanks to The Almighty who gave us this All-Fun and Nil-Incident trip. God Bless.