Place: Virajpete
Distance: 300 x 2 =
600kms
Directions: Bangalore
> Kanakpura > Mallavali > Kollegala > Gundal Dam
Krew: Dileep (Koof) > Ashok
(momz) > Chaithanya (Endu) > Karthik
(Sp)
Bikes: SX4
Previous
Visit: Gundal Dam
Budget: Rs 5000/head
(let’s not get into the details :P)
IN
LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
This I must emphasize was one heck of
crazy TRIP. Yeah, you see the caps right?! This was one of those chapters,
where in practically we did nothing but yet, so much was achieved. We pretty
much never landed on ground throughout the trip. So, I will not get into too
many details and will try to keep it simple & short! But every aspect of
this trip had such a humorous side of it, simply crazy!
This write up would not be like most
of the others I have written, as it was more of a within journey rather than
physical one. So, people not interested SKIP & people interested, we shall
meet someday in an astral world!
INTRO &
PLAN:
Once we realised Endu would be in town, it was time to meet at Laxmi! At
Laxmi we decided to head out of Bangalore for 3-4 days. Endu had spent the last
two months hitch-hiking in the North-Eastern states living in tents. So, yeah
major stories were in-stored. (There was
this one time, where he started speaking to plants about their work – photosynthesis.
And other time, where a cow was his talking guide through the forest. Pure
Crazy guy!!)
TIME: 23:30 (2/6/2018)
ASSEMBLE
& LEAVE:
Yeah I was up at 04:30, did a few
push ups and sit ups, had a sip of coffee and was all set to go. Phoned all and was happy to know all were up.
The meet up was scheduled at our good old bakery. Momz and I reached bakery at
08:30 and the WAIT began. Koof said
he would pick up Endu and reach us in 10mins, so we waited. 30mins, passed still
no signs of anybody. 60mins passed, we called Endu and realised he was still
waiting at the Metro station. We woke up Arvi (stays Koof home – 3-4kms) and
asked him if was free to check upon this Koof.
When no car was there near
Koof’s home, we were worried. Then Momz and me caught and Auto and headed
towards Koof’s home. Asked Endu to come there as well. We tried banging he
door, calling his phone (46missed calls :P) Finally as were about to split and
search the route from his home to Metro trying hard not think about the worst
case, out came our boy… scratching his head with a BIG YAWN. “machaa, had slept off ra! What are you guys
doing here, I would have picked u all up :P” With few curses and lot of
laughs we finally left Bangalore at about 10:30AM (2hours delay)
TIME: 10:30
RIDE 1:
(Bangalore – Mysore – Gonikoppal - Virajpete)
Alright, the first stretch of the drive was from Bangalore to Mysore,
about 150km. As the roads were pretty good, we were pretty much up in smoke by
the time we reached Mysore haha! Continuing further after Hunsur, we entered
the reserved forests.
TIME: 14:00
During our journey towards Gonikppal, all off a sudden I saw a car in
the opposite direction travelling backwards on the forest highway. I laughed at
myself, but then realised it was actually real. Then as we looked around we
spotted a big elephant in the shrubs. Shaking our head off to get back to
senses we enjoyed the elephant without any distractions.
At Gonikoppal, we just parked the car and started loafing around like locals.
Venturing into shops, buying random stuffs. Finally found a good local hotel
and started belting on some mouth-watering pork!
We did buy a scissors as we had to divide the square into 4 equal
halves.
TIME: 16:30
As we reached the homestay, we realised we had found the right place.
Killer isolated home amidst thick plantations with a stream running through it.
So with still some sunlight left, we explored the plantations pretty much
zombie mode and as the sun went down, we headed back towards the homestay
(still in zombie mode)
TIME: 19:00
NIGHT-1:
With the night still young, we popped in few crackers in evening and
relaxed near the camp fire. The Coorg special (pork, chicken and a lot of papad) was served and it looked yummy.
But as we sat near the fire, we began realising the effect of the crackers and
new doors started opening up within our minds.
The night was a long one and with so much innocence and fun. We spoke
about turtles, horses, komodo dragons, albatross, one punch man, Pink Floyd,
The Doors and what not. The group was right and the mind set of all was perfect
- “get out there and let loose to have
fun”
Momz, Endu & Koof decided to go for a walk at about 02:30AM amidst
the plantations, I kind off refused and stayed back. They told me, the walk was
a very long one (or felt like it, I am not very sure, neither are they :P)
When I was waiting for them at the home, sitting outside near the
bonfire, the sounds around me felt crystal clear. The cracking of the wood, the
crickets chirping away in the dark, lights glowing with strange intensity, and
all off a sudden I could hear the rustling of the leaves and an animal came
with maddening speed out of the bushes towards me. I swear at that moment I
felt my heart explode and fear was so much amplified (I don’t think I can become afraid never again :P)
But it was a dog, poor thing got so scared seeing me, that it ran back
into the shrubs.. Wait was it a dog?. By around 03:00AM they returned and we
began playing the crazy game of Mendicot using WWF cards, which I had collected
during 1990’s.
But 04:00AM we finished out dinner and crashed not really exhausted, but
we decided to catch some sleep.
TIME: 04:00
DAY-2:
And the early bird award goes to?! That’s right, I was up by 06:00AM,
not knowing what to do. Then I started having some of the left overs and began
reading some comics. The weather outside was foggy and very nice with little
drizzle.
I went out for a walk and it felt damn good. But 08:00AM some super coorgi
coffee was served and we began waking each other up. All our throats had taken
a major toll, after having some ginger tea, we sat outside, with the fog
blanket all over the place and began to ascend quite early in the morning. We
requested the breakfast to be served a little late.
The breakfast arrived at about 11:00AM and we began eating it outside
the home simply enjoying the weather. After a kick ass round of breakfast we
began playing cards (Mendicot) until 13:00 and decided to rest a little as
nobody had slept well and we wanted another long night.
Waking up at about 16:00 we had some mind blowing lunch. One of the
yummiest lunch I have had till date. After which at about 17:00 we ventured
into the plantations and headed towards the stream that was in full flow.
To be frank, the stream was not that deep. It was not even until out knees
but the force was so high that it was challenge, just to stand up. The small
pebbles and rocks were literally being swept away. And as we rested, the small
rocks began hitting out backs like a natural massager haha! Crazy force trust
me.
By the time we got out of the chilling water, the weather was cold too
and the shivers set in. We changed into dry clothes, and with the camp fire
goin by 18:00, we popped in some crackers and began drifting away into the hazy
night.
TIME: 20:00
NIGHT-2:
Once the dinner arrived, so did the
drizzle. Sitting around the bon fire, where the colour of the flames were so
vibrant, as if they were saying something to you. At the same time the winds
caressing your skin, as the small tiny droplets of rain kept kissing our head.
Yeah, that was our feeling, we were pretty much floating.
We all talked about Aghoras their way
of life (had read the trilogy off late so
yeah), real life crazy encounters we had with them, Dragonball Z – as to
why Vegeta didn’t ascend to super sayen 2. As to whom to appreciate in Death
note – L or N. And the Pink Floyd song where a dog sings at the ancient Greece
ruins, Pompiee – creativity at its best!
Koof’s ghost story again cropped up,
and I had read a similar thing in this Haruki Murakami’s book – The Wind up Chronicle Bird. And not to forget Momz golden rule “Go with
the Flow” :P
At about 00:30, we all decided to go
out for a walk. The CCTV camera that was installed, the red light glowing
simply freaked the living hell out of everybody. But we realised it was a
camera and went ahead found a tree house. Man oh man! This was simply an
emotional moment. We had to leave the next day and nobody wanted to land back
to ground.
We sat in inside the tree house,
which already had a wooden table in the centre and sit out all around. With
light drizzle, we felt like we were in hut amidst the clouds floating away. I
still remember koof who never judges any trip as good/bad opened up saying this
had to the be the best trip along with his crazy Leh bike trip.
I too realised, and kind of reminded
myself as to why I started this “theloapers”
– bike/trek club. It was never about the place or the so called motorcycle
club... it was more about meeting friends and keeping in touch with people who
matter. Keeping the circle small but tight. Not allowing the ups or the downs
to carry you away! Zzzzz..
We returned back in complete darkness
to the home and began eating our dinner at about 02:00AM. We spoke and played
cards for about an hour and crashed in.
TIME: 03:00
DAY-3:
I was up by 06:00 and strolled
outside. The weather was simply in synch with my mind. By 09:00, Momz and me
went out to check whether the Tree House actually existed. Ah, yeah there it
was and we went inside and sat there for some time.
Once the Puttu and the egg curry
arrived, I got the bon fire going again in the misty morning and we ate our
breakfast in peace.
By 11AM we thanked the owner and left
began driving back.
Drive
2: (Virajpete – Gonikoppal – Buyyondoddi- Bangalore)
It was actually a bummer that it had come to an end. Yeah all things
might have to come to an end, but we kind of make sure another good thing
starts :P (Laxmi always there)
So., as were driving back, still afloat and singing... we spotted a huge
elephant right beside the road. This kind a jerked things up in our brain.
Proceeding ahead, we did see another 2 of them afar. I almost cried inside a
little for having to return back.
As we were thinking of having biryani at Mysore, the fish fry place of
Buyyondoddi cropped up in my mind. As we had taken the guy’s number, we called
and enquired if the place was open. Once the clearance was given, we asked him
to keep about 10-12fishes aside for us and headed in full flow.
Since it was Momz & Endus first time at the place, they went on a
steak of having about 4 fishes each, simply enjoying it.
The rain gods decided to end our TRIP with a good shower towards the end
of the trip as we approached Bangalore. Thanking each on for making for this
wonderful surreal meet we departed towards our respective homes.
TIME: 19:00
CONCLUSION:
“I know, I know, it was not about
the physical place at all this time. But with all of us heading us into the
mentally de-filed system of current world, sometimes it these kind of trip
which remind of purity and innocence that prevailed and still prevail within
us. I felt the RESET in terms of the mind set I had back in the days and began
appreciating the task of having fun in everything you do :) “
Until next time, F’Cia \m/
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