December 15 – 17, 2006
This time, almost a year ago, we were thinking of how to meet, where to meet and places to visit. Ya, a long time online buddy was coming to Chennai – home visit – and wanted to go for a short trip. And ya, I wanted to go for a trip too – it had been quite some time since I travelled long distance.
We settled on Yelagiri for a weekend trip. This place is between Bangalore and Chennai – about 170 km from Bangalore and 210 km from Chennai (Madras). So, on December 15, I met my long-time online buddy and his friend at Chennai Central Railway Station. We took a train to Jolarpet – and I learnt to play Bluff (I hope I got the name right!) along the way. From Jolarpet, it was a bus ride to Yelagiri.
The bus filled with baskets and gunny bags – which Was a handy extra seat or stumbling block, depending on how you look at it. Late in the evening, we reached Yelagiri – we were dropped off at what seemed to be a marketplace. Within a few minutes, we had a couple of people promoting their lodges. For the first time, I went to a place without booking a place in advance and checked out places before we checked in one of the lodges right there on the main road.
After a quick wash and settling down, we went out to have dinner. After dinner at the hotel near the lodge, we decided to walk around. At about 9pm, the place was deserted. Nothing new for a village! So, we walked in pitch darkness – no streetlights, no vehicles, no lights from houses – just us and a little torch shining bright 
After walking around, we got back and the two school buddies started the who’s-doing-what-these-days talk. For me, it was time to sleep!
The next day, we woke up early, had a good breakfast, and headed out into the forest. We were planning to walk all the way – but then, we were told we’d be better off if we go in an auto to a village nearby and then start our trek. So, we got an auto to drop us at the next village.
As we were getting off, there was this old man with his two cows walking by. Simon and Amit asked him how far is the waterfalls and if he’d take us through the forest. He looked at the three of us, and asked “Really??” Well, he had to be assured more than once that we were capable of walking long distance. Once he was convinced, he said he’d take us. Before that, he had to leave the cows at home. This elderly man, left his towel nearby, asked us to stay there and went back saying he’d return soon!
And true to his word, he was back in a little while – off we went along the narrow path that took us into the forest. And a couple of meters in, he said that his wife told him to ask for 100Rs – for taking us around. He seemed to be that innocent villager – even inviting us to stay over at his place. And then, even as we were resting in the shade of a tree, he asked if I don’t have to go to school! He thought I had run away from home 
We walked through the forest, and reached this waterfall almost at the bottom of the hill – the Jalagamparai Falls. It isn’t about the waterfall as much as it is about the walk down there – one of those places where you can say the path matters more than the destination.
All the way, we were treated to folklore and songs by ‘thatha’ (meaning ‘grandfather’) as called him. He sang to us, advised us to study well, said I remind him of his granddaughter, wanted to know if our parents knew where we were…
After that long walk through the forest, we reached the waterfalls and the temple nearby. As I said earlier, it isn’t a very spectacular falls. By the time we reached the waterfalls, it was afternoon. After a short break at the falls, we walked around to the nearest shops right outside. After biscuits, snacks, and water, we realised that the next bus would reach this place a couple of hours later [:O]
Do we wait? Well, we decided to walk along the road instead of waiting there for the bus. So, we went off again – walking on the road – hoping to see a bus on the other side. We walked and we walked – it is one of the unforgettable experiences in my life – walking around the rural areas, with no concern for time. So, we walked and walked and walked – until thatha got tired.
We walked by a couple of villages, roads lined on either side by sugarcane and cotton fields, the tar road used for drying bagasse. We came across a place where they were making jaggery – those huge pots over a big fire with a just a small opening for them to push the bagasse into the fire! And then, there were these two kids who wanted me to take a picture of their little brother. 
Finally, we sat down under a huge banyan tree which was supposed to be the bus stop. As we waited, the people nearby came to enquire about us – where we are from and so on. When I set the camera on timer and took a picture, they were amazed at the camera that takes a picture of it’s own and one of them was in awe of the mind that created this
And the bus came a little later – we went to Thirupathur, had a late lunch, and then boarded the bus to Yelagiri – once more, we went up the hill. After dinner, we walked along those quiet roads – not a single horn, no TV blaring in someone’s house… the only sound you could hear were of the insects and frogs. I think it was closer to new moon, ‘coz it was a starlit night – I don’t remember seeing the moon – all that I can remember are the stars, the dark roads, and the sounds of the insects.
When we got back, we started Bluff again – until it was really really late. The next morning, we went boating in the lake out there, spent some time walki
ng around and then returned to the cottage. 
The boat ride was real fun – it was quite a long ride and was real fun go that far! When we got back to the cottage, we walked around the garden, took a lot of pictures, played in the swing… and soon, it was time to leave.
As we were walking to the bus stop, we saw the bus to Jolarpet start off. Simon, the sprinter, ran and got the bus to stop – and we got the last seat of the bus – we sat there eating crispies and sweets we used to have when we were kids…. And we were on our way back – to our work, each in a different location…
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