Experience an Experience
I thought, our friends should also experience the experience I had, that is why I am writing this now. As per the invitation from our Great “Adventure” specialist Dr. Arjun, I reached his house on 16th April 2006, morning at 5 a.m., and I could see our Doctor, making preparatory arrangements for the tour, with care and his expertise.
As a precautionary measure, Doctor had his Car (Maruti 800) serviced by his mechanic, the previous day itself. Special care was taken by Doctor in the selection of the food & snacks, to suit the weather, like ‘Cool Cool’ Watermelon, Chapatti, Cucumber, Boiled Eggs, Tomato Thockku and Electrolyte solution like ORS (Oral Rehydrate Solution). (Watermelon was well wrapped, like a professional travel expert). Trekking shoes, Cap, Sunglasses & tumblers were also suitably kept ready. He didn’t spare, Knife, “Jaljeera”, Plastic covers & old newspapers, and also “First-Aid” kit, for the programme. A big Bisleri can was also kept ready, for drinking purposes. I also carried some snacks and 1 set of Shorts, Towel, under garments and Trekking shoes, as advised by Doctor.
Shiva & Nandu, very close associates of Doctor, also joined the programme and helped Doctor, in shifting them in to the Car. Sekar, who is also expected to join the programme, couldn’t make it due to his personal commitments. Finally, all 4(Four) of us, started at 6.15 a.m., from Doctor’s place. On the way, we had the “Mini Coffee” at “Hot Chips” for making ourselves energized.
Doctor drove the car, with supersonic spirit, and also told us his experience during his previous trips. The joy came to a sudden “Jerk”, near the Nellore highroad tollgate, at the outskirts of Chennai, when the car had to cross a “Speed-breaker”, which we did not notice, in the joyful mood. The “Crash guard” which was fixed, in a low level, got hit on the Speed-breaker and some lights, started blinking in the indicators, which created some ‘panic’ to all of us. The car had to be stopped, near to the tollgate, and a small check was made by the Doctor, to find out the reason for the light blinking in the indicators, but nothing could be identified. In order to clear our doubts, his Mechanic was contacted, over phone, (disturbing his Sunday morning sleep) and asked for his opinion. He told that, it could be due to some loose contact in the “slow speed switch” due to the bumping of the car. This delayed our trip by half-an-hour. As per his mechanic’s advice, we started our trip and, but this time, with a bit of precaution and we crossed the tollgate paying the toll fees. We looked for a Mechanic, in the nearby place, to make ourselves assured of problem-free trip. But we could not locate any mechanic, in that early morning hour. Later due to free running, we decided to take the risk of going to the “Spot”, without any checking. By all means, we reached Tada junction on the Nellore highway, from where we are supposed to take a “Left Turn”, to reach “Tada falls” via Varadapalam.
Doctor and his associates, used to have their morning breakfast, at “Annakili” roadside mess, during their earlier trips, in that route. That day also, we stopped at the same mess, and ordered for Dosa and Vada, for all of us. An old man (but serving like a “youth”) served us “Chutney” and mutton chaalna, for Dosa. On feeling the different taste, Nandu explained, that it was due to the “Groundnut” being used in the Chutney, that makes it tastier, than our regular Chutney. We finished our morning breakfast, suitably thanking (tipping) the “youth”.
Our journey started again towards Varadapalam, which was hardly around 16 kms, from the highway and to reach the Tada falls, Doctor said, we may have to travel for another 4 to 5 kms, further. Doctor stopped the car, on the way, to collect well grown Groundnut plants, from the farmers, by paying them satisfactorily. All those, who have visited Doctors Clinic, would have seen a good collection of rock pieces and different variety of stones. This trip also helped Doctor, in collecting Green shaded rock pieces, for which, he had to climb a small hill, on the road side, and had to cross, some bushes, like in “Discovery Channel”. Doctor also cautioned us, to lift rocks, carefully, to avoid snakes and harmful creatures, which may be resting in such “gaps”.
We started to Tada falls, but as per Doctor’s idea we changed our plan and decided to “explore” another “Lonely” spot, which is 4 to 5 kms, well before the actual Tada falls, and was known to Doctor alone (since he got the reference about this lonely spot, through a foreigner, during his last trip). Driving in that route, was more or less like the drive in some forest area, used to be shown in “National Geography, or Discovery Channel” with lots of stones, in a highly narrow one-way route and totally surrounded by green bushes.
We were bumping at every move and at some points, the wheels got struck-up in the sandy surfaces, where all others had to push the car. Heavy vehicles like Qualis / Sumo or Jeep may be suitable for such a rough pathway. Finally we reached the spot which was so natural, cooool and airy. The one side, where we landed was filled with different sizes of stone, and other side covered with mountain and in between was the beautiful clear stream of water. You will feel the cool breeze, due to the watercourse and water flowing under the stones, towards the stream. There was no one other than 4 of us. We all switched over to our bathing suit, and started enjoying the Chillness of the stream. Stream water was so clear, that you can even find out the missing coins, under the water. The depth was hardly around 3 to 6 foot, and you can enjoy simply by immersing your body inside the water or by swimming. We could see, with our naked eyes, the small “Korowai” fishes, in various sizes, coming and kissing us all over our body, to that extent, the water was so transparent. (It is advisable to have the sun cream lotion applied, before you enter the water, mainly for those, who remain in A/C, in their places, or having soft skin, to avoid Sun burns).
We enjoyed every moment of our stay by the pleasure of the natural gift and tasting the (cool) Watermelon and drinking the “Spirit”, while bathing in the water, itself. For people, from drought-prone city area, like Chennai, it must be a real change and thrill. Luckily, the sky also was bit cloudy, adding splendour to the weather. Though there was no sunshade, in that area, the natural bushes and tree shades were there, for resting.
Then started the idea of catching the fish, with towel, but you won’t believe, the fishes were so brainy and fast, that nothing could be caught through the towel, even after trying for nearly one hour. You will be astonished to see thousands of fishes rushing, wherever, we throwed some biscuits or snacks. We decided not to leave the place, unless we catch a minimum of ten fishes, on that day. Then I tried, bit differently, by holding a transparent plastic pouch with some biscuits, inside the cover, and keeping it inside the water. Doctor started doing the same, in a bit interior spot, and got succeeded by catching the “First fish”, through that pouch. We started shifting the ‘catches’ to a big plastic cover and started counting the fishes.
For the lunch, Doctor, unpacked the food packets, and in his own style, started rolling the chapattis with Tomato thockku, boiled eggs and cucumber. Tasting the Chappatti Roll, with Doctor’s touch, in the midst of the live fishes, swimming all over your body, you can very well imagine, the real thrill & feel of beauty. Credit goes totally to “Thangamani free” Doctor.
Again, we started with fishing and with every “Catch”, we were celebrating and at the end, we were having nearly 14 fishes in our catch, with some small and some big and some with beauty red spots in their tail. We later freed them back into the water and noticed that, it was nearly 2 p.m. So, we decided to drop the idea of trekking to the actual Tada falls, and to return back to Chennai. We were not having any intention of vacating such a mesmerizing place, but due to certain commitment, we all started packing our goods and starting shifting to our regular dresses. Care was also taken to take back all the “empty plastic covers”, to safe disposal.
Doctor started driving the car and while returning also, he stopped the Car and started picking up groundnut plants and Mangos directly from the farmers, which were being harvested, by bargaining or by exchanging with biscuits, etc. You will also feel a kick, to get those commodities, by bargaining basis. While returning, the back portion of the Car was more or less, filled with Groundnut plants, Mangoes & Special green stones. We all entered the City at around 3.30 p.m. and with a great Thanks to our Doctor, we all parted from his house.
There are other places also in and around Chennai City, which can also be enjoyed, in the same way, like “Pulicat lake”, Vedanthangal, Kovalam, etc., where you can visit and return, on the same day and there are other long trips like “Kolli Hills”, etc., which may take nearly overnight journey and stay for a day and return on the next day, depending upon your convenience.
You may keep in touch with Doctor, to get his consultancy, for exploring such jolly adventures, or to join in any of his similar such jolly expeditions. Doctor’s mobile No. 9444127758.
Narration by : T. Ayyappan
