Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Adventure way

Well, this is how this trip was planned. One fine day I got a call from Shri saying I've booked my tickets to Nellai, so and so date arrival... so and so date departure etc., etc., so let us meet there then. I was like what,pp..lleease give me a break as we'd just gotten back from one long ride in the hills. Although I thought like that I just said oookkay...I dragged that okay so much in which she noticed my hesitation and asked further why, is there a problem? I said no, no problem. Then she said if there is no problem you better book the tickets now itself. Though the journey was planned this hastily we still had one month in hand to plan what we wanted to do there.


We have developed interest in Nellai not just because of famous Halwa but also to go and see the forest. I have heard there is a forest through one of my friends as her friend Abhi was assisting researchers there. Shri and I like to be lost in woods. We keep saying how nice it would be to live amidst trees and see birds. Having seen hills already, this time we chose forest because there we get to accomplish both our wishes - to live amidst trees and also to see birds. We had been planning to go to Nellai from the time we both got introduced and when I mentioned there is a forest there. But the base for this sudden trip was laid when we went to attend one of our friend's wedding.

After attending the wedding we rode to the pertol bunk in the night to fill the tank for our early morning trip. There she suddenly noticed a Van with a banner ' Koondakulam Bird Sanctuary - Tirunelveli'. She asked me if that is okay to go and make an enquiry to that person and check if it is possible to visit this santuary. We can go and see this place also when we plan to go to Nellai in future. I said that should be fine. We slowly went near and stopped the vehicle and asked the driver about the sanctuary and asked if we are allowed to visit and stay there. They were a little taken aback and gave a look like what on earth these girls are asking, coming from no where. We further explained we like birds very much and we want to come and see. The person who sat next to the driver started telling it is a small place and we will not have a comfortable stay and food is again a problem. But we assured we are fine with that kind of accommodation and food and if suppose we are going who should we contact. The driver pointing towards the next person said he is the officer and he is the one who would be approving. We were very glad and asked if he would give his number. He said we can give a call and gave his number and name. Within 2-3 days from meeting this person she booked the tickets and made me book as well. This all might look crazy indeed it is.

In the mean time I had one of my friends from Nellai so I called and asked if it is fine to go and stay at her house. She said it is fine and not a problem. I sounded too desperate that I did not give a chance for her to say no. If I remember correctly I'd never been this desperate before. But now I've become one for wanting to see places which I love. I did this because I was very sure we would not disturb them. Because all we needed was a little space to just stretch and rest safely in the night. I told her the same and she said not to worry as she has a bigger house. My friend added her place is Ambasamudram (Ambai) and I should take another bus to reach her place and it would take about one hour from Nellai.

Then I called Abhi who is familiar with the places to ask where we can see birds. She clearly told if we want to see birds we can go to Vagaikulam and also Thirupudai Maruthur a 400 year old temple. And most importantly we will have to go either in the morning or in the evening to spot birds. And also she said we can go to Papanasam, Mundanthurai and Kariar dam. These three places are on the same way so we can go one day and see all three places she suggested. She added there is a famous temple in Papanasam and then next place is Mundanthurai which is a forest which also has' Sori Muthian temple' an old temple. After seeing these two, the next place we can go is Kariar dam and if boating is allowed in the dam at this point of time we can go to Banatheertham to see a beautiful fall she said. She added Ambai is a center place and we get a lot of buses from Ambai to Papanasam but buses till Kariar is not that frequent so she suggested better we can go to Kariar first finish the boat ride and then on our way back we can see Mundanthurai and Papanasam. I have noted down everything clearly. Although Shri kept telling me to call the officer who we met in the petrol bunk that idea of calling him drifted away because I already had plans for 2 days and my friend anyway was going to accommodate us.

The day arrived and we left for Nellai. We anticipated her train would reach first and then within half an hour or so my bus would reach. So we planned that she can wait in the station and then when I also reach we can take a bus to Ambai together. When I started I was so thrilled about this trip because I had never been to that part of Tamilnadu before. Our friends warned not to go near water bodies since there was heavy rain in that place and public was restricted from entering water bodies two weeks back. I was hoping to see Thamirabarani flowing through paddy fields and full greenery because of the rain.

She reached first as we expected and she said she would wait in the new bus stand from where we were to take a bus to Ambai and anyway I was going to get down at new bus stand directly as my bus would go via new bus stand further to Nagerkoil. She reached new bus stand and then I reached and we met finally at the bus stand. We took a bus to Ambai and my friend came to the bus stand to receive us. She took us home and we inquired her father about the places we wanted to see. Somehow Papanasam, Mundanthurai and Kariar dam was fixed in my mind while Shri still was trying her chance with Kunthakulam. After we showered and had breakfast her father suggested us to reach the bus stand fast and take the Kariar bus because if we leave that then we would get only after 2 hours. He also advised us to come before 5 PM in the evening because of lunar eclipse. We nodded yes and Shri whispered to me take your brush and leave your bag here if we get a chance we will stay in the forest. I took the brush and paste in my handbag and little cash. Her father came with us till the bus stand and upon reaching we learned that Kariar bus left by then. So he suggested we could take Papanasam bus and by the time we finish seeing the temple Kariar bus would come there and we could take it from there. This suggestion made sense and we climbed Papanasam bus. (More to come)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am going to write this in parts as this is a big adventure story---------------------------------------------

5 comments:

சீனி மோகன் said...

Dear Iniya,
Nature lovers should have visited Koodankulam and Idhindakarai to wish the people who fight for saving the nature.
With love,
Seeni Mohan.

Sugirtha said...

Thanks for your comments Seeni Mohan.

shri Prajna said...

நான் அப்படியே அந்த நாட்களுக்குள் போய் விட்டேன் my sugi....

Sugirtha said...

M shri :)

Praveen said...

It's not necessary to get any prior permission for visiting koonthankulam.