HAPPINESS-FALLS at Ajoba Parvat

Highlight of this trek: WATERFALLS

There are those rare times in life when you ask and get what you ask. Whether the universe conspires or you, I know not. This time I asked for one waterfall and received a paradise of waterfalls.

I had missed Bhimashankar this year so thought I had missed waterfalls too. Photos of friends enjoying the mountains own shower system made me crave for it. So I was in for the trek even before the  place was decided, only wishing that let there be waterfalls.

LET THERE BE WATERFALLS-----ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

Wanderlust Adventures planned a Pilot trek to Ajoba Parvat. There is always something thrilling about Pilot treks. It's like discovering something or solving a mystery. You have titbits of information like clues, with that plus trusting the nature you follow the call of the mountains.

THE GRAND OLD MAN: AJOBA PARVAT

AJOBA HIDDEN BEHIND THE VEIL OF CLOUD'S LOVE

11/8/2013 the day fixed. We all have to be at dadar by 6.00am. To add to my thrill I have a friend sleeping over at my place so she too can join this early. I wondered what I was more excited about. Both of us wanted to sleep early so we rise up early but when friends meet, stories pop up and as I set my alarm for 4.00am I groaned that there was only 3 hrs and 30 mins of sleep left. My dear friend had 4 hrs as she sweetly asked me to wake her up at 4.30am.

There goes the alarm and I am up wondering did I even sleep. How can three hours be equal to 5 mins? Soon both of us were ready and off for the trek. As usual for me and first time for my friend we reached before time.. We met one more friend in the train and talks shortened the distance.

We meet a few more and the journey begins. Train from Dadar to Asangoan. Its relatively empty and we all are happily Chit-chatting and suddenly a friend notices Einstein enter. What a resemblance. If only we could take a picture. But I suppose our excitement had put the Einstein on gaurd.

After reaching Asangoan and meeting the rest, we headed straight to our vehicle waiting to pick the 13 of us. Somehow we managed to fit in this 8 seater, an achievement in itself. The first halt was to fill the cars stomach the next was to fill ours. After breakfast we started again only this time one of our fellow trekmates decided to drive instead of the driver. All this to make our seating arrangements more comfortable as the driver was a lanky fellow who could fit in anywhere.

The drive was to be from Asangoan to Dehne. It took a great deal of time and the only solace for me was to peep out of the window. What I kept doing the most was peep behind and look at the road we left behind. It feels as if you are falling and don't know what's ahead untill it's left behind. It created this wierd feeling of seperation. Landscapes in site but going away from you untill it disappears. You want to hold but are being pulled apart.

LANDSCAPES PASSING BY

 I was mesmerized by what was going away and maybe our friend driving the car was mesmerized by what was coming ahead that we went right ahead of where we had to stop. This lost track lead us to our first adventure. Our car got stuck in soft mud and all our efforts of pushing, using sticks and stones failed to fructify. Worry started building on the face of the driver as he saw our efforts fail. Luckily for us one of our friends who proved to be the Einstein that time had a brainwave and he suggested using car mats to help the car move out. This worked and we were back on track.

BEFORE ENTERING THE FOREST

Retracing back as guided by the locals we reached the base village Dehne. Our driver too decided to join us for the trek. Our trek would start from Valmiki ashram. This ashram also has sheds where people doing overnight treks can stay. We however continued our journey now, again to get lost. Luckily we had not gone far into the woods and soon with the help of an old Ajoba(grandfather) we were guided back to the right track for Ajoba.

ENTER THE FOREST

The way was through dense Forest and at some places we walked crossing the small falls. It was raining and the weather was pleasant. I find the forests to be like a maze only the paths are narrower and the walls (here the trees) are taller, you walk in touch with the woods like as if the trees are your companions. You can hear the waterfalls calling out to you. You can't see them yet, but their gushing waters are playing a band in your welcome. The small streams that they leave out are like small children running ahead of all others to welcome their guest and walking by your side bursting to tell their story of glory. As you move along this maze you play a role in carving the path that would lead you to your goal and help those who follow too. Without a GPS or a proper guide the maze can envelop you in its mystery and misguide you easily.

WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST MAZE

THE GROUP: PICTURE SHOT BY DR. NANABHAI

ONE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN THE FOREST: HARVESTER ANT'S NEST 

After a little walk through the forest we met our first waterfalls. There she was dancing to the tune set by the rains and all of us joined in. Water washing all the tiredness as we felt her pat on our backs. Standing below it I felt the world melt away. Even with people around, once you are under the falls all gets wiped out. You hear no word, you see nothing, You are lost in whiteness. It's as if you have entered a gap between time and space where there is no time, no space. It feels like a gateway to an unknown world, like a wormhole maybe. Only problem is I am not able to cross over. I stay in that gap connecting two worlds but return back to our world. Will there ever be such a thing I don't know. But felt as if I found my wormhole, my portkey in the waterfalls.

IN BLISS SUPREME: SURROUNDED BY WHITENESS

THE GROUP UNDER FALLS: SHOT BY DR NANABHAI

Back to the real world now, we continued moving up to our destination Sitecha palna (meaning cradle of Goddess Sita). What a cradle it was. With a flat base in the middle and two tall mountain pillars of the Ajoba the cradle was formed. It was so windy that I am sure this cradle needed no rocking by Mother Sita. The flat base directly formed a slope ahead of it. I found it more like a Slide than a cradle. Maybe Valmiki didn't know that such a thing was called a slide. It was actually more like a slide and we had climbed it up from the other side. The slide's ladder being the woods. The flat base being the seat of the slide with the tall mountain peaks at the side being the safety walls of the slide and the slope right ahead. There was a small seat too that almost tempted me to try this slide out. Maybe Luv-Kush played here (sons of Sita).

SMOKY MOUNTAINS

We had our lunch here, a welcome treat. It was so windy and cold and our only savior was a rock behind which we stood and had lunch. Nobody wanted to leave this cradle but we had to. Way down was tougher than way up only because one had to be more careful as one climbed down, if not, one would surely get the taste of a short slide. The Karvi stems helped us as we moved down. We crossed our first falls. Enjoyed a quick shower once more and moved ahead only to be greeted by a more magnificent waterfall. This was the queen of falls. One more wormhole for me. This one had a nice rock covered by soft velvety moss to recline against and I was in my paradise again. Let me stay here, Pause the moment....please!!!!!!!!

GOING UP THE PARADISE OF FALLS

THE GROUP UNDER FALLS: SHOT BY DR NANABHAI

AGAINST THE WATERFALL BED

PAUSED IN THE MOMENT

We soon continued moving down reached Valmiki Ashram again then moved back towards the vehicle. Back on roads again.A long drive, Flimy music, then the trains, hustle bustle. My god how in the world did I reach here??? I was in Paradise a moment ago. The waterfalls surely must have been a wormhole. But why on earth did it bring me here ??? The trek had come to an end. The sense of time had returned and how much ever I try I can't find that peaceful gap here in this world where everything stops and all is just whiteness. 

Visitors to the Rose............

Guess who did this?

"Ahhhh!!!! they didn’t leave the rose plants too" My mom shrieked as she watered the rose plant in our house. “Look those silly insects have eaten the leaves of the rose plant too, first the kadi patta (curry leaves) and now the rose plant". The moment I heard this, my joy knew no bounds, I rushed out at top speed hoping to find a caterpillar yet wondering if that is possible. Anyways I was curious to know who this new visitor to our garden was. 

      My mom, clearly displeased with my happiness about her rose plant being eaten, warned me that kapipatta was ok but no experiments with the rose plant. I smiled and said nothing. I could clearly recollect her face when her full bloom kadipatta plant stood their just a single stem now and I assured her how soon it would be full of leaves again. I couldn’t imagine how this assurance would work with the rose plant. So I simply smiled. 

Well! neat work I must say! This so called caterpillar had cut semicircles so neatly from the leaf edge. The leaves looked artistic to me. They formed a lovely pattern. Immediately I was reminded of fractals. As I peered down at the leaves clicking pictures, I saw a bee buzz by. hmmm…. A bee!!!

 Surprisingly enough as I searched for this leaf artist, I found out that this was actually the work of a bee. A leafcutter  bee. A bee having fancy for leaves?? wow!! ’Curiouser and curiouser! this bee doesn’t feast on these leaves then why does it cut off these semicircles? Surely it doesn’t consider the leaves to be its drawing board and itself as a great artist. Then what would it do with these leaves?

The next finding was also pretty cool. It actually weaves out a cradle for its eggs from these leaves. 

Here also, most of the work is done by the females. This mummy bee digs a tunnel like nest in rotten woods etc, collects all these leaves and lines the tunnel making nest cells for her eggs. In these she lays her eggs and also sees to it that her new born have sufficient supply of nutrition as they grow to come out the next season.

I did not get to see the nest or the nest cell. Hope I do one day. But for today these patterns added to my delight. 

A few days later....................

Next visitor: Enemy or a friend?

It wasn’t long after the leaf cutter bee had done her artistic job that I found one more visitor to a rose plant. I somehow had assumed that butterflies or moths won’t lay eggs on the rose plant as it’s thorny. To break this belief, nature had its way. A few days later I found a rose plant in our building garden with leaves eaten in a haphazard manner unlike the artistic exact semicircles of the leaf cutter bee. luckily for me the doer rested quietly on the adjoining leaf. It was just about a centimeter long, black and white hairy caterpillar. I wonder who this visitor will turn into? a moth or a butterfly? and what is its name?

 Rose plant in the building 

leaf map: the feast of the lil beast

Can you spot the beast? 

LOVE-ly helplessness

                 
           
             I sat looking at the pigeon today. My vision blurred as I watched her. It was pouring outside and soon my eyes competed with the pour. She was far away from my reach. All I could do was watch and feel so overwhelmed that soon I had a lump in my throat.. I was witnessing what LOVE could do. That poor little Mummy bird had cuddled her dear little baby bird under her wings trying hard to protect her from rain. I watched till  my eyes clouded and started pouring too. LOVE chokes me every time. Did mummy bird even know anything about LOVE? Scientific Reasons may be given to explain all this. some may even say that on the verge of her death the mother bird would flee..ETC ETC... but for me what I saw was LOVE. In her own ways, how much ever she could, she tried protecting her baby from rain.  Tomorrow she may not even remember what she did but that moment will now last with me forever.

We humans too are capable of so much love and all this love alone makes the time spent here worthwhile. Womb to grave we may travel, with hardly anything to take. Unfortunately we can't even carry love to our graves. So the best thing to do with it, is to GIVE. What is it about Love that makes people care for the other above one self? Mummy bird showed me how she managed to do it and so did my aunt.  Today, as we had lunch and all relished their food, I saw my aunt hardly paying any attention to what she was eating.  All her attention was focused on her 1 year old grandson who played carefree on the bed with other cousins. The taste of the food didn't matter in front of the Love she has for him. Her watchful eyes only looked for safety of her dear one. The food satiated her only when she was near him again. This may be a very small incident. But can LOVE be big or small? Can it be measured and compared? Mummy bird and granny mom did different things. Only LOVE made them one.

Such is the beauty of LOVE. in giving you receive more. The receiver may hardly even appreciate or know. But the one who feels LOVE has found his heaven just by the sight of their loved one. It gives one the courage to go beyond ones limitations and do the best they can just so that their loved ones are safe, happy and protected. It may make one helpless as many a times efforts and results don't replicate the feelings.Yet there is something Love-ly in this helplessness. The happiness of ones you love is as important to you as your own. Such is the beauty of LOVE.   

Trek to Garbett.... Why do we Trek???

            We get up early in the morning even before the birds start chirping, travel in crowded trains full of noisy people, walk and climb over a 20,000 steps just to reach the summit. Get dead tired, drenched, sticky, muddy, stinky. To top all this...fall, slip and still climb with our cramped muscles screaming for rest. OH! WHY DO WE DO THIS????? WHY? this was finally asked at the end of the trek by one fellow trek mate and I believe this question was the HIGHLIGHT of the trek just because none of us had the answer and yet we sought more of all the above. Why???.... we are still searching.

The Post is put up for yet another TTMM(tu tera mein mera) trekking event. This time we aim to conquer and trek up to GARETT POINT in matheran Via Bhivpuri. The trek is planned for the 14th of july 2013. And I AM IN FOR IT.

At home the previous day as I am having my breakfast and scanning through the newspaper, I happen to come across an article on trekking. There are points about registry, about safety issues and tips etc and also a mishap that happened with one of the trekkers. I made a mental note to hide this newspaper from my parents before leaving for work. But in my hurry I forget and sure enough when I return in the evening I have my mom flashing it at me saying "LOOK! LOOK!.. Still you want to go trekking?". I calm her down, telling her about how responsible we are and how everyone likes the food she makes and there is nothing to worry, etc etc. She is better now yet hoping that I will not be able to get up early for the next day.

Well to my mom's annoyance I not only get up early, but I manage to pack my own lunch box without messing up her kitchen and I am ready before time and all set to go. She must be wondering why I don't do this on all other days as well. 

It's 5.15am and I am hoping the dogs in my area have found something interesting somewhere else so I can quickly slip by and take a rick. Walking down I hear them bark again, they sound like wolves, to add to this I hear a mad man scream. Luckily they are not around and I quickly manage to get a rick. God Bless that Rick waala who started his rick at the right moment and didn't say a 'No' to me. Well the moment the rick starts, almost from nowhere the barking dogs appear and follow it for a while.. So I sit in the middle of the rick rather than sitting close to the door as usual. Soon we were out of their reach, the first hurdle crossed. 

Total Expense: 42 INR (Rick fare)

Mumbai Railways stations never look empty. There are good number of people around even at this time of the day. I suddenly realise that I don't have any change with me. I would have to use the Rs 500 and hope that the ticket master gives me change without scolding. Luckily he does and I am set to catch the train we decided.. 

Total expense : 50 INR (Karjat return ticket)

The moment I get into the train I can see two of my  fellow trek mates all ready for the day happily chatting away. I join them exchanging greetings and then continue listening to their joyful discussion about college and all fun only to find myself missing my college and good old friends. Sweet Nostalgia!!!

TWO BEST PALS

We have reached Dadar on time and so have the 3 others who were suppose to join us. We meet on the bridge and continue towards the train which is bound to leave at 6.30am. All is flowing well till now, those who missed, will catch from stations in between. Our chatting in the train continue, helping us to forget the crowd around for a while. But soon it's jam packed with people making it difficult to chat and the noises by  the bhajan mandali fills the train, not even allowing us to sleep. Well the good thing about time is, It passes. So we soon reach Bhivpuri Road. Half of the train empties here. We also meet the other fellow travelers, some new faces and some old but all knowing someone or the other. All carrying a familiar smile. A smile paving a way for new adventure, fun and new friendships. 

ALL ELEVEN: Thanks to The S4 of Fransis Pinto we have the photographers's pic too

It's drizzling and nothing could be better than a cup of hot tea. All 11 of us reach the tea stall just outside the station. We have our tea, chips and other snacks and march on. First of course we take the count introducing ourselves and calling out our numbers. 11 of us on a mission to trek up till garbet some having the idea what they are up to others clueless of what this might bring. At this point I have already started missing a camera, that could have been the paintbrush for this blog. Hopefully my words will help sketch a picture and one can add colours of their own. 

Total expense : 5 INR (Tea)

We now make our way through the village of Bhivpuri and just at the start one of us spots a snake. keeping snake-distance we gather around to look at it. Well the snake looks too stunned to me, choosing not to move even an inch as 11 curious beings stare down at it. We are lucky to have a reptile expert around us who seemed to know and identify the snake. It was most probably a Rat snake a checkered keelback, he said. Well we soon discovered why it looked stunned. One of us tried moving it with a stick, it was found to be dead. Stunned to death I must say! Our expert explained us a few things about the species and how they recognize them and it all sounded interesting.

      Leaving the snake behind we walk through the village and reach the Man Made lake .  There are other groups who have come all set for waterfall- rappelling and some for trekking. The Lake is beautiful and one of us comments that this is at least one good thing that man has made and the picture clicking starts. We move on now around the Lake and for the first taste of the adventure, two leading friends walk into the mud pit almost knee deep. A mud spa you can call. Others who are following are not yet ready for this adventure so we take up another route, although some still continue the mud way, taking it as a challenge to cross the pit untouched. 

STUCK IN THE MUD: Photo by POOJA GUPTA

      We are all now around the lake and have to reach the base of the first mountain we have to climb. Rain has spread carpets of green around. Shades of green seem to have a cooling effect on my eyes. I want to stay here. Its beautiful and I bet whatever you click here is bound to be beautiful. There cannot be a bad picture of so much beauty. The lake adds the silver glitter to the place with waves creating a shimmering effect. The green of different shades blend with each other with studs of black and brown rocky stones spread like choco-chips on this minty green. Patches of farm lands create the patterns on the green carpet. Some sides of the mountain had a staircase effect again covered in green and some had foot trails that looked like branching nerves. At the distance you can see the waterfalls pure white,  like veins and arteries of the mountains carrying water, its life source. It's too scenic to describe, words fall short. At a distance we can see a huge waterfall where the other group planned to rappel and what a beauty it is. Like an Aorta of the heart of the mountains. Immediately some of us have already made up our minds to do this waterfall rappelling at least once.

By the LAKE: Shot By AVANI HIRANI 

GROUP AT THE WATERFALL: Shot by AJAY PRADHAN

As we walk around the lake a herd of goats pass by and we all have a picture with them in the background.

BAKRAS: Photo by AJAY IYER

We soon reach the base of the mountain. The first that we have to climb to reach the plateau called the table land. All of us had found the lake view and the waterfall so beautiful that we were ready to stop and admire and consider the trek over. But our excitement, our aim and our friends teasing and coaxing us, help us to move on. The rains plays musical chair with us, stopping and starting in short span as we struggle in and out of our rain gear every time. Some smart folks are happily getting drenched with just a rain cover on their bags. I could have done that, but the excitement of wearing a new poncho makes me play with the music of the rain. I look like a complete poncho mess and because it was too large for me it is not my fault that I can't handle it. Poncho and me can be another story altogether. There were times I struggle to find a way out for my head and hands, times when my head came out from where the hands were suppose to come out and vice-a-versa and if all went right then my poncho would get caught up in those thorny plants, MAANS TODI. If not maas(Flesh) they would surely tear my poncho.

HAWA MEIN UDDTA JAAYE: PONCHO MESS...Photo By AJAY PRADHAN

SQUARE OF ME, In shape, Square is also a shape : Photo by RAJU SIR

          The start of the climb at first didn't seem like a climb. I kept wondering whether we had started the climb or we are still at the base. Walking up and down in waves we reached at a point where we saw a huge mango tree. This was our first halt for enlightenment which came in the form of food. The wide expanse of the tree provided us with the shade and rest.

UNDER THE TREE FOR ENLIGHTENMENT: Photo by RAJU SIR

         After this we start our trek up till the village on top. On our way we came across paddy fields where the farmers are busy farming. A few clicks here and we move on.

BY THE PADDY: Photo by RAJU SIR

bowled over by paddy in the fields : shot by VINAYAK HASURKAR

PADDY with THE GROUP: Photo By AJAY PRADHAN

PADDY WITH ME 

            We keep halting in between not just admiring the nature but also a friend's phone The Samsung galaxy S4, which had some unbelievable features. It was fascinating especially because our friend was a tech expert too and could explain all details well. we had other experts too. A expert in maths who got us familiar with Fractals in Nature. A Professor in making.

  As we moved up we crossed two more villages. At the Start of the Village we are greeted by a peahen, A treat to the eye. We greet it back with our Awwws!!! and wowss!!!

We had water and refreshments at these two villages as the hens and the cocks danced around our feet fearlessly, hoping to catch a few bites too.

WE, The Villagers: Photo by AJAY PRADHAN

           Our next landmark was the well. We found 2 on the way. I wonder what is it about the well that makes us peer into it! But I have always found this to be fun. It's like the well is calling you. We now move up leaving all the villages behind.

WELL OH WELL :Photo by AJAY PRADHAN shared by POOJA GUPTA

           The climbing starts getting tough only because it's so long. We wonder if it will ever end .We have to first reach Table Land and then trek up to Garbett. Thus Table Land was not even the ultimate goal. Still, as we climbed the never ending climb, groaning and complaining yet joking and smiling and finally making it to the table land, it did feel like we had reached the ultimate goal. It was as if we found a bed on top of the mountain. It was like home. We had our lunch here. One of our friends had carried food almost for the entire group. We secretly hoped he comes for every trek. He even got desert to add to our delight. Our group was a very friendly, loving and caring group. Strangers at the start didn't seem strange anymore. The steps you walk together bridges the gap. We were ready to say, trek over. What can we want more!.... But we always want more.

SMALL WATERFALL AS RELIEF

BED ON A TABLE..Land  : Photo By AJAY PRADHAN

LUNCH TOGETHER: Photo By RAJU SIR

              The second part of the climb would soon start and just when we thought we should have a group picture, it started raining. Out came our rain gears, in went the cameras. It did stop for a while and we took the picture.

GROUP ON TABLE LAND: Photo by AJAY PRADHAN shared by POOJA GUPTA

      It soon started raining again and I felt all rain gears are useless. It looks as if it's more for the mind than for the body. After the rest we had, my muscles had gone into sleep mode. To their dismay which added to mine, we had more to climb. It was shocking for me that almost all my leg muscles cramped and I thought my dream of making this place a home would now come true in the form of a nightmare. I do not know how, but sips of water and a silent cry for help calmed my muscles and they could carry me to the top. This part of climb otherwise was more enjoyable. Rain poured and if felt as if it was pouring blunted needles. Acupressure in the middle of the climb. All of moved on as if we were in a battel field and this was a do or die situation. One of my friends commented too saying this climb was like the last battle won, thus giving words to our feeling. We were finally at the top and had already started discussing about other terks that can be planned When one of our friends, for whom this was the first trek makes the comment of the day, the real puzzle... "yeh sab hum kyun kartein hai, kya milta hai? (why do we do all this? What do we get).. We all had a hearty laugh at this because this is one puzzle which may be the reason to motivate us to keep doing such treks again and again and we still don't have an answer. Pictures taken, we are late we know. So now the walk to Dasturi naka starts.

Full Group: Shared byVINAYAK HASURKAR

GROUP AT GARBET:: FEELING TOP AT THE TOP: Photo by AJAY PRADHAN

 The walk is good after the climb. Our friend Francis Pinto who is not just a tech-expert but also a reptile expert knew a lot about the flora and fauna around. He identified many things for us, we missed an interesting gecko at the start. But the best spotting for me was the Rock Begonia. This tangy, juicy edible leaf rejuvenated many of us. We have already requested our friend to find out more such edible plants. One of our friends was even ready to carry a rock home and water it daily so he can have his own supply or the begonia. But the interesting and disappointing thing is, we can't grow them at home. Alas! One reason to keep trekking... We soon reach Dasturi naka and leave for Neral in the taxi. We had decided we would go to Karjat and take the train home. So quickly gobbling up some food, actually a lot of food we reached the station only to realise that the entire crowd had the same idea of going back to karjat for the sake.of seats and this idea of ours to beat the crowd was of no use. Any ways the trek had come to an end and we were going home, leaving behind the homely mountains.... A journey between two homes... May be the answer to the puzzle is this... We all want to go back to our homes, the nature's lap. As far as I am concerned I don't even want to know the answer, so I can keep trekking to find it.. :)   

Expenses: 70INR (taxi from dasturi to neral)
                 68 INR (food)

                10 INR (train ticket)
                12 INR (Bus Fare)

Total: 142 INR

TOTAL EXPENSE (TTMM TRIP)=  247 INR....PAISAA WASOOL. 

A trail to the Kanheri caves

            An unexpected chat leading to an unexpected decision to go on a trail to Sanjay Gandhi National Park,Borivali without the usual guiding group leaders and the security of their company. Overall this led to the the discovery of unexpected happiness coming out of the excitement of planning something and waiting in anticipation of what lies in store when unexpected events happen at the last moment, along with the realization of the importance of a big friendly group that makes a trek possible and enjoyable, and also the importance of the shade under the wings of  calm guiding leadership with whom we fly on our own yet well directed.

             Till now I have only been a participant in various trek and trails conducted by groups and like a carefree happy go lucky Alice in a wonderland, I never bothered much about what the plan for the trek was, the timings that they had to co-ordinate, the meeting spots, the information to be sent across, the instructions given etc etc. All that was the headache of the group leader, I simply followed the basic instructions and tagged along with the others, mesmerized by the plants, insects and beauty around. It was only this time, however small the trail might be, that I got a slight inkling of what all the group leader or the trek planner might be facing.

           It happened so fast, that before I knew the plan of the event was put up on Wanderlust group page on FB. One less Work to do. A short and sweet post with all necessary information was put up all I had to do was share this. So the sharing began and so did the jokes and teasing associated with it. Some friends thought SGNP was singapore and I was planning a half day trail to Singapore. Some were already enjoying trails in Singapore. Some Sunday sleep lovers  quickly came up with reasons to avoid waking up in the morning. Best of Friends assured me saying, "Don't worry, koi nahi aayega toh mein aayegi" (if no one comes I will come with you). Few responded on the group and finally after all this 6 people including me agreed and gave their confirmation. Happy about all this I started looking forward for the day to come. But what goes as planned??? saturday late night, two friends dropped out and now we were only 4 left. I was in no mood of calling off the plan and decided to continue.

                                                                                               Next morning after packing all the essentials,

(I was excited to pack my poncho and hat, and wear my new shoes...something that I was longing to do) and confirming once again on phone with the others I set out for the trail playing in my mind with various options of what can be done as we were just 4. Would safety be an issue? Would we be able to do geocaching with phone GPS and would our little 8year old adventurer be able to walk about 5km up to the caves?

          Met the first to confirm and the reason why the trail even happened, my friend's mom at Borivali station. Her enthusiasm throughout the trail was not just admirable it was contagious. From start to finish she didn't look tired and could have walked more given the opportunity. I came to know that she had woken up at 4.30am made all the preparation for food and come. Its amazing how much any mom works and my respect for them grows every time. We children get up and run for treks or offices with packed lunch boxes and reach on time only because we have such mothers in the background making all possible for us. Even as we come back home we have a house well kept and things in order thanks to them. To do all this and come for treks and trails is even more commendable. There!, I have drifted from the topic again.

       So chit-chatting along the way, both of us reached the spot of our meeting, just outside the gate by 9.00am. To meet us there was a duo of a dad and son, only 8yrs old. They soon came by car to the spot. Now was the confusion of whether we take the car up to the caves in case the kid finds the way too long and uphill to walk or should we just take a chance and do what we had decided to do, i.e. to walk. We finally decided to walk up the caves.

     So the friend and his son, Aunty and me started our trail up to the once called Krishnagiri Caves due to its black mountains. I had decided that if we had come so far why not even hunt for the treasure as this was something new and would keep our little one captivated and excited till we find the treasure. So I set up the Co-ordinates on my phone GPS, explaining him the details of what we were doing and how we had to look for the treasure. Sure enough we had a enthusiastic treasure hunter all ready to look for the treasure and complete the trail. On our way we kept exploring the plants around to see if we could find a caterpillar or some of nature's miracle happening silently as we pass by. Sure enough we found a caterpillar, few colourful bugs,  anthills and homes of weaver ants too.

Photo by Shivkumar Vishwanathan: checking GPS co-ordinates

 Photo By Shivkumar Vishwanathan : weaver ant's shelter

 White amongst green and an Ant Hill
















   We walked up for 45mins, with aunty encouraging not just us but other teenagers huffing and puffing their way up. Our young friend did a fine job walking along but was tired and hungry later. The fear of the monkeys prevented us from opening our lunch boxes there. Luckily for us a bus passed by and we decided to take the bus to the caves. It was a good thing that there were bus stops along that route. We finally reached the car park. Our treasure spot was also close by but we abandoned the idea to look for it then as there were a lot of people around. We didn't want our precious treasure to be muggled by the muggles (stolen by the ones who don't know about it and find it accidentally). So after a quick bite we moved on up to the caves.

photo by Shivkumar Vishwanathan : beings looking at other beings 

   We reached the entrance to the caves surrounded by men and monkeys. There are guards at the entrance who check the bags as eatables are not allowed to the caves. Our bags were not checked as our young champion had happily disclosed to the guards that he carried KHAANA in his bags. We too didn't want to break any rules so we were allowed to finish our food at the canteen and then move on. In the canteen the monkeys had arranged a show for us. They seemed to have their own choices of favorite food. Silently observing and attacking those who had their favorites in hand. The monkey that came to me seemed to like hide and seek biscuit. He fearlessly marched towards me as if I had taken it out only to offer him one. However I was quick to hide what it sought. The other one managed to snatch a bottle of slice from a boy, and in Katrina's style enjoyed every drop of slice. All of us now started hiding our favorite bhajjiyas and pohas . Some monkeys performed gymnastics on the tree to add to our thrill.

Photo by Shivkumar Vishwanathan: Monkey's Slice

    After this performance we moved on to the caves. explored the first one and I couldn't stop thinking how on earth did men those times manage to make such awesome structures, carvings and rooms. These have stood the test of time. Will our buildings, where you and I live be able to stand the wrath and love of nature's forces? Their knowledge and culture is preserved in these walls as carvings and inscriptions. Are we interested to learn something from them? Their architects managed to blend with nature yet keep their touch alive even after thousands of years. Will we allow the history of our buildings to be preserved for thousands of years?  109 caves built and still they stand bursting to tell us their stories but are we listening??? The name given to them, 'Kanheri caves' comes from Krishnagiri (Krishna+giri = Black Mountains), like this there could be so much more about these caves that we don't know. What you and I just see and pass by, what you and I knowingly or unknowingly spoil, was once used by people like us thousands of years back. they carved every bit of it, they put it to use, the lived their lives, the air there circulated in their bodies where now we walk and watch. Wish somebody there could tell their stories.

    Soon after exploring few caves we reached small pools of muddy water and a sort of a water fall. Maximum number of people were there. After a little fun and play in the water, we traced our way back home. In between we stopped if we could find the treasure, but couldn't so we continued our
walk in the rain and then midway took the bus.

   
    Every-time I walk I wish I knew the trees, the plants and the beings in them, I wish I knew them by their names, like how one calls out to their Friends I would call out to them. " Hi Teak, What's up? growing strong!"  Hey caterpillar! how many more days to go?  so Mr Bamboo, why are yo so stiff?...and so on...

Hope to know them as friends soon...