"In todays fast paced world, a few hours spent with virgin nature can seem both infinitesimal and infinite at the same time."
That was what i felt during a recent trip to Hogenekkal (literally smoking rocks) falls. The 3 hours we spent there left me wanting for more and increased my discomfort for my daily hectic, polluted city life.
Well the journey to falls itself was fun and uneventful! We left according to IST (1 hr late w.r.t planned). Then i got to occupy the most coveted seat in the vehicle (a stylish Qualis, Non AC, headlight loose), last seat with no door and window. Although to be honest the doors with window were also quite advanced as the power window controls were broken( I thought may be it was some kind of Parental control!). The driver (alias RM) was complaining about how sensitive the electronic controls are, how easily they can be broken and what a headache they cause. Being an electronics engineer I could not agree more, although in my case I have also been to the proverbial 'Lions Den'.
After breakfast at Udupi Hotel in Tamil Nadu(
!), 5 tolls (3 official,2 unofficial overall looting Rs.140), 4 hour journey, 230 kms of Govt Road and numerous nera pongas, we finally reached the famous falls. And what is the first question any body should ask us at the place?! " Are you interested in body Massage!" Sorry man but Heck No.
The 3 km theppa ride was the highlight of the trip. Wow what a breathtaking beauty! The falls are truly 'Niagra of India'. The serene ride with only sound being that of splashes of oar, birds in the nearby forest, a gentle breeze and a distant sounding thunder of falls. This was nature at its best and Man in his most humbling situations. To top it all VC jumped into water midway and swam for more than a km. Definitely if Beera(From Raavan) was here(or for that matter the big moustached Veerappan), VC would have given them a run for their money. He had to stop midway and resume journey in theppa because of Croc scare (later wee came to know it was just a false scare). How the 5 hours went by I don't know, but soon it was
time to leave (well we all had to attend offices the next day and after the excitement wee needed a good nights rest). The return journey was 'sleepy', but in sleepiness we discovered a shorter and considerably better route(shorter by 40 kms). Well as they say all that ends well is well. And what could be more better than a short end!
The 3 hrs spent there gave me long time to introspect my life and become philosophical about it!! In those few hrs it felt as if nothing is impossible in life and even then, i don't care. It would be akin to saying that we know the answer to "What is lifes' purpose?" and would be foolish to even ask it. That is what 3 hours on a Coracle on Cauvery river amid the dense forests of southern India, in the vicinity of 'Smokin Waters' can do and did.
P.S. - Thanks to Sandy for giving such a catchy title. Note :- Title is sole property of Sandy and should not be copied or used thereof without the consent of owner or the author. All the jokes/puns are purely intentional and trademark of supportivecynic. Anybody can use it without legal implication provide suitable monetary compensation is provided.
