This piece is a recollection of my first trip
with fresh faces all around. I booked it on a whim, not really knowing the organizers, the peer group or what to expect. Was not disappointed, to say
the least. Here goes:
The trip “officially” began with a meet and greet at the airport. Each of us took turns in spurting out quick introductions and listening to the next person in line. I was trying hard to imprint the names and the faces in my brain, though had limited success. But it didn’t go unnoticed that we were a diverse bunch, with representation from all corners of the country and a multitude of professions.
On the move, dumb charades served as the ice breaker with movies more obscure than the last lining up for the players. So engrossed were we that the acting and guessing spilled out into the open roads when the vehicle stopped for some respite.
Sharp turns, curvy roads, and some wonderful views later, we reached our stay – an elegant hotel nestled in the corner of a junction. Adorned with cheery Christmas decor, it brought an immediate smile to our faces.
A little later, as we embarked on our first “sightseeing” journey, wardrobes of all seasons were seen on the road – right from the attire of breezy Goan beaches to the warm jackets that are spotted in Ladakhi winters 😆. On the way back from a view point, I recall a conversation with a fellow traveler who professed in a matter-of-fact manner that even with all the beauty of the mountains and the heavy clouds, city-bred folk might find it hard to live and thrive without the hustle and bustle of a city life. Food for thought.
Cut to the next day, we set off on a mini trek to a waterfall. But before getting to the waterfall, we uncovered two "fun facts" about the group as a whole - almost half the group was left-handed and the majority were vegetarians! Back to the waterfall timeline... Walking amidst lush green tea plantations, climbing over slopes, stepping into muddy puddles, forming a human chain to cross tricky parts of the waterfall crest to wondering which trail to take as paths diverged, getting to the waterfall in itself was a fun experience. We hastened our pace as the sound of gushing water grew louder and we could feel the spray of water within minutes. We treaded delicately on the slimy rocks and loose gravel, tiptoeing into the fast-flowing icy water that almost felt like a hundred needles pressing against the bare skin.
Content to have the waterfall to ourselves, we jumped in, splashed around, swam against the current, felt the tremendous force of water on our shoulders, struck a baba pose atop few boulders, took our time and reveled in the moment until a visibly agitated official wildly gestured from the top of the waterfall asking us to get out😄. Later in the night, a magnificent colonial villa overlooking the city beckoned us for a sumptuous meal. We split up exploring the nooks and crevices of the villa and the great lawns surrounding it. Rustic charm and elegance exuded from every corner; sturdy wooden furniture, plush carpets and massive paintings adorned the rooms. It felt like the rooms held the stories of a hundred years. Inspired by the infectious enthusiasm of a fellow tripper, we partook in a choreographed mini dance that required multiple shots to get to an “Instagram-able” state, braving the gusts of chilly winds. As the plates of food slowed down, our in-house DJ cranked up some tunes that a young family adjacent our table was also happy to cheer on to.
Two hours of travel after breakfast the next day, we reached a lovely camp on the shores of a dam. A short walk into the wooded region on the right, the tall trees gave way to a large expanse of water, watched over by mountains from one end and us from the other. Donning our life jackets, we took up positions near our kayaks as the instructor prepped his own. Couple minutes in, pushing away from the shore, fresh drafts of wind tussling our hair, we paddle to the far end. It is always a humbling feeling to overlook an expanse of water, spotted with lumbering mountains, age-old trees and cloudy blue skies.
As the kayaking came to an end, all of us stowed the kayaks on the shore and plunged right into the lake. I remember realizing that the water currents close to the bottom were far colder than those at the top. Unable to recall my 8th standard geography that might have made sense of it, I moved on. Effortlessly floating on the water with our eyes closed made us forget ourselves just a little bit. As the darkness set in, we waded away from the water and into dryer land for a cup of hot tea.
Bonfire, sparkling lights, cool breeze and live music set the stage for karaoke and dancing next; mellifluous tunes and soulful swaying soon gave way to faster beats and slicker moves as the atmosphere heated up. Slowly, one by one, we stepped away from the floor to refuel and get ready for a round of chit chatting. Smiles and laughs abounded for the next few hours as the embers of the fire died down and the sky lost its dusky colour hurling us into the pitch black of the night. The clock ticked away as the conversation flowed and the calm of the early morning was almost upon us. The planned trek in two hours looked as unlikely as any, as we all fell into a deep slumber at 4.30 am.
Although an hour later than planned we managed to prop open our droopy eyes and readied ourselves for the morning mini trek. What ensued was a mix of scenic views, insights into the livelihood of the tribes that lived in the forests and snippets of history, geology and survival tips from our cheerful trek guide.
Accepting the fact that the trip was coming to an end left a bitter sweet taste as we returned to the camp to pack. In the last few minutes at the camp, we danced around the bonfire to lift our spirits and said our goodbyes to our dear hosts.
Back to the airport, back to our cities, back to our families, back to our offices ... back to our realms.
There is a whole lot I have covered and a whole lot I know isn’t in here but there are some strong, recurrent themes that warrants a special paragraph – hundreds and hundreds of photographs at every other spot (read the extraordinary patience of our photographer-in-chief), blaring music that spanned languages and decades, plethora of candid conversations, and so many stories that made one and all nod and smile. I cannot quite fathom what led to the unique camaraderie that seeped in amongst people who had never ever met before, who are in different stages of life, who have a broad breadth of personalities; but it did indeed and for that – I am glad. 😊
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