The 'if only' conjectures stay with you after a certain misadventure. But in certain cases as in this trek, they were verily nullified by what-was-about-to-come. For me it was Hydventura -> Take 2.
This trek couldn't have started more ominously with the two of us missing the train and the then deliberating decision to take a cab and catch the train halfway. I didn't hesitate taking the cab; the hesitations came later...sitting in that cab with eyes alternating between speedometer and watch, it was more than once that I wished we hadn't come. It was a long night, without a wink of sleep, for us and ya, you all guys too, who kept on the correspondence with us via cell (but then that is because none out of 23 pulled the damn chain!). We missed Kurnool by 20 min (imagine that, after travelling at 90 mph for 3 hrs!). That morning, seeing the train arrive at Guntakkal (which was where we finally caught up) and the sight of familiar faces, stirred in me an emotion akin to homecoming. I was so happy and relieved that I wanted to cry and shout at once. I did none.
We reached Hubli in the morning and took a bus to Jog Falls. At the view point the sight of four cascading waterfalls - King, Queen, Roarer and Rocket, was definitely a treat to the eyes. There was a momentary disappointment, kept at abeyance though, of viewing the waterfalls from a distance. But of all the things the one thing I was sure was this: even if there wouldn't have been any steps to reach the bottom, these guys would have found some or other way to take us near it (Thank God for those steps, otherwise you never know!). This much I can vouch based on past experiences. And we did go to the very bottom of the falls. There at the base, the boulders were dangerous temptation-one we didn't resist. To me they appeared less of an obstacle and more of an invitation and we kept on crossing each one of those huge boulders till the farthest one, where from we could see the water hitting the earth. We raised our eyes, opening them with much difficulty to see all the way to the top. And I know no words or pictures would do justice to either the view or the feel of those cold waters hitting/lashing us.
One feels completely alive and numb at the same time. And there's this spirit within you which kinda demands liberation and that's the only reason or excuse I've for climbing up that last boulder. When it comes to Nature you allow the tour-de-force to 'take' you as if submission's the only way of worship.
Night halt in a Youth hostel (luxury) and a sumptuous banquet for dinner in the form of Butter Nan (alias chapatti) and Butter Chicken (alias Priya Cut-Mango Pickle) and/or Paneer Butter Masala (alias Priya Thoku Pickle). The orders kept on pouring and it’s kinda strange how we all loved that. There was Dumb charade after dinner, and I'm just refraining from writing the names of movies you gave us...
The trip to beach on 2nd day (till 2nd day it was still trip, considering the luxuries of accommodation and commuting) was no less uneventful. Walking past the Om beach, crossing rocks to reach a somewhat nearby can-be-called-island, it was adventurous. With high tides and strong current, the waves tried their level best to curb our advances, but we did manage to reach the island and back. Then trekked on wrong route all the way to Half-Moon beach via a forest path (not wearing shoes for this particular trek-path was perhaps the stupidest thing I did on this trip). We found a fresh water stream kinda thing here (the origin of which fortunately or unfortunately we didn't know). Spent time, memorable I can say with the sea claiming T-Shirts and Goggles and floaters. In the evening the Gokarna beach was witness to the amazing energy levels and the passion with which the guys played Kabbadi and Frisbee. And the water being cleaner than Om, we spent some quality beach time. More luxurious accommodation than the first night. And real Dal Makhani and Paneer and Chicken. Still a trip : ).
The third day we crossed limits of luxuriousness by being allowed to sleep till six (On treks we usually follow military timings-wake up call max by 4 am, hence luxury!). Anyways started for Murudeshwar Temple, famous for its 18 storied gopuram as well as the offering panorama of being surrounded by sea from three sides. I bet we were mighty disappointed when we'd to take the lift to the 18th floor instead of taking the stairs (we were supposed to be on trekking, remember!).Anyways the best part here was waiting for lunch and the way we all ate the annadana prasadam. Payasam, Rice, Rasam, sambar, curry – the food served was fuming hot with liquid to solid ratio of 3:1, and we half-ate/half-drank the condiments….What should I say, that I found it tasty. I know, I'm not speaking only for myself when I say that the meager lunch called for the expression - 'chala santosham'. Post Lunch our leader was all set to give us a real trekking experience...I'll tell you, he was really pissed off, hearing us call it a trip. So we headed to a place which was kept as surprise till we reached there, and then we started trekking the Apsarakonda Mountains. Now mark here, that there were steps to top, but we didn't take that (how can we, with Sunil and Arjit being there!!). Instead they found us another way, and we went along with - slipping, climbing mountain, bouldering...I did just one rock, but believe me it was worth it. The view from top was amazing...the golden-hued evening sky, the sound of sea and the extended coastline. One always fails to hide that awe before the magnificence of Nature.
I need an extra paragraph solely to write about Apsarakonda waterfalls. It was like the perfect end to what started with the Jog Falls. For the feel of ice cold water plummeting from that height, I have only one comparison, I've never had had such beating in my entire life. The waters literally hit us. It was like stones, and standing right under it, for a while I thought my glasses will break with the sheer force. Max enjoyment at this place, with swimmers giving lessons to non-swimmers and diving and plunging and what not. I can't compare Jog Falls and Apsarakonda Falls; they left us with two different and entirely satisfying feeling.
Sometimes I wonder why I go on treks. I don't go for adventure or the kicks or making new friends, these things are extras, to be taken along, as they come and go. I have found my reason. I go so that for a moment I can feel being part of something profound, like the vast sea or the mighty waterfalls or the deep forests.
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