The Misty Paradise. Vattakanal, Kodaikanal

Had to start at four in the evening, we started by eight in the night. Road trip. Two cars and a load full of happy people. All friends like family. Param, Seetha, Arun, Ram, Renga, Kannu, Srini, Avi, Bulb. Two of our friends Prem and his wife Helen were joining with us from Trichy. Stopped for dinner and a tea early morning. Clicked some pics. Reached Paradise at around ten in the morning. Two policemen hitchiked in our car. One of them told us that most people come to vattakanal to program their mind. I didn't understand what it meant though.

The next day, we just lazily wound up in our beds, all facing one another. Two from the top too. The house had two floors btw. Each one of us draped in our own perspectives. But I'm sure everyone was happy there. We did get a complimentary double room too, which unfortunately didn't have the necessity to use. We became a family in the place. Friend's who did't go on trips for the past two years. Friend's for seven years now. We fought to sit on the hanger in the balcony facing the mountains. Alone, in peace, no questions asked, no answers given, just in plain calm, now. After all, there are parts of us which needs that alone time.

Third day, a lazy morning. But had to wake since the breakfast was available only till ten thirty. Good, we decided to go to the Dolphin's nose, which was around three kilometers away. Renga decided to stay back in the room. Twelve thirty in the noon, stopped on the way, in a chai shop. Spent at least an hour, eating all of his varieties of bread omelette. It was a climb down hill. Pretty neat path. It's good to maintain these places clean. We reached Dolphins nose not very far away. Fully covered with mist. No one around. Just us, just me standing at the edge of the nose with my legs shivering, knowing that one small slip could cost me my life. Stories which say a lot of people have slipped and never have been found. I couldn't stand for long. It had just rained and it was slippery, a lame reason maybe. Fear! Getting over it. Only a few of us dared to stand at the tip.zx Moving on, next was echo rock, again going to the tip was a challenge. Me and param were sitting there, shouting out to the echo rock. "Kaatru Veliyidai Kannama". Apparently, I realized it was a bad one. Made it up with few better ones. Done for the day, climibing up we stopped at the same chai shop again, We had to stop as it started raining. Was it some sign? I don't know but we spent two hours this time. Man, we talk and eat a lot, don't we.

We are supposed to leave Monday morning. Never felt like leaving. Extended it for one more day. A complete lazy day. Spent the whole time in the room except for the food. The food place was really good. Small and comfortable, like our neighborhood. Morning breakfast specially. And, we spent half the time in the terrace discussing on what our next trip is going to be. The evening was magic.