Recalling Ooty trip!

Ooty trip. 24th - 25th October 2009.
Most memorable trip!

This trip was my escape plan! My birthday was falling on this weekend and I didn't want it to be like the birthday routine (mostly at food court 5 - oasis) of the Infosys, Mysore campus.

So when I heard Sachit (who was from my college but had come to know him during training as he sat one seat beside me) planning a trip to Ooty with all his friends. I showed my interest in joining them clearly stating how I didn't want to be in the campus on my birthday falling that Sunday. He agreed.

That is how I happen to go on this trip with Sachit, Sharad, Shikha and Varun. All were new to me! Before this trip I have hardly ever exchanged formal greeting with them and now here I was going to a beautiful hill station on a weekend!

We left early morning for Udhagamandalam. On the way we had to cross Bandipur National Park. We stopped there and decided to take a Safari ride. Well it happened so that we missed on the early morning Safari which is much more promising than the later one; that we went on and as is the fate Sachit faced the rage for it from everyone for suggesting the Safari!

Then we proceeded further to reach Ooty by 1p.m. There All the three guys did a bit of search and got us a nice hotel at economical rate. We freshened up and soon left for the sight seeing in Ooty.

Now this was a very different experience for me. As a child I had visited all these places with my parents but I had no recollection of it at all. But as I am a photo enthusiast, I had seen the album from my previous ooty trip, numerous time over. What I saw now on this trip was those photos getting real! :)

Just for the reference here is one before and after piece.. ;)

Before:



After:

Later that evening we also went for a bit of shopping where I bought couple of woolens for myself and one stole for my friend Prachi.
Then we went back to hotel where we ordered food from outside and then there was a story as to how finally we managed to get the food! But then smooth trips are boring, there should always be stories to tell! ;)

We party-ed all night and that is when I got to know all the people I was freaking out with! And especially Varun. They all were from college and I knew no one in college until I met them at Mysore. So that was one fun evening with lots of college stories getting unfold. And then the clock stroked 12 and it was time to sing birthday wishes for me. A cake came up from nowhere to make me feel sooo good! :D Now there were some birthday present that I demanded for and I am lip-locked not to disclose here, still i will just say "Thank you Sachit ji!" :P

So we got up next morning, Sharad made sure all got up on time. But still Shikha and me had to wait long for 'guys to get ready'! We packed up and checked out from hotel to leave for the railway station! Yes it was the time for the famous train ride from Ooty to Coonoor. Here I will just say it was the perfect start to my birthday as even more beautiful memories was about to take form..

Beautiful train ride was made even more special by we all singing the famous Kishore Da classics. It was perfect. We had two talented singers - Shikha and Varun, amongst us. And the rest three of us were just the biggest fans of those songs. So we all sung in unison the complete songs which definitely perked up every one's mood in that train compartment.

Yes we all went standing. None of us respected the seats! :)

Getting down at Coonoor, our driver was waiting right outside the station to take us to beautiful places there. The two that I remember most of them is the Sim's Park, where I feasted my eyes on Rudraksha tree; and second the Tea garden. Just WOW!

I bought a packet of green tea from there, which totally made the day for our driver (commission boss!).
In afternoon we left Conoor to head back to Mysore. We stopped for lunch somewhere. Don't remember the place but all we remember is the yummy food we had there after a long time! :)

So as I mentioned before; if trip goes smooth it leaves no much stories to share. We were supposed to reach campus by 6 p.m. but we managed it till 8:30 p.m. Reason? Flat tyre. Not once but twice which resulted in us waiting for half an hour, on a dark highway for another taxi to come by.
But it was the perfect trip I have ever been on! :)
And as for my birthday, well that birthday routine (mostly at food court 5 - oasis) of the Infosys, Mysore campus did happen to me. At the midnight on the border of Sunday and Monday!
Although couldn't escape it but the trip made sure that i even enjoyed something I really repelled! :)
And now Sachit, Sharad, Varun and Shikha are not just the people i know. They are friends! :)