It was an exciting and tiring visit for all four of us. Wondering what I am talking about, so you will get to know as I move on. Gang of Four was on a mission to conquer the south and realized its better off to be at home. Well let me disclose the names first of whom all are part of this story. It’s me Abdul, Karn, Sameer and Neeraj. The four studs from Bangalore planned to go on for a colleague’s marriage at Erode. For me it was my first outing with the team as such on some place apart from going for a movie and eating out. The marriage was on a weekday and in order to make sure that we all go, we finished our project work well in advance. We booked the tickets via train and there were few voices as to whether we go by train or hire a personal cab. But finally we all came to consent to go by train and also come back with the same means. The train was at 9 o’clock and we hired the cab from office. I and Neeraj got our bags to office so we started from there at 6:20 PM. On the way we got Karn and then Sameer along with us. But the journey from there till station was horrible. By horrible I mean there was huge traffic as expected but it scared us as the chance of getting to station and catch the train was looking feeble. But the driver was very good and he tried his best to make us reach as early as possible. We reached the station sharp at 9 and were just praying that the train would not have started. We got down from the cab and started running. We didn’t know to which platform the train was standing. It was on platform 5 we got to know and we pace up with our bags to rush quickly to the platform. Luckily the train was standing and we took a deep breath. We put all our bags in the train and hunt to get some food as we all were feeling very hungry. The train started by 9:20 and the AC looks good inside. We had our dinner and talked for about an hour before all of us had to sleep as the compartment went dark black. Still we talked for some more time in the dark and put our alarms for 2 in the morning. One funny incident that happens in the train was, we asked for bed sheet and we thought that in AC 3 tier it’s free. Neeraj told me to give him ten bucks as tip. He took that and waited for a while and told to give 90 more. We all were surprised and when asked got to know that the bedding is not free and need to pay 100 for four person. We all laughed like anything and the expression on that staff person face and ours won’t be forgotten for long.
We reached Erode around 2:30 AM early morning and we already got the address from our friend (who was supposed to get married the same morning, name Mythili) about the hotel and its location. We got ourselves in an auto and as it happens in all Tamil Nadu the autowala charged too much for a place that was just a kilometer from the station. Well I was not very much interested in arguing and we got onto our destination. All the people at the reception were sleeping and Neeraj with his bold voice alarmed all. The room for us was already booked and we took two rooms of double bed and check in to relax for some time. It was 3 o’clock in the morning but still I can feel the humidity outside. We decided to sleep for few hours so that we can be fresh for the whole day. We got up in the morning and fresh n up ourselves to decide what we have to do whole day. We tried to call Mythili cell but it was ringing. We decided to go out and have breakfast first and then decide what to do. After breakfast we checked with some local people in our broken English-Tamil accent to find any nearby place to visit. We got to know one by 70 Kms some falls and people told it’s good to spend time there. We then hired a cab and as we started to leave we got a call from Mythili’s brother to come and visit her place. We went there and the marriage was over and people had breakfast also. We told each other that we wasted money on breakfast but that was worth to spend as after a long time I and others had a nice and delicious breakfast. We met Mythili and her husband, he was good and talked with us nicely and we were at ease with him also. We were there for nearly 45 mins before we decided to leave for our outing. We also checked with Mythili’s brother about nearby places and they told we can go to one water theme park which is as good as Wonder La in Bangalore. We all four were on our way to that waterfall. It was very very hot outside and inside an AC cab it was just like heaven. The driver who was also the owner of the car had only one Hindi CD of AR Rehman songs and we managed to listen that only. We reached the place in about an hour and half and as we reached there it was a shock. It looked liked us a washing bay where people come and wash their clothes. All faces look black and we can imagine about what kind of people comes there. It was 11 in the morning and the sun was beating us with the heat. There were no shade and it was completely open and talking about the fall, it was just three meter high running water from a raised platform and a small dam built on the side. Overall we all were very much disappointed seeing that and was a complete waste of time and money. Well as we all were in shock, we were unable to decide whether to try something else or better go back home and sleep under the AC. But as we all were very much enthu to spend time outside, we decided to go to the theme park that was told by Mythili’s brother. We checked with the cab driver about how far it was and he told around 90 kims from the current place. We were off to the water park…
We reached Water Park around 1:30 PM and it was turning out to be another shock, but by the way of its look, we managed to calm our brain. The entry ticket was costly as we thought, but since we reached so far we thought to spend more and try to find some excitement. The place looked deserted as there were not many people in the park. May be the other reason is due to the fact that we came on a weekday. Also there were no good cheeks to follow and so we all got our gears and plunged into the water. There were only few rides that was working and that too was not very much exciting. We tried what all was open and then went to wave pool and spend some good time with the artificial waves and relaxing in the water. It was time our stomach was crying for food and we then directly went in hunt for a good food zone. No one was interested in having south Indian food and so we got a multi cuisine restaurant there. We had a nice heavy lunch there and during that whole course we clicked a lot of snaps. The others were having problem in handling the camera as for every click some adjustments needs to be done and I was so stupid to set the camera in Manual mode rather than on Program Auto. Finally the consequence came to me when none of my picture came nice, sad very sad :-(
We reached Erode around 2:30 AM early morning and we already got the address from our friend (who was supposed to get married the same morning, name Mythili) about the hotel and its location. We got ourselves in an auto and as it happens in all Tamil Nadu the autowala charged too much for a place that was just a kilometer from the station. Well I was not very much interested in arguing and we got onto our destination. All the people at the reception were sleeping and Neeraj with his bold voice alarmed all. The room for us was already booked and we took two rooms of double bed and check in to relax for some time. It was 3 o’clock in the morning but still I can feel the humidity outside. We decided to sleep for few hours so that we can be fresh for the whole day. We got up in the morning and fresh n up ourselves to decide what we have to do whole day. We tried to call Mythili cell but it was ringing. We decided to go out and have breakfast first and then decide what to do. After breakfast we checked with some local people in our broken English-Tamil accent to find any nearby place to visit. We got to know one by 70 Kms some falls and people told it’s good to spend time there. We then hired a cab and as we started to leave we got a call from Mythili’s brother to come and visit her place. We went there and the marriage was over and people had breakfast also. We told each other that we wasted money on breakfast but that was worth to spend as after a long time I and others had a nice and delicious breakfast. We met Mythili and her husband, he was good and talked with us nicely and we were at ease with him also. We were there for nearly 45 mins before we decided to leave for our outing. We also checked with Mythili’s brother about nearby places and they told we can go to one water theme park which is as good as Wonder La in Bangalore. We all four were on our way to that waterfall. It was very very hot outside and inside an AC cab it was just like heaven. The driver who was also the owner of the car had only one Hindi CD of AR Rehman songs and we managed to listen that only. We reached the place in about an hour and half and as we reached there it was a shock. It looked liked us a washing bay where people come and wash their clothes. All faces look black and we can imagine about what kind of people comes there. It was 11 in the morning and the sun was beating us with the heat. There were no shade and it was completely open and talking about the fall, it was just three meter high running water from a raised platform and a small dam built on the side. Overall we all were very much disappointed seeing that and was a complete waste of time and money. Well as we all were in shock, we were unable to decide whether to try something else or better go back home and sleep under the AC. But as we all were very much enthu to spend time outside, we decided to go to the theme park that was told by Mythili’s brother. We checked with the cab driver about how far it was and he told around 90 kims from the current place. We were off to the water park…
We reached Water Park around 1:30 PM and it was turning out to be another shock, but by the way of its look, we managed to calm our brain. The entry ticket was costly as we thought, but since we reached so far we thought to spend more and try to find some excitement. The place looked deserted as there were not many people in the park. May be the other reason is due to the fact that we came on a weekday. Also there were no good cheeks to follow and so we all got our gears and plunged into the water. There were only few rides that was working and that too was not very much exciting. We tried what all was open and then went to wave pool and spend some good time with the artificial waves and relaxing in the water. It was time our stomach was crying for food and we then directly went in hunt for a good food zone. No one was interested in having south Indian food and so we got a multi cuisine restaurant there. We had a nice heavy lunch there and during that whole course we clicked a lot of snaps. The others were having problem in handling the camera as for every click some adjustments needs to be done and I was so stupid to set the camera in Manual mode rather than on Program Auto. Finally the consequence came to me when none of my picture came nice, sad very sad :-(
After lunch we came for a wash and cleaned ourselves and head off to hotel. We were very tired but it was not looking into our faces. We spent some time and then had dinner in the room and prepared to sleep. Our train to Bangalore was at 6 in the morning and I put the alarm for 4:30 AM. Well what could have happened we didn’t even imagine. There was bang in our door and I got up in a shock. As soon as I opened my eyes it was completely bright from the window and I said to myself ‘SHIT we missed the train’. Sameer opened the door and Neeraj and Karn was standing out seeing me with wild eyes. Actually I assured them to wake all of us in the morning but before I slept I changed the alarm tone and somehow when it rang I couldn’t realize. There the actual tiredness was shown by all of us. Well this was the second time I missed a train and now I was a bit scared and just wanted to reach Bangalore as soon as possible. We all got ready quickly and had breakfast, I went downstairs at reception to check for any bus to Bangalore and the guy told me about different timings for the bus which includes AC and Non-AC buses. When we went to bus stand it was horrible, first the heat and second no one knows about the buses and when checked with the enquiry person, he told that no direct bus to Bangalore in day. We all were shell shocked and didn’t knew what to do. We split ourselves to find ways to reach Bangalore and one person told that we can go to Salem and from there we can get a bus to Bangalore. Neeraj and Karn checked with local cab and it was charging way too high and I was not interested. Somehow we all came to conclusion to go to Salem and then from there to Bangalore. We got into a normal bus like BMTC blue buses in Bangalore and the ticket cost just Rs. 19 per head. It was very hot and we all were not very comfortable especially Neeraj. After sitting in bus he was still saying to hire a cab and go in peace. We reached Salem in about an hour and forty five minutes. When we got down again a shocker that no AC buses to Bangalore. Myself and Sameer went and checked if any buses going to Bangalore regardless of AC and got one which was kind of semi deluxe and we got the tickets without telling Karn and Neeraj. I went and asked them to come soon as the bus was starting and didn’t leave any option for them but to get in the bus. We started from Salem at noon and there was a break at 2 PM for lunch. It was an exciting journey overall if we count out the heat but worth to be pen down like this. In about one and half days we met the wedding girl for forty five minutes and the rest of the time spent on exploring and getting shocks, but well worth if we remember now. We reached Bangalore at 4:30 and from there I and Neeraj came to office and Sameer and Karn went home as they were completely exhausted and need a break to relax and recharge their batteries. Finally a worth visit in terms of adventure and some lessons to learn on how to cope such kind of new environment, new people, a different language and a kind of world that you will consider yourself as a foreigner. Happy Journey!!!
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