1. Tada
2. Falls
Yes, Tada was a literally unknown (and legally controversial) name which most of us hadn't heard of. And the second reason is that nobody hates falls – I mean waterfalls.
Skillsoft is a fun-loving team, doing things with a Synergy of work and play. With a well-planned schedule, we were all set to start the hilarious journey at 5.30 a.m. on 13th of June, a lovely Saturday morning. No delays in deliverables this time!
One must acknowledge the role the behind-the-scenes guys played. Syed and Sethu booked the 'small mini bus' (more about this later); Prakasham and Santhosh almost made a Guinness record for peeling the most number of garlic in a short time; Dominic and Prasanna made the chicken cross the road.
Saif Ali Khan had come to Mike's home to inaugurate the journey. Saif posed for a couple of snaps with us and bid us Bon Voyage.
Dull but anxious moments followed, as we were watching out for guys about to join us on the way. Things got lively once Wilson got into the bus. Six-pack Sasi was the last one to join us from Puzhal. He got the typical Koduva team (the team that gives you special treatment on your birthday) welcome, headed by Pandian. For the information of non-Tamils, Koduva roughly means a kind of dagger.
We stopped for breakfast at an open field. Mike, our project manager, was busy distributing idlies rather like Ejaman Rajinikanth. All eyes were on Santhosh because he had the sambar bowl. After idly, we were chatting idly. That was when Mike came up with another surprise.
We celebrated Wilson's birthday in that open field. Once again, a typical Koduva team treatment.
The journey continued. Disappointment was awaiting us when we found that our 'small mini bus' will not be allowed to enter Tada. The reason was that the bus was a 12+1 carrier with 18 seats. Our ‘We know the IG' strategy didn't work. Resources were deployed for Localization. In spite of speaking the best Telugu we knew, the only choice the check post officials gave us was to remove the additional seats. A viable alternative was to use local transport. What an innovative way to make the local industry flourish!
As they say, everything happens for good. The best part of our journey was in the four Share Autos we hired. Here too, we proved our mettle in bargaining. We went for the lowest bidder principle and brought down the rate from Rs.500 to Rs.350. We enjoyed the peppy songs the driver played for us. The highway soon became narrow and then transformed into a mud road. What seemed to be a road less travelled gave us a roadless travel. At times, we had to get down and push the auto. It was fun all the way.
We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.
This spirit made us click our cameras every now and then. And there were more falls in the water than there was water in the falls. Deepika, the whistling DJ started it all when she skidded and fell into the dangerous water knee-high. Then it was Ranjani’s turn on our way back. Soon, JS was at her heels as if it was a chain of events. And nobody knew why Rama forgot her high heels, eventually landing on a sharp piece of a broken wine bottle. Well, we had the first aid kit. Now she has a good reason to apply for a leave.
Carrying 20 litre water cans while going to a waterfall may sound odd. But we did it. The team worked rather like a military squad, ferrying heavy utensils across streams and efficiently passing logistics – baggage, wood, water cans, and vessels.
After crossing a couple of streams, we reached the Sivan temple beside which a group of local people lived. Fifteen more minutes of negotiating another stream led us to a perfect place to cook and bathe. For some reason, we didn't occupy that place. We moved forward, to find another curious place. Most of us were very hungry, ready to pounce at anything that was edible. It's time to start music.
Mike rediscovered fire with the help of the kerosene we had taken in a big bottle.
A resourceful kitchen was established in minutes. Syed proved that he is a professional when it comes to cooking. The aroma of his Biriyani didn't only make our hungry stomachs crave but it also attracted a troop of monkeys! Seems they too are non-vegetarian. It was news to me.
When Syed & Co were toiling in the makeshift cookery, a group of bad boys sneaked downhill to revel in water. Eating the mangoes from the nearby trees while bathing was a different experience. We then had a satiating feast thanks to Syed, Santhosh, and Prabhu.
And thanks to the girls group, who, tears in their eyes, peeled onion and cut vegetables in no time. Were they worried that they had to eat the food cooked by guys?
Once we ran out of water, we started drinking the river water after boiling it. Mike was at his best when he led from the front, cleaning the vessels. As it grew darker and the forest bugs got louder, we packed up and it was once again fun in the Share Autos – this time a bit more adventurous as it was dark.
It was time to leave hot and spicy Andhra. Our small mini bus was waiting at the check post to take us back to Chennai. One by one, the guys bid farewell, satisfied with the evergreen journey. We’ll be back to the concrete jungles, trekking our way to office through traffic jams. With nostalgic resolution, we said to Tada falls “WE’LL BE BACK.”
Here is a nice travelogue if you're planning a trip to Tada falls
