Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ...
Its about learning to dance in the rain!!!
There are many things in life that will catch your eye
but only a few will catch your heart... Pursue those

This is my small effort to make you smile for a while...






Wednesday, August 29, 2012

48hrs in heaven- Part 2: When death roared…


After a fantastic drive we reached the resort, I thought just being there was all I needed. But for our surprise, our host had a wonderful list of activities planned for us and the list was something like this…
Cycling in and around Emerald, Walk in the Tea plantation, a 4km trek to Redhills, Fishing in emerald lake and best of all REST as much as you want cuddling in front of the fireplace….
He just poured fuel to my over excitement fire and hubs was sure that nothing can stop me now.  As it was evening we did a pleasant Cycling in and around Emerald, Life seemed perfect when the cool mist was hitting my face, as we cycled on the dangerous curves of Beautiful Emerald all we could do was just be quiet and listen to the music of nature. The music of birds chirping, air gushing through forest and streams running is still ringing in my ears, wish I could record and play it back for you!!!


After this wonderful cycling experience we got to feast on a heavenly dinner and then we were advised to sleep early to rest well for next morning’s Trek to Redhills.

From the moment I landed here in the lap of Red hill, I was dreaming of being at the top of Redhills and hugging her tight. And so my entire night was filled with dreams of trek to Redhills.

A dream is a wish your heart makes.- Sleeping Beauty


Yes my wishes were made and all I wanted to was go up there and shout in excitement. A very windy night was over and sun was fighting to show his existence beyond mist and clouds. I was all set packed in thermals, jacket, hand gloves, scarfs and what not to protect myself and I would do anything to reach the top! Right after our breakfast we were introduced to 2 wonderful guides who were from the same place, they knew everything about Redhills and the places around.

 Me, Hubs, another guest Abhay, 2 guides Swami and Vinodh gang of 5 started trekking the red hills it’s a 4km one way trek through lush green forest, vertical rocks and grassy meadows. Just not this much on our way up we got to munch on wild raspberries and pepper. Windy hill and mist was often covering us but trust me, the vertical climbs was so too tiring and all the jackets, gloves scarf etc etc was now back in backpack which poor swami had to carry!!!


On the way up Swami and Vinodh had lots of local stories to share with us, it ranged from their marriage stories, movie interest, secrets of nilgiris, leopard and wild boar attacks and of course Politics. Their encouragement and the dream to reach the top took us finally to the top of Redhills.

Now you can imagine how wonderful I would have felt being at the place I dreamt the whole night! Yes I was extremely happy and was dancing on the top of hill for having been made it. We all were happy and were taking the pictures, shouting loud to make sure the world below knows about our little conquer.

Just then I heard a loud grunt!!!  I was shocked yes it was like a roar. Hubs dragged me back and all 5 of us had heard it yes there was a roar to our right hand side! Vinodh wasted no time and asked us to be quiet and not to touch the camera. Swami was covering us from one side Vinodh on the other side all we had was stick and there it was a LEAPORD and that too just below the rock on which I was standing. This is very much possible as Leopard are very common in and around tea plantations and also this place is enriched with wildlife like dangerous leopard, wild boar, beautiful sambar deer and wild goats.

But this was totally not expected and we were not prepared for this attack, 5 of us had no clue what to do where to go, as the only way to go down was to climb down the same rock on which I was standing. Yes the way we took to top can’t be taken as its too steep for trekking down and the way below Death was roaring….
We were stuck there with no plan, life seemed so small at that very moment as we were at the mercy of a big cat which was roaring beneath us.
Trust me friends it’s only then you realize how much you want to live how much you love yourself. Hubs hugged me tight to make sure I was safe but I could sense that he was shivering, Abhay who was terrified somehow managed to say “Death is not I am scared of but the way I die matters as this will be very painful” on hearing this any brave soul would shiver. As Swami and Vinodh were making alternate plans, Abhay and Hubs were being very cautions and concentrating on every minute sound they could hear, and there I was hugging hubs on the mountain top which was my dream but had hardly thought that possible death would roar beneath the rocks…
And is this why Woody Allen says
Death doesn't really worry me that much, I am not frightened about it....
I just don't want to be there when it happens.

Coming Up!!!  48hrs in heaven – Part 3: The End!

28 comments:

Karunakar said...

NEAR MISS!!!!!!!!!! :-)

ಅರವಿಂದ ಕುಲಕರ್ಣಿ said...

Yes. Near Miss... I mean the leopard was very lucky!!!

Karunakar said...

You are absolutely :-)

Ramya said...

@Karu: Yuppppppppp!!!!

@Arvind: :D it had option of wide spread buffent lunch, 2 locals, 1 karnataka 1 tamil and 1 kerala :D dishes spread for it ;) it save itself from indigestion :D ROFL

Found In Folsom said...

Oh my...good gracious....thank god you are back safely...

Jenny said...

Wonderful activities planned out! Cycling in the evenings must be so fun!!

4KM uphill trek would be a tiresome one..

and OHHH GODDDD!!! Ramyuuuuuuuu!!!! I dont think I blinked my eyes, as i read the last para. Gosh Gosh!!

When is the next post coming?????????? itna bada suspense!!!! Well i know you turned out safe and sound, else this post would not be there, but who did you guys manage it!!!!

Eagerly awaiting the next post!

Unknown said...

Very good Ramya.. great articulation.. felt like I was watching a movie :) Waiting for the next part.. release it soon!!

Uma said...

Oh no, Ramya..you should post the next part soon...until the last para, I'd almost made up my mind to go to Red-hills the next weekend..
now I'll decide after reading the last part ;-)
Btw, can you share the rates they charged? the website doesn't mention the charges..

Ramya said...

@Amith: wow the display pic is awesome yours ;) hehehe thanks buddy

@Uma: you must go the experience you will remember for life :D pls mail me on my personal id or chat, Uma lets discuss more ramyam139@gmail.com

Ramya said...

@Jen: :D I and all 5 of us are safely back dear, but how we got out safe will be put in next part :D wait for it...

Thanks dear yes even i have got my lifetime experience by being so close to death!!! uff will tell you more sometime...

Pleaseeeeeeee wait for part 3 the final one :D thanks sweety!

KParthasarathi said...

How did you escape?Did no one warn you beforehand?Please post your next part immediately.

Bikram said...

ooh wow HOW EXCITING , I would have loved to have a experience like that again .. I remember once we were coming from shimla on our bikes downhill , it was dark and we saw a panther with a fresh kill.. It was awesome although we were parked FAR away ..

The sudden rush of FEAR comes up what if...

after all they are the kings of the jungle and definitely stronger them man.

But wild animals dont attack humans, they will go the other way .. but that fear in the mind is there

loved all the pics once again and you had a great time :)

Bikram's

Hari said...

I know you all are escaped....Thank God. But, are you able to see that beautiful leopard? If yes... you all are the most luckiest.

Ramya said...

@KP: Yeahhhhh will update all the details in next post :D

@Hari: oh yes we did will share the update in next post :D

Ramya said...

@Bikram: oh yesss it was our life time exp will write in detail about it in next post :D

and wow u saw it god I know how it feels now!!!
Thanks a lot :D

Gopinath said...

Mesmerized.....spell bound...shocked....astonished....will conclude comments in part3

Ramya said...

@Gopi... :D Thanks a lot sure will update the last part soon...

ashok said...

wow!

Vyshali said...

Thanks to god, that you reached back safely. Good pictures and awesome explanation of your experience as always.... :).
I Just love the way you pen down your experiences in a wonderful and awesome way.

Vyshali said...
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Vyshali said...
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Kappu said...

Raspberries and encounters with leopard whew! Thats some trip - kudos to your hubby for taking his princess on an expedition!

AND is there a TINY reason to smile today? Please collect your blog award at my blog!

Do stop by my blog! Kappu

Rahul Bhatia said...

The excitement is building up with every part so well narrated Ramya! A very enjoyable read:)

Ramya said...

@Ashok: :D thankssssssss

@Vyshali: :D you have been my constant encouragement :D thanks


@Kappu: Yahuuuuuuuuuuuuu hurrrayyyyyyyy I got an award will pick it up and display it on my blog wow :D

@Rahul Sir: Yuppyyyyy last past :D to conclude!

Nilanjana Bose said...

Unnerving encounter in the wild! Glad you got back safe...must read how you managed the return trip

Ramya said...

@Nilanjana: hahha Thanks sure will post it soon :D...

@Ashwini: hahah yes we enjoyed cycling, :D and we had so much fun eating homegrown veggies in lunch and dinner dear, it was just perfect

Raj said...

It seems to be one hell of a fantastic trip. The trek seems to be one great adventure and I can see how much excited you were to get to the top. And then omg.. an encounter with a leopard.. that must have been chilling. I can only imagine how terrifying looking at death from close quarters could be. Must say.. you guys are very brave indeed.

Ramya said...

Hey Raj: Yeah fantastic trip and I was super excited to go to the top of redhills!!! and leopard god :D dont ask me anybody will be brave in that instinct its just that somehow you will want to save your life!