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!