When I wrote about taking some time off from writing the usual travel-logs and asked my readers what else they would to read on this page, Mridula and Mouna asked for little things interesting that happened during the journeys. Here is one to start with.
A few months ago, I made a trip to Thadiyandamol with a friend. We deliberately planned it on a weekday to avoid crowds. When we were there we figured it was indeed empty and there was just us in the peak and the forest surrounding it.
Also read – other small incidences when travelling
* An encounter with a hermit
* An encounter on the ghats
* I thought you are going to fall..
* A Struggle between fear and love
* Encounter with the pachyderms
* Ask for directions and have some coffee
We were equipped well for camping for a night, and had carried tent, food and other things we needed, and shared them between us. My friend had carried food for all the days, I had picked up the tent, etc… Previous evening, we had discussed and checked that we had everything we needed.
Come evening, we pitched our tent and were ready for the night.
My friend said: Keep the torch outside, it will be needed once it is dark.
Me: Yeah, need to keep the torch out.
Suddenly something flashed in my head.
Me: Me keep the torch out? Haven’t you got the torch?
He: No, you were supposed to get it right? You don’t have it?
Me: umm.. I thought I heard you say you have picked up the torch.
Obviously there was some mis-communication and now we had to spend a night in complete darkness. We did not see the moon anywhere in the sky either. Anyway it did not worry me much, as comforts and assurances are usually something that I don’t look for. Pretty much same with my friend. An hour or so later, we figured that both our cell phones had all the battery drained, and the last source of light is also lost! brilliant!!
Come nightfall, we were there without any light but for what is granted from the celestial sources. And it so turned out it was one of the most beautiful night I have seen in the skies and wilderness. Stars were appearing all over the place and soon they were denser than the city lights seen from an airplane. Moon’s absence added to the resplendence of the stars. Complete silence but the for gentle and pleasant breeze and the silhouette of the hills complemented the glory of the sky.
We kept conversation to the minimum, managed to eat in darkness and wondered how do we wake up early in the morning with our cell phones out of action. Lucky for us, I managed to wake up and little before six and walked out of the tent. Nature had a lot more to offer to us beyond the beauty of the starry night. The scenic beauty of Thadiyandamol in that clear weather has few parallels. It was my fourth attempt in search of this clear weather in Thadi, and I had found what I had been craving for.
Views from Thadiyandamol in the morning
I agree, the nights in the wild are beautiful. I have never seen as many stars as I saw in Leh and at our YHAI trek in Goa and those images always stay with us.
lovely pictures – yet again! and yea nothing like the sound of crickets in the middle of nowhere!
i guess travel fatigue is quite common… but i still marvel at your enthusiasm to continue writing! Think i need to put down a wish list like yours as well. Maybe if i wish aloud, it will happen after all!
Yes, Mridula, beautiful they are..
Thanks Ms.N. I wasn’t sure anyone would have agreed with me on travel fatigue.
Nights can be very beautiful…I like the way you describe it, even if its a simple experience…almost felt that I was there..Incidentally, it was just yesterday that I was thinking when was the last time I lay on my back and counted stars … you just did that for me
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Dreamy picture.
backpakker, it is a real pleasure to be there on a silent night..
Thank you Anil.
Your blog is nice. I think you should add your blog at http://www.blogadda.com and let more people discover your blog. It’s a great place for Indian bloggers to be in and I am sure it would do wonders for your blog.
It’s possible another person might have panicked if been in the same situation like yours, but in your case, you’ve enjoyed the experience. You are a cool traveller.
“Moon’s absence added to the resplendence of the stars.”
I can imagine it well. This posting took me to the time when I had a night stroll in the picturesque village of Tshoka in Sikkim, at almost 9,000 feet above sea level, where the stars appeared to look down on me in all their splendour!
Excellent travel articles! Keep up the good work.
Thanks indicaspecies… I never got to see clear weather when I was in Tsoka.
Thank you Dave.
Great Article.
Thank you so much
Ik heb ook eens overnacht op de Thadiyandamol. Ijskoud maar het uizicht in de ochtend is zeker de moeite waard!!
gr,
Sahib
hey, this is a great blog! I hope to travel to India soon myself!
I’m a travel writer / blogger / nomad and I keep a blog at http://www.KingAmongRunaways.com
check me out if you get some time!
My next trip is Australia / NZ.
cheers!
-Justin Jones
Hi,
nice to read your visits pls drop in at my place near birunani on the way to river rafting and may be for a quiet trek and or to spread your tents on the estate n dont bother about paying, hope to hear from u
all the best……….
warm regards
Hemanth