Green gates:Team outing

Green gates.....Our Best team outing.... .......

As I always say “Between the dawn and dusk, what remain are the beautiful fun filled memories, As Days passes we live with these memories and enjoy”.

Before this trip goes in to our deep memory, I have written a small (rather big) article on Green gates outing during my weekend. Please read it. Best thing about this article is observe how I introduced every one in to the article and the about the places and how every one was feeling and enjoyed the trip. Please read in your leisure time.
Here we go…….


The Water, The trek, the photography and Tooth brush……

Introduction of people, early preparation and enjoyment :

An announcement has been made by Bobby, the chief organizer about the outing with the subject line as “All good things come to those who wait.... “On Friday 11/2/2007 11:52 AM. The option given to this mail was “Yes I am ready to rock” and “No, I am too old to have fun”. This mail had set the expectation in the team to enjoy it to the full extent in the FDM team outing. Especially one who has joined the team recently was waiting for this date. No one in the team had realized that this subject line would mean a LOT. This was the first outing for most of the people in the group.

On 14th November, when we counted the team member size for outing, it was just 9. Every one felt we need to post pone so that many other in the team can join. But since the money was paid already, the only option left was to go ahead with the plan. Patra, the chief in charge pulled most of the team members and made the count to 15. Proposition composed of 11:4(Boys:Girls). There were discussion within the team to name the outing team as Team gallant, team waves, team fusion and team tooth brush. But why the name “tooth brush”? It may look crap to you but if you were the part outing team,the name carried so many jokes throughout the trip.

16th November night 10pm, every one was set to leave for the weekend dhamaka out side Karnataka. The resort “Green gates” located in Wayanad district in God’s own country was the “Team’s” destination. The energetic boys and girls were fully charged to participate in the celebration. But it was a slow start. The bus looked very dull with 50km/hr speed on Mysore road. On the way to Mysore the team was divided in to two, “Oldies” and “Goldies“ to play the dumb charades. The obvious choice was bollywood movies. But our chief organizer wanted Hollywood too. Request was politely rejected with knowledge base as the reason. Prem’s standard question like “How many word in movie”, “new movie or old movie” became the standard question and they were named as Prem’s questionsJ. Rahul challenged “oldies” about the existence of some movie names as he claimed the movie name cannot exist if he has not watched it! Goldies had to repeat the movie name “Lamhai” three times to Rajashree and make her understand what it means. Ashok showed his talent in searching the 60’s bollywood movie names which were never heard off. There were quarrels and exchange of fun words between the team which as lead by Sandhya. Every one except early sleepers participated in the game. Then started the game of all times “cards”. Our Ex chief Ravi who carried the card every time in the trips, did not forget to carry this time as well. Learn and mater to ”Bluff” was shown by Pradeep consistently through out the game. Vikas thought us a new game and gave an alternative to earn the money! It was almost 4am when we got order from chief to sleep and reserve the energy for next day. Ever one slept at 4.15am. Bus was slower than the Bangalore Bannergatta traffic.

Almost at 7.15am we reached Green gates. We got a warm welcome from Green team. They suggested few place. Anil personally opposed Kuruva Island and suggested Soochipura falls. But the manger suggested, it is the best place in wayanaad and guide will be there to take us around the island. Finally it was agreed and team was asked to get ready by 9am. Green Villa’s were very neat and spacious. Room was fully furnished and could accommodate 2 people comfortably. Hot water bath in cold climate in bath tub was simply amazing.

Every one except the late comer Ajay turned up in main lobby at 9am. Breakfast contained the Kerala special “Putta”. It was heavy break fast. After the break fast, there was matrimonial photo session lead by Photogenic Neha(or Neeha??). The photographer Anil was ready to take the shots and instructed every one to pose with the smiling face. At around 10.30am every one was ready to leave a place called Kuruva dweep in local language and Kuruva Island for the visitors. It had many island with the kabini river stream flowing between the islands. One has to cross the river stream to visit all the islands. Guide Benny took the lead to show in and around places of Kuruva dweep. It was around 30km from the resort and took more than an hour to reach the island. Some of the team members were hesitant to get down in the water. But when they heard that after noon lunch will be served at other end, they had no option left. Tender coconut at dweep was simply the best. Out chief Patra got a dhoti from the shop keeper on a loan basis and came in Dhoti attire which was completely different. For Naveen his bag became the most important through out the trip. So how can he imagine leaving the bag this time? He carried his bag along with him. Amrutha the most energetic girl cheered and boosted other girls’ confidence to get in to the water. Finally the full team was in to water with the help of guide Benny.

Introduction ends. Fun part of the trip in water – The water

Guide Benny was so kind and so good. He took care of every one in the team and gave the confidence to people who were nervous. Water was up to neck level in some places. Every one was wet. What could have been a better place than this? At that moment this was heaven for every one. In every scary moment, team members never scared to take their pictures. Every one helped others to cross the water stream. Crossing one island after the other was great experience. There was one point where all could sit and have “Water massage” It was so chill and refreshing. We played for more than half an hour in that place. Benny took care of our bags including Naveen’s bagJ. Cameramen Anil never minded to take very ones video during the water game. Chief with Dhoti attire was scared to take water massage. Rahul, the care taker could not manage himself in the water current! Pream saved so many livesJ many a times and awarded with the family pack of “tooth brushes”. Brave Amrutha learned herself on how to manage in water. Silent Bobby did not experiment with water game and played safe. Ajay took massage as many times as possible. Pradeep, the silent enjoyer, enjoyed entire episode. Vikas was never noticed by others and expressed the happiness himself. Ashok, scared of every thing, stood aside and just watched people playing water games. Photo phobia affected Neha was posing for every snap. Scared and surprise Rajashree was thinking on how save her self. Enthusiastic Sandhya continued her fights with others and took some “panga”. Calm Ravi enjoyed the full episode with one complete water massage cycle. The game ended when Benny instructed that we were already late for the lunch and food is already waiting. We left this place and reached the place were it was full of yellow (green fields were just cut and grass were all around) and blue (sky) colored. We walked through the fields and reached place were our lunch was arranged. It was an open ground with some huts on top of the tree. This was one of the best lunches I ever had. Not because of food was great but the ambiance was just great. Hungry boys and girls eat a lot. Poor Rahul who was on fastening (he is praying God for the best wife!) satisfied with couple of apples and bananas. While coming back, there was a wooden made square shaped (I am not sure what do you call for this) which carried the people to cross the river. Some brave hearts like Anil and Prem swam in the river to cross the other end. After crossing it was told that, Benny found one crocodile in the river. So the lesson learnt was not to swim in any open place. Chief returned his Dhoti and not even paid the rentJ but we gave a business again to shop keeper by taking 15 tender coconut.

The lighter moments in the evening

When we were back it was almost dark and climate was slowly becoming cold. Every one was given with “personal time” to enjoy them self. Some of them took rest, some played the TT and one small group consisted of me, Ajay, Vikas, Amrutha, Ashok and Rajashree went for the walk to discuss about the Ghost stories. There was one live incident told by Ashok was very interesting. Ask him for the whole story! It was a cool and lovely walk. When we came back Flood light (just one bulb rather) was arranged to play the night cricket match for us. We played cricket followed by the foot ball. I and Amrutha got injured because of the fact that we were playing on the cement ground. After that we decide to go for the camp fire. But since there was other group enjoying in the same place, we decide to have dinner. After dinner when we visited the camp fire, there was no music as it was already 10.30pm. After 10pm, resort people were strictly ordered by police not to play the music in open ground. We played 2 round of musical chair. We again went for walk and cracked the jokes on each other. When we went for sleep it was almost 12pm. We decide to go for walk again in the morning at 6.30am. Every one was asked to assemble for the break fast at 8am.

Second day -,The trek and photography

Morning walk did not happen as most of the people were tired and could not get up. I suffered with the previous day knee injury. Thanks to Vikas for his caring nature and helping me to recover fast. Almost every one except some lazy people was in main lobby by 8am. Our plan was to check out early morning and go for the trekking to Edakall caves. This was around 30km from the resort and it was on the way back to Bangalore. Finally we managed to get all the member in the bus by 10am and left the green gates. The green memories of the resort remained in memory.

We reached the “edakal caves” around 11am and started trekking. Trek was around 1000mitres height and total of 3 hours. This included some scary points and a rope climbing in between. The rope section was very scary and exiting too. It was not an easy task to climb up and come down in short time. Some of them, it was a first trek. Team work made most of us to climb up and enjoy top of rock.
The experienced trekker Naveen took the lead position. Photo crazy Neha took the risk of trekking for the photo sakeJ. Rajashree remained calm and decide to face whatever comes along. Ravi started asking philosophical question like “why we really need to climb up”? Unexpectedly and surprisingly Patra proved all of us wrong by trekking easily. Safe Bobby played safe again and trekked slowly! Ashok, scared of every thing including heights decide not to go further and stayed at certain height. Knee injured Anil decided to join the group and have fun with team along with his photography. Vikas acted as a waiter boy and helped the team members when they came down and served waterJ. Pradeep gave the best pose of “Shivaji” in the trip. Ajay struggled to climb down in the rope section but never forgot to instruct the photographer to take his video. Amrutha stayed way from the photo jangat and enjoyed the nature at its best. Sound maker Sandhya tried twice before she climbed up in the rope section. Rahul was consistently posing and got the matrimonial photos he wanted from long time. Prem the true care taker helped all the members to climb up and down. When we went to top, every one was so exited and screaming. Every one lost them self in Nature. This is what every one in the team said during a small video session at the top.

Naveen: patriotic
Neha: It was simply amazing. We enjoyed every bit of it FUN. Its simply fun
Rahul: Excellent
Sandhya: FDM on top of the word. My first outing in profession was rocking
Prem: Marvelous
Ajay: Best outing so far
Amrutha: amazing
Rajashree: Very surprising
Pradeep: Experiencing the fun
Patra the chief: Good team work done! Expect the same team work to be done in the release
Anil: Thanks every one. We had nice fun. It was just rocking.

Time spent in the top of the rock was awesome. The nature, the air and the Sun was touching us and gave a warm feeling. We experienced the Nature at its best for a moment.We climbed down in reasonable time but took time in having cold drinks in a small shop near by. After that there was some shopping. Most of the articles were made out of bamboo.

We reached the bus at 2.30pm and decide to skip the lunch and rush to Bangalore. Every one was tired and took the rest for a while. Again team was back to bus games like atakshari and cards. Ravi’s invaluable collection of old bollywood songs gave a refreshing feeling. We took the snacks (rather kind of dinner who ate lotJ) at Mysore Nalapaka. Food was good there. We started from Mysore at 7pm. Again not to mention bus was like Bannergatta traffic speed. So we ended up in reaching Bangalore at 11pm.

Leaving note...

All together it was great memorable trip so far! The water, the trek, the photography and last but not the least Tooth brush remained in our memory forever. The subject line of mail of our chief organizer Bobby made more sense when we look back out trip moments.

This is what our ex Chief Ravi has written about the trip:

Some things to forget (remember)
neha’s scary photos
patra’s lungi (sorry) fundas
rajeswari’s “lamhe”’s (more than one)
bobby’s amazing video commentary
amrutha’s endless energy
naveen’s precious bag
Sandya’s friendly fights
prem’s accurate bluffs
vikas’s suggestions (from behind, if u haven’t heard)
ashok’s tipless service
ajay’s money littered on mysore road
anil’s swim with pretty lady (crock)
rahul’s bollywood ignorance!
pradeep’s shivaji poses

Cheers,
Anil Masakal … Not a bad story teller and good photographer