Last few months, I was over-focusing on my work and upskilling my skillset. I lost interest in almost everything including Cricket, Socializing with people. I used to reach the office, finish my work, and read something related to my field. One fine day, my college friend called me and said "Machan, we are planning a vacation trip on Independence weekend, please be available once we plan everything I will share details with you" and disconnected the call. From that moment, I was ready for this weekend.
On over-excitement, I came to Chennai one week before our vacation started. I haven't met any of my college friends in the last 1.5 years after life dragged me into Hyderabad. I planned this trip in the way that I have to meet my college friends and then vacation trip. I started on 4th August from Hyderabad and came to Chennai. One guy planned everything and tickets are booked for our trip and rooms too.
From day one in Chennai, I was literally traveling all over the city to meet my friends and it was great fun. I didn't expect the May month climate in August in Chennai but it was hot enough to drain my entire energy. I was working from home so I make sure that meeting my friends should not disturb my work and their work too. I met friends whom I haven't seen in more than 5 years and spent some good quality time with them. I felt so happy after meeting my friends, and the conversations we had about things how it was back in those days and the current scenario and obviously about future trips.
All set for the trip from Chennai, 11th August morning we started from Chennai and roamed all over Tamil Nadu to reach Chalakudy in Kerala. The cities which we passed in traveling are Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Varkala, and Ernakulam and we reached Chalakudy. God's own country has its own way of welcoming people with Black tea and Palam Bajji. We continued from Chalakudy to Valparai, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. I know how Kerala's forest areas will be so beautiful and give peace to your mind, I was just living in those moments without thinking about anything else in this world. I was enjoying nature's beauty and lost in it completely.
After traveling 25+ hours from Chennai, we reached Valparai. Valparai is a city that comes under the Coimbatore district situated 1059m above sea level. First, I enjoyed the climate which is more in contrast to Chennai's (obvious one). We checked in our room and went to nearby places and found a good restaurant named "Sri Lakshmi Chettinad Mess" which is nearby the Valparai bus stand. I would recommend it personally, awesome food and good service from the people working there.
Day One in Valparai was just roaming nearby places and taking recommendations from people who stay there. We got one recommendation to visit Solaiyur Dam which is 23 km away from Valparai, we traveled to that dam. The way to Dam was just mesmerizing we stopped and clicked photos there and reached Dam. There comes the main villain of all hill stations, rains. It rained for 30 minutes there, somehow clicked some photos in the rain and left Dam before the rain turns bigger.
At night, it was freezing cold out there, we went out and had a long walk after dinner discussing anything which comes into our minds. On Day Two, we planned for complete sightseeing in Valparai, a few viewpoints, and some other places in the plan. We executed the plan successfully, went to all those places, and had so much fun. The highlight of Day Two is the Koozhangal River, the water is so fresh and we played there for more than two hours.
On the final day in Valparai, we had breakfast and started to travel to Coimbatore. This time, we chose a path that has 40 hairpin bends. It was so thrilling to travel in those bends. The maximum number of bends I have seen before in Kodaikanal Hills. So, I was a little bit uncomfortable till we cross hairpin bends, it was so sharp that the driver has to turn the steering to full part suddenly from left to right and vice-versa. We reached Coimbatore in the late evening, meanwhile, I booked Superstar's Jailer tickets on one of the biggest screens I have witnessed which has a seating capacity of 1200. Since we all are inner mendalans (nickname for Superstar fans in Social Media). Everyone is so excited to watch it again with 1000+ people. What a film-watching experience it was. Superstar's intro shots all over the movie with Anirudh's BGM and response from the crowd for every frame.
Finally, our trip finished with Jailer and we started back to Chennai last night and reached today.
A disconnecting week from work and personal stuff, roamed with friends who are non-judgemental, who know who you're, and met some good old friends on this trip to Chennai. Now, I am ready to face my reality again and win through it.
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