EGT - Day 4

After the last night's shaky Dhimsa dance we woke up half-an-hour late. It was 4:30AM and we started off for our co-curricular activities headed by Manish. We had our breakfast done by 6AM and we all geared up for the day's trek to the village Borja. We were told that the trek consists of a 4KM uphill task, but that did not deterred us as we had 3 days of trekking experience by now. We were ready to face any uphill tasks. We were so motivated to go for the kill, only later on we realized that it was really a strenuous uphill task.

So as the day broke, we started with our head count session and by 8AM, we marched to the next camp at Borja. As and when we left the camp we came across the first stream of the day. As we were moving ahead, we were looking forward for that 4KM uphill. In the mean time we were having fun and singing all along the way. As it was the winter season the sir was cool and the sky was so clear filled with dark blue color. The landscape was picture perfect. The batch from navy was always ahead of the remaining batches. They were always with the guide pushing Tycon(the guide) to move quickly to the next camp.
Well talking about the guide I forgot to mention that this time our guide change. It was Narsing, he was the fellow drummer of the Dhimsa dance troop. He too joined us to lead us along with Tycon.
So it was Narsing this time showing us the way to Borja.
So we were marching along the lush green forest with a dark blue sheet covering above us. So again we were ascending and descending the hills. As we were about to ascend there came a small village.




Women were carrying 2,3 vessels of water collected from the near by stream and were doing a balancing act on their heads while climbing up the hill. We could see most of the land was utilized for farming. There were fields all around the way. We too started talking out the ploughs not to do farming but for the lens. We were giving pose for the camera.


So most of the time we were ascending the hill. We then came across a beautiful valley. The valley had lots of terrace farming fields. It was an excellent view. The terrace farms were like a piece of cakes ordered in a symmetric fashion.
It was an excellent view to watch down the valley. We then after having a tough time getting up the hill rested for few minutes at the near by village. We were also waiting for the other fellow trekkers to come by. We can find all kinds of spices grown out there. People get all kinds of spices cheap in the valley. As we were resting a farmer was busy separating the weeds from the chopped crop. The weeds were actually used to extract oil from them. In the mean time we were having a photo session as usually.

After that we started to move on to the destination. On the way we spotted a place which was an excellent one to have one photographed there. It was a heap of dry grass laid at a certain height made by some wooden planks. At first there was Ashish on it getting photographed, later we too joined the party.
Slowly there were people getting on it and having fun.

Like this we were busy in taking snaps and the troop left us behind and they went forward. We were left behind, thankfully there was Tycon with us but later he too was confused with the route. So the situation here is like "WE WERE LOST". Hmmmmm! we were walking and walking to catch the trrop which was ahead of us. Tycon was playing a guessing game and we were playing along with him. Final there was a rock which signified the path in which the troop went. Even the batch which was ahead of us felt that we were lost and so they made a marker for us.

After this mark we were relieved of tension that we were lost. So we followed the track and we found them having lunch. So we too had our lunch and we rested for about an hour and then we moved on again. Boy! after lunch it became hard to climb. Even though it was winter season we were feeling the heat because of the direct sun and to that we were ascending a steepy hill. After walking for a couple of hours we halted to take some rest. It was a continuous steep climbing all the way long. There were some other who were left behind too and hence we planned to take some rest under a giant mango tree . It was a cool shady place and were experiencing a cool breeze at that height. We could see a wonderful view from there. All the mountains and the valley deep down from where we climbed all the way. Up above the hills darks blue sky without a single white cloud and the green(trees) covered mountains and the cool breeze all the time making us feel not tired no matter what how hard we were making out. Having the joy by viewing the scenic beauty of the valley made us not at all feel tired. Instead motivated us to move further to have lot more of those kind.

















We had our camp at Borja, but we were instructed at the beginning of the day that if our truck could pass through the steepy hill then we can have our camp located at Borja. We reached the camp borja and we could not locate our camps there. Then we came to know that our Van could not make it. From there we walked some more about 3 to 4 kms to the next village KorraGuda.
At this Korraguda village we had our camps located and after reaching the camp we had a good 5 to 6 glasses of welcome juice. Eventhough the juice wasnt a perfect mix, but was tasty because of we being thirsty. And so we all rested at the end of the day. During the night we had some experience shared by Swapnil about his past treks and gave some tips for trekking. Along with Swapnil, Anita mam too joined in giving tips. After a good meal all rested for the next day to begin.

EGT - Day 5

Well we had a good sleep last night. Today it was very cold out in the morning as we were ascending the altitude day by day. After a good breakfast and packed lunch started our journey to Sunkarametta which was at a height of 3642 feet (MSL). This day it was a short trek. It was about 6km trek to Sunkarametta. This day was a special day. Know what it was December 26th Christmas Day. We wished our project director Mr. Ravi a "Merry Christmas" and started to the next camp. This day we started at around 7:40am and we were enjoying all along the way. This time there were no steepy slopes!! All the time we were on plains itself crossing through the fields and descending much of the time.
At a point we can cover the entire view of the valley. All mountains and in between there is a vast plain fields which looks like a gaint football field amongst the boundary walls of the mountains.


Last night Sriram injured his leg at the camp. So he was a bit slow and he was accompanied by Krishh. This day it was nothing much to say. We just walked, kept our pace right from the beginning. We had ups and downs but crossed them all with ease. As of now we became experts in trekking (We feel so).

We reached the camp Sunkarametta at around 10:30am. The place where we camped was also near the village's primary school. Beside the school there was a big old church. By the way that church had an history. It was built at the time of Britishers. At the back of the school there was a vast play ground. As it was a christmas day people from the near by villages were thronging in to the church. It was colorful. All dressed up in new clothes and wishing all the others whoever are in the way. Some of our toop planned to visit Araku and some stayed at the camp. We four planned to walk around the place. At the camp we were having some gala time.
All the kids were playing with little dogs which came from nowhere and were sighted to the eyes of the kids. Some were eating Icecreams some were sharing snaps.
Well at this point we had one of our trekker leave us due to his office work. Ashish was running tight on his work and schedule. So we all did a farewell to him as he left trek unaccomplished.
After lunch we slowly moved into our tents just to have a nap.

Well we were not exactly having a nap but some chitchats as there were huge background NOISE (music) was going on at the church. Later the day we 4 started to move around. We roamed across the Ananthagiri coffee plantations, black pepper plantations.


















After roaming here and there at the sunset time we reached the camp. There we played a bit of cricket. After that we set out to the Sunkarametta village and called up to our parents saying that we are absolutely doing good and not at all recollecting you at this point.

After that everyone by the daybreak reached the camp and after the dinner we had a camp fire. Now this had some fire in the people and there were songs, dances and jokes. With that the day ended.

EGT - Day 6

Ahhhhh! A Very Good morning!! This day was the last day of the trek. From next day onwards we will be back to our routine works and life. But this kind of feeling never came into our minds as we were rearing to chill out as there was a beautiful waterfall in the middle of today's trek. So we were very enthusiastically ready for the waterfall. So as usual we had our breakfast and had our lunch packed for the last time we set out for one more final time.
This time we were accompanied by our field director itself. He guided us like an Hitler through out the day. We reached at a point called Galikonda. The view of that mighty hill resembled me just like an elephants trunk and its head. It was majestic view to have.



From this point onwards we have to descend the hill to reach the waterfalls. The place where this waterfalls was located is called Katiki and hence the name Katiki waterfalls to it. So to reach the Katiki waterfalls we have to climb down the very steepy hill. One step you make a mistake, the other step you will find yourself into the valley. Everystep we have to make should be a very careful step. To this our field director is in no mood to have jokes and was very observant and responsive about the others.



After getting down the hill we find the railway track into the tunnel. We have to cross this railway track along the tunnel. There are chances of train coming at that time. If there is a train then we have to be very careful as there was very small room for us to stay aside of the tracks inside the tunnel. It would be interesting if there was a train at that moment. But luckily there was not any such train. So we crossed the tunnel safely.

Now comes a very narrow walkway which directly takes us to an awesome waterfall. You can only feel the roar of the mighty waterfall. It was breathless view. It was the Nature's canvas with a silky touch spread all over from a height of 50 feet.
Itseems this Katiki waterfall has its source at the Gosthani river. Just at the foot of the waterfall there is a pool kind of space in which the people were getting themselves soaked.
Later the waterfalls we had our lunch session and some people had booked for a ride to Borra caves and the rest came to the base camp in the jeeps.

Well the day has come close and in the evening there were some YHAI dignitaries to give away the certificates to all the participants. Everyone shared about their views and experience of this whole 6 days trek and we all shared our contact numbers.

Out and all the event gave me a rejuvenated mind and was back to the work with great spirits.

Thanks for all of you people who came to this blog and spent some time reading my first adventure.
Thanks once again!!