5,6 October 1997 (Sun, Mon)
The 2-day tour to Jungle Lodges & Resorts on the banks of River Kabini was to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the founding of HP CSY's (Consumer Systems) R & D Labs in Bangalore.
There were around 110 of us (Engineers and their families inclusive) split by alphabetical order into 4 35-seaters.
Though scheduled to depart at "exactly" 6.30 AM on 5th Oct. (Sun), the trip started only by 8.15 AM due to a very important reason - the non-arrival of food! (I'm sure all agree that that was a justifiable delay!)
The breakfast from Kadhambam (familiar place to Bangaloreans, especially from Jayanagar) consisted of 2 idlies, pongal and kesari and was really tasty. It was neatly packed and hence eaten in the moving bus. Let me make it clear at the outset, that we were well stocked for eatables (& "drinkables") throughout the tour, which were consumed at regular intervals of time!
The RTOs had no better business on a peaceful Sunday morning than halt our buses for a few minutes. (I don't know what transpired) This happened twice. It was 1215 when we took a break at Mysore for coffee. A small playground (containing swings, slide) amused the children so much that they had to be dragged from the place.
So onwards to the Resorts. It didn't take long before beginning antakshari. In our bus, we'd hard core professionals in Prakash and Rakesh who kept the whole bus entertained during the ride. I don't have to add that they were ably supported by several others, including the wives of several engineers.
Antakshari turned to Miming as our bus negotiated several twists and turns on a bumpy ride to our destination. But finally we reached it - at 2.45 PM, in time for a well-earned lunch. The lunch was served outdoors on the banks of the river. It's a scenic spot. Monkeys scampered here and there, but the nets kept them out of the food.
It was soon time for the much-awaited safari. There stood 6-7 open jeeps. Now you must be wondering - going out into the jungle unarmed in open jeeps? This is exactly what most of us did, except for a few who preferred the closed means of travel - by small buses.
The safari was the highlight of the whole tour. It began at 4.30 PM. While a convoy of jeeps started out, they split en route. Each went into the jungle through a different entry point. The jeeps crisscrossed the narrow trails in the jungle. I was in the jeep which had Jim and Winston, Santhosh, Gram, his son, and Devaki's children. (This information is for cross-checking the narration which follows, if required!)
During the first 30 min. we didn't have any fruitful encounters (unless meeting the occupants of other jeeps can be considered!). We climbed atop a "watch tower" but had no better luck.
On resumption we spotted the spotted deers. But they were really swift and took to the woods at the sight of the jeep. But we did manage to photograph a few of them (hopefully! I haven't developed mine yet!).
Then it was the turn of bisons. Now bisons adopted a don't-care attitude to our visit. A male bison weighing 2k pounds (according to our driver) was the star attraction, surrounded by a host of female bisons. They stared disdainfully at us while chewing on the grass (or whatever they were having!)
It began to get dark as the time neared 6.15 PM. The stage was set for the high point of our tour. This was when we accosted a herd of wild elephants. All but one baby elephant (Winston doesn't believe it was a "baby" in any sense of the term!) were on one side of the trail. The lonely elephant on the other side, which appeared restless, finally decided to give us a scare and charged at us. It was a shocking moment. On one hand it gave a chance to take photos at close quarters. On the other we were yelling for the driver to take off! It was over in a flash as the elephant decided it had scared us enough and turned its back to us.
After this adventure, the meeting of sambars (as shy as the spotted deers, they ran before we could even see them properly) appeared uneventful, and before it got too dark (6.30) we came out of the jungle. Back to the resorts we rode. Once there, it was time for the formal anniversary speeches and recognitions. Subbu, Jim and Winston had their say and finally the CSY engineers were recognised for their valuable services. (Gopi bagged the MVP award - no it's not Most Vocal Person; it's Most Valuable Player of the team!)
The kids were given some gifts. Gram and Venu disturbed the slumbering wild animals in the forests with their music. Then it was dinner time, followed by nap. (The worshippers of Bacchus did have their share of the fun, from what I heard!)
We were allotted tents. Now you must be chuckling. Serves them right. They must have had a sleepless night, cold, shivering with the mosquitoes having a tasty meal of them. It was anything but that.
The tents we were allotted had concrete foundation and a roof over the tent material. It contained a couple of cots with nice beds and blankets. There were a couple of bedside lamps on either side, a chest of drawers, a couple of bottles of mineral water, an umbrella (in case of rain), a large candle and torch (in case of power failure), the famous Tortoise mosquito coils, and a table fan. The tent itself was protected by a net which prevented the mosquitoes from establishing blood relationship with us! The facilities extended to the toilet/bathroom as well. I shared the tent with Murali and Umakanth and was asleep in no time.
The next morning's schedule had a safari at 6.30 AM and we were all set for it. This time also I found myself in the same jeep as Jim and Winston, though the other occupants were different. But the safari was rather uneventful, except for the sighting of a few peacocks and "langurs". We also renewed our acquaintance with the bisons whom we'd met yesterday.
After the jeep-ride, it was time for a boat ride over the placid waters of Kabini. It was a change from the routine mode of travel (by land) and was enjoyable. We didn't meet any crocodiles (or anaconda in case any one's interested!)
Breakfast followed and then a period of leisure activities in which different people plunged in, in different ways. Some took to the bed for an hour's nap, while a group engaged in a "match" with frisbees. Children had their parallel games too.
The time stretched till lunch which was a near repeat of the previous day. While Jim seemed to enjoy his food, the same couldn't be told about Winston. It was time to make a move, which we did at 2.45 PM, bidding goodbye to the jungle friends whom we'd formed during the trip.
The return journey was routine except for a break at Maddur for the famous Maddur vadas & coffee. Antakshari began in full swing which finally culminated in vande mataram and jana gana mana as the bus reached HP at 8.30 PM.