Once again it was that time of the year when a Friday was about to seep into a weekend quietly. Friday the 14th August, 2009 being an optional holiday, I found too less takers for that on my usual friends circle. So, I was standing on 13th August, 2009 (Thursday), and was still debating as to whether or not I was game enough to travel alone. It was late in the afternoon, when I still happened to have the debate going inside, I noticed my Manager wading his way into my cubicle. This does not happen to be a very normal procedure, so I got quite engrossed in the work that I was doing. So after he landed, and I got surprised suddenly noticing him, and then exchanging the formal pleasantries , he went on to speak (at-length), as to how much he felt bored when he happened to get a big weekend during his bachelor life, as to now he has a family of his own so things don't happen to be same anymore, though he wished that he could get them back. He then casually asked as to what I was doing the next day. Suddenly, I could feel my indecisive nature vanishing away leaving instead a new me(!), who was quite sure that he will not enjoy seeing himself working in the office the next day, and that ME blurted out that I was about to leave on a trip, that I had already packed my bags, and I had to leave in some time to catch my bus, which I supposed was already waiting for me (All of which, by the way, was true!). He seemed quite amazed as to I was travelling alone, but wished me luck nonetheless for my journey. I forgot to say that day, but I wanted to thank him in earnest for that ;) .
So there I was, standing in the ever-crowded Majestic Bus Junction, hoping not to catch swine flu as it happened to be the flavor of the season, and waiting for my bus to take me to Jog falls after an over-night bus journey. The Government by then had advised against any sort of human gathering to avoid the spread of swine-flu, but some things are better said than implemented. I could see virtually a sea of people from all caste, tribe, ethnicity who were united with only two common things - their swine-flu mask and their fear for it. Somebody said something about Unity in Diversity ? Well, I thought so too. I hadn't decided on the itineary as such, only had arranged for a KSRTC Airabath one-way ticket to Jog Falls, rest all, as always, I thought will fall in place. Finally my bus was in sight, and I decided for my tired soul who was craving for some rest by then. So I decided to pull in the sheets and close my eyes.
Finally I opened my eyes at about 6am and was clueless as to where I was. I decided enquiring against it, and said fervent prayer as to my destination should not be already left behind. At about 6:30am the bus conductor announced that Jog Falls was approaching and I got ready with my belongings.
Unlike my expectation Jog Falls happened to be a small pit-stop for the bus, where it just dropped myself and went away. I had to pay a Rs2/- ticket to go inside a surrounding from where Jog Falls could be seen up-front.
Jog Falls was'nt in its majestic best, and as later one of my friends commeneted on seeing the pictures that I could have well taken a picture of my bathroom shower instead, but the quiteness of the place was in stark contrast to the hustle-bustle of the Bangalore city life.
I sat there savouring the sweet succes of proving myself that I happened to be game enough to travel alone.
It was one of those places where you realize, that for a change your mobile phone is just an useless weight in your pockets, and the world-wide-web is yet to grasp you in. All the highly advanced communication equipments fail in trying to place a call to you, and put their hands up and say 'I Cant!' and return an 'unreachable' message instead. There happens to a distance of 300 odd kms between you and your official address. You realize that the world is not so small after all and there's enough room for you to get lost. Working for a telecommunication giant, such kind of realizations do set in rarely.
I looked for a place to freshen myself up, but I only found a small restaurant to do the needful. So i skipped freshing up, instead attended my nature's call ( here they offer you paid coupes to do that work, with enough space to wriggle oneself in, and a tap that will make you an ardent/fervant admirer of the 'Save Water' campaign! ).
I got hold of a guide ( frankly, it was the otherwise! ), who agreed to show me some more spots for about a sum of Rs150/- in an auto, which I later found I could well have walked. He took me for a ride (quite literally!), and made me saw the Jog falls in its different avatars ( read Raja, Rani, Rocket ), the different names given to different falls which together comprise of the Jog falls.
It was only later that I found that there were regular steps which will take you to the bottom of the falls, but I decided to be content with what the top of the waterfall had to offer, which comprised of a small lake (kind-of), and a spine-chilling view of the water rushing down from the top to all the way down for the brave-hearts to venture into. I found people taking a dip into the water, and could not stop myself cooling my heels ( again, quite literally! ) in the water.
So there I was, standing in the ever-crowded Majestic Bus Junction, hoping not to catch swine flu as it happened to be the flavor of the season, and waiting for my bus to take me to Jog falls after an over-night bus journey. The Government by then had advised against any sort of human gathering to avoid the spread of swine-flu, but some things are better said than implemented. I could see virtually a sea of people from all caste, tribe, ethnicity who were united with only two common things - their swine-flu mask and their fear for it. Somebody said something about Unity in Diversity ? Well, I thought so too. I hadn't decided on the itineary as such, only had arranged for a KSRTC Airabath one-way ticket to Jog Falls, rest all, as always, I thought will fall in place. Finally my bus was in sight, and I decided for my tired soul who was craving for some rest by then. So I decided to pull in the sheets and close my eyes.
Finally I opened my eyes at about 6am and was clueless as to where I was. I decided enquiring against it, and said fervent prayer as to my destination should not be already left behind. At about 6:30am the bus conductor announced that Jog Falls was approaching and I got ready with my belongings.
Unlike my expectation Jog Falls happened to be a small pit-stop for the bus, where it just dropped myself and went away. I had to pay a Rs2/- ticket to go inside a surrounding from where Jog Falls could be seen up-front.
Jog Falls was'nt in its majestic best, and as later one of my friends commeneted on seeing the pictures that I could have well taken a picture of my bathroom shower instead, but the quiteness of the place was in stark contrast to the hustle-bustle of the Bangalore city life.
I sat there savouring the sweet succes of proving myself that I happened to be game enough to travel alone.
It was one of those places where you realize, that for a change your mobile phone is just an useless weight in your pockets, and the world-wide-web is yet to grasp you in. All the highly advanced communication equipments fail in trying to place a call to you, and put their hands up and say 'I Cant!' and return an 'unreachable' message instead. There happens to a distance of 300 odd kms between you and your official address. You realize that the world is not so small after all and there's enough room for you to get lost. Working for a telecommunication giant, such kind of realizations do set in rarely.
I looked for a place to freshen myself up, but I only found a small restaurant to do the needful. So i skipped freshing up, instead attended my nature's call ( here they offer you paid coupes to do that work, with enough space to wriggle oneself in, and a tap that will make you an ardent/fervant admirer of the 'Save Water' campaign! ).
I got hold of a guide ( frankly, it was the otherwise! ), who agreed to show me some more spots for about a sum of Rs150/- in an auto, which I later found I could well have walked. He took me for a ride (quite literally!), and made me saw the Jog falls in its different avatars ( read Raja, Rani, Rocket ), the different names given to different falls which together comprise of the Jog falls.
It was only later that I found that there were regular steps which will take you to the bottom of the falls, but I decided to be content with what the top of the waterfall had to offer, which comprised of a small lake (kind-of), and a spine-chilling view of the water rushing down from the top to all the way down for the brave-hearts to venture into. I found people taking a dip into the water, and could not stop myself cooling my heels ( again, quite literally! ) in the water.
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