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Munnar Coimbatore Ooty Ride
Hello all,
Thank you xBhp for making a platform to share my travelling experiences. I am sharing what all I felt. And I am also asking permission of moderator if I can add few pics taken from my last ride to munnar because I couldn’t click much better in this trip.
I am doing my B tech final year- Automobile. And my sweet ride is 2011 kariZma R.
The collected pocket money crossed 3000 rs. Many ideas of spending money came to my mind each day. All faded away with a small span of 1-2 days. But one remained returning to my mind-that urges to ride. Add to this, the illness which caused me to spend days in my bed made my life so alone, uneventful and I broke down mentally. So right after one of my day long sleep, I woke up with a mind to get off home. I took decision and made myself ready to forget everything away and ride away.
It was a 4 day trip on the holidays/weekend of Easter. The night before didn’t go well with my parents. Mom was angry and papa kept on asking- why are you going to munnar, isn’t it dangerous roads there, why do you want to go this during this holy week, what will us tell to church members etc etc.
I woke up at 2 am, struggled to sleep for one more hour, but I overslept. My alarm didn’t ring. It was 5:30 am. Quickly got ready. My parents came out to give me farewell and blessed me. I started rolling at 6:15. I felt so relaxed and felt the freedom of escaping from the civilization.
Reached kollam, called Aswinprakas an xBhpian. He too has a karizma. We chatted for half an hour. Reached alapuzha at 10.30. Met my friend, Father Jose a church priest. I started again with a spiritual mind. Took changanasherry bye pass which is one of the few good parallel roads connecting NH 47 (the longest highway through Kerala) and its State highway. Unlike my usual slow cruising speed of (<60 kmph), I kept an average of 70-80 which seemed nice, comfortable and time saving. But it took more energy stress to concentrate and make quick decisions.
Reached muvattupuzha. From here on, it is a beautiful, nice tarmaced, 90 km twisty stretch until to the top-munnar. The up & down long straights, the cornering edges perfectly blended with the straights … I enjoyed it all. And tried putting those cornering theories into practical field work. At some turns,I was successful and felt satisfied but at some, I failed & came down to this usual thought- I am always the same and cannot become a cornering maniac like some of my friends.
I could feel the winds becoming colder. Took photos of the neat carpeted tea estates. Soon reached munnar. I called my friend sandeep who is studying B tech at munnar govt. engineering college. He is my childhood friend and we used to go for cycling a lot those days. I dumped my saddle bag on his cottage room and returned to munnar city. Today being Maundy/holy Thursday, I wanted to go to church. I reached on time, when the prayers were about to begin. My friend was waiting for me outside. After the prayer, we both roamed around the town. Foreign tourists were less, most of them being North Indians.
Seeing couples & lovers walking with holded hands, happiness reflecting on their faces, I also used to think at times how beautiful/enjoyable it could be if I also happen to be here with a girl. Often I used to get these thoughts while riding and this is what I does – I will hold the tanks tightly with my legs, accelerate a little hard and thinks, For now, my bike is my love-with my back straight, head up and eyes looking far deep onto the open road.
Even in that cosy, comfortable cold night, I couldn’t sleep properly because of excitement & fear leaking out from my programmed mind- to continue moving/travelling. Somewhere I fell asleep with the last thoughts being-get up early, change dress and get onto road.
DAY 2
In the morning, after having a spicy hot puree masala and tea, I bid bye to my friend Sandeep. He left back to the hill station and I started rolling into the wild. Munnar to Coimbatore through chinnar wildlife sanctuary is around 170 kms. This stretch includes many diverse types of vegetation. Moist tea valleys to tall rocky peaks, a wildlife sanctuary of Kerala to vast open dry plains of Tamil Nadu. I saw tea factories, factory workers’ rest rooms/dormitories, and old left out buildings. Female/women workers in tea estates was carrying some types of storing bags on their back-probably for collecting ripe tea leaves. I have been through this road about 8 months before. As I moved forward, memories from my last ride often came to my mind. Then it was monsoon time, everything was wet. Now it’s pleasant, scenic climate in march, spring season. To be honest I loved the first one- the nostalgic charming Nilgiri rain.
I felt happy when I identified few vehicles from my district and more than that I was proud about what those cagers might be thinking of me. I stopped often to get a view of the hills and valleys. More than anything there was that supreme Silence. The only sounds being that of the birds and smooth winds hitting on my ears –trying to whisper something to me. Shifting gear after gear, harnessing the low speed torque, negotiating the corners of those beautiful hills- everything felt so unique and rare experience.
The speed dropped to single digits, a big truck was moving in front. I tailgated him for long and because of a car from opposite direction, the truck stopped to a side, in that chance I overtook him. Unlike the ride through this road 8 months back, I wasn’t having any fear today which meant no excitement. I was going a little fast and aggressive. Because I wanted to reach Coimbatore before or around 5 pm so that I could catch up with prayers at any of the church-today being a Good Friday. Soon reached Kerala- Tamil Nadu check post which is also the beginning of chinnar wildlife sanctuary.
Inside the sanctuary the roads were arrow straight, with the trees coming near to the road at a fixed distance away. Seeing the dry thick exposed roots of big trees, I thought how rarely these trees would be getting water (rain). Later found out that this sanctuary is a rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. It was very dry, hot and I could spot mirages often on the road whenever I looked far. Me coming down from a cold hill station about 2 hours before, felt a little uncomfortable- started sweating inside. But I clearly knew, things will only worsen once I go deeper into Tamil Nadu. But I found a remedy. TN district have very good smooth roads compared to Kerala. So by maintaining a decent pace we can prevent our body & bike’s engine from boiling.
I was riding through that hotness thinking that I was doing something big and that’s when I saw a group of boys and girls probably in their high school uniforms, wandering. I looked closer they were cleaning both sides of the road- collecting the plastic wastes, bottles & covers thrown by Us, tourists passing this sanctuary. Yes I have seen many times even in this trip itself people- civilized & educated opening their car glass windows and throwing out waste onto the roadside. Maybe because we think-oh these roads are isolated. What if I put this small garbage /waste at this corner here? It is this attitude of ours which should be changed- not by law enforcement or anything but from inside of each one of us. ‘We can always carry the plastic or any other wastes in our own vehicles to our home or put in garbage boxes.’
At least those children will have a caring attitude for Nature once they grew up. Some quotes comes to my mind now which I read on boards while riding down from munnar-
“Witness the bloom and recharge”
“The health of hills is the wealth of plains”.
I passed another checkpost, it was open. From now, it is the territory of Tamil Nadu state. To make use of the shortcuts I started asking directions to local people. At a point after asking for direction I was taking a U turn. I didn’t notice a TVS XL, a moped coming from the opposite direction. They didn’t honk, but started making some weird noises. I jammed the front lever. Something hit. I think foot pegs of the moped hit my front tire. Thank god, they didn’t fall, he was able to regain balance because of his low speed. After stopping at a distance they started shouting in their local language. Actually after hitting I didn’t even looked at them, I just zoomed off. I only heard them shouting. Passed a railway cross, I am not sure about was it a NH or SH. It was so rush, hot, dusty and everybody was in a hurry-worry mood. I wondered how the people will react at time of closing of gates. Oh! I passed through.
I joined NH 209 to Coimbatore. I called Lijo bro for directions. I will be staying with him for next 2 days. He is a software engineer and lives in a rented house with 3 of his friends. More than anything, he is a LEH Rider and a senior xbhpian from my place Trivandrum. He will be leading me the next day to Ooty.
Passed pollachi city. The last 20-30 kms before Coimbatore I met with slow moving traffic. It was irritable. I just wanted to reach as soon as possible. Finally entered Coimbatore city at 2pm.called Lijo bro, he was in office. He could come out only after 4 pm. So I thought of having lunch somewhere and spending time at any church. Ate puree masala, drank sugarcane juice, roamed around Coimbatore city, searching for a church. Found one and started praying.
At about 4 pm, lijo bro came and we went to his rented house, chatted for some time. Then Sreejith bro came, he is also a senior xbhpian and a LEH Rider. As per Sreejith bro’s opinion we all decided to go for an English film in a multiplex- ‘Jhango Unchained’. We booked tickets through the internet for night show at 10:30 pm. And in the mean time, I decided to go to church today being Good Friday, and they both went for shopping. I returned at 8, me and sreejith bro went out and bought delicious dinner-chappati, chicken curry, paneer butter masala and pepsi.
At 10 pm, we hired a cab and reached on time for the film. I was seeing a film in a multiplex theatre for the first time. It felt good with super sound effects. After the film, lijo bro put forward the opinion of walking all the way back home, around 6-7 kms. First it sound weird, but I said why not? So we walked through the streets of Coimbatore city at 2 am. After almost half distance, we 3 were tired. So hired another cab and reached home. Even at 3 am in the morning, it was steaming hot inside the house. Add to this, power supply went off just when we lied down, started sweating. But I fell asleep soon maybe because of the tiredness.
Day 3 & Day 4 to follow….
Few pics of day 1 & 2;
Day 3 & Day 4 to follow….
Hello all,
Thank you xBhp for making a platform to share my travelling experiences. I am sharing what all I felt. And I am also asking permission of moderator if I can add few pics taken from my last ride to munnar because I couldn’t click much better in this trip.
I am doing my B tech final year- Automobile. And my sweet ride is 2011 kariZma R.
The collected pocket money crossed 3000 rs. Many ideas of spending money came to my mind each day. All faded away with a small span of 1-2 days. But one remained returning to my mind-that urges to ride. Add to this, the illness which caused me to spend days in my bed made my life so alone, uneventful and I broke down mentally. So right after one of my day long sleep, I woke up with a mind to get off home. I took decision and made myself ready to forget everything away and ride away.
It was a 4 day trip on the holidays/weekend of Easter. The night before didn’t go well with my parents. Mom was angry and papa kept on asking- why are you going to munnar, isn’t it dangerous roads there, why do you want to go this during this holy week, what will us tell to church members etc etc.
I woke up at 2 am, struggled to sleep for one more hour, but I overslept. My alarm didn’t ring. It was 5:30 am. Quickly got ready. My parents came out to give me farewell and blessed me. I started rolling at 6:15. I felt so relaxed and felt the freedom of escaping from the civilization.
Reached kollam, called Aswinprakas an xBhpian. He too has a karizma. We chatted for half an hour. Reached alapuzha at 10.30. Met my friend, Father Jose a church priest. I started again with a spiritual mind. Took changanasherry bye pass which is one of the few good parallel roads connecting NH 47 (the longest highway through Kerala) and its State highway. Unlike my usual slow cruising speed of (<60 kmph), I kept an average of 70-80 which seemed nice, comfortable and time saving. But it took more energy stress to concentrate and make quick decisions.
Reached muvattupuzha. From here on, it is a beautiful, nice tarmaced, 90 km twisty stretch until to the top-munnar. The up & down long straights, the cornering edges perfectly blended with the straights … I enjoyed it all. And tried putting those cornering theories into practical field work. At some turns,I was successful and felt satisfied but at some, I failed & came down to this usual thought- I am always the same and cannot become a cornering maniac like some of my friends.
I could feel the winds becoming colder. Took photos of the neat carpeted tea estates. Soon reached munnar. I called my friend sandeep who is studying B tech at munnar govt. engineering college. He is my childhood friend and we used to go for cycling a lot those days. I dumped my saddle bag on his cottage room and returned to munnar city. Today being Maundy/holy Thursday, I wanted to go to church. I reached on time, when the prayers were about to begin. My friend was waiting for me outside. After the prayer, we both roamed around the town. Foreign tourists were less, most of them being North Indians.
Seeing couples & lovers walking with holded hands, happiness reflecting on their faces, I also used to think at times how beautiful/enjoyable it could be if I also happen to be here with a girl. Often I used to get these thoughts while riding and this is what I does – I will hold the tanks tightly with my legs, accelerate a little hard and thinks, For now, my bike is my love-with my back straight, head up and eyes looking far deep onto the open road.
Even in that cosy, comfortable cold night, I couldn’t sleep properly because of excitement & fear leaking out from my programmed mind- to continue moving/travelling. Somewhere I fell asleep with the last thoughts being-get up early, change dress and get onto road.
DAY 2
In the morning, after having a spicy hot puree masala and tea, I bid bye to my friend Sandeep. He left back to the hill station and I started rolling into the wild. Munnar to Coimbatore through chinnar wildlife sanctuary is around 170 kms. This stretch includes many diverse types of vegetation. Moist tea valleys to tall rocky peaks, a wildlife sanctuary of Kerala to vast open dry plains of Tamil Nadu. I saw tea factories, factory workers’ rest rooms/dormitories, and old left out buildings. Female/women workers in tea estates was carrying some types of storing bags on their back-probably for collecting ripe tea leaves. I have been through this road about 8 months before. As I moved forward, memories from my last ride often came to my mind. Then it was monsoon time, everything was wet. Now it’s pleasant, scenic climate in march, spring season. To be honest I loved the first one- the nostalgic charming Nilgiri rain.
I felt happy when I identified few vehicles from my district and more than that I was proud about what those cagers might be thinking of me. I stopped often to get a view of the hills and valleys. More than anything there was that supreme Silence. The only sounds being that of the birds and smooth winds hitting on my ears –trying to whisper something to me. Shifting gear after gear, harnessing the low speed torque, negotiating the corners of those beautiful hills- everything felt so unique and rare experience.
The speed dropped to single digits, a big truck was moving in front. I tailgated him for long and because of a car from opposite direction, the truck stopped to a side, in that chance I overtook him. Unlike the ride through this road 8 months back, I wasn’t having any fear today which meant no excitement. I was going a little fast and aggressive. Because I wanted to reach Coimbatore before or around 5 pm so that I could catch up with prayers at any of the church-today being a Good Friday. Soon reached Kerala- Tamil Nadu check post which is also the beginning of chinnar wildlife sanctuary.
Inside the sanctuary the roads were arrow straight, with the trees coming near to the road at a fixed distance away. Seeing the dry thick exposed roots of big trees, I thought how rarely these trees would be getting water (rain). Later found out that this sanctuary is a rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. It was very dry, hot and I could spot mirages often on the road whenever I looked far. Me coming down from a cold hill station about 2 hours before, felt a little uncomfortable- started sweating inside. But I clearly knew, things will only worsen once I go deeper into Tamil Nadu. But I found a remedy. TN district have very good smooth roads compared to Kerala. So by maintaining a decent pace we can prevent our body & bike’s engine from boiling.
I was riding through that hotness thinking that I was doing something big and that’s when I saw a group of boys and girls probably in their high school uniforms, wandering. I looked closer they were cleaning both sides of the road- collecting the plastic wastes, bottles & covers thrown by Us, tourists passing this sanctuary. Yes I have seen many times even in this trip itself people- civilized & educated opening their car glass windows and throwing out waste onto the roadside. Maybe because we think-oh these roads are isolated. What if I put this small garbage /waste at this corner here? It is this attitude of ours which should be changed- not by law enforcement or anything but from inside of each one of us. ‘We can always carry the plastic or any other wastes in our own vehicles to our home or put in garbage boxes.’
At least those children will have a caring attitude for Nature once they grew up. Some quotes comes to my mind now which I read on boards while riding down from munnar-
“Witness the bloom and recharge”
“The health of hills is the wealth of plains”.
I passed another checkpost, it was open. From now, it is the territory of Tamil Nadu state. To make use of the shortcuts I started asking directions to local people. At a point after asking for direction I was taking a U turn. I didn’t notice a TVS XL, a moped coming from the opposite direction. They didn’t honk, but started making some weird noises. I jammed the front lever. Something hit. I think foot pegs of the moped hit my front tire. Thank god, they didn’t fall, he was able to regain balance because of his low speed. After stopping at a distance they started shouting in their local language. Actually after hitting I didn’t even looked at them, I just zoomed off. I only heard them shouting. Passed a railway cross, I am not sure about was it a NH or SH. It was so rush, hot, dusty and everybody was in a hurry-worry mood. I wondered how the people will react at time of closing of gates. Oh! I passed through.
I joined NH 209 to Coimbatore. I called Lijo bro for directions. I will be staying with him for next 2 days. He is a software engineer and lives in a rented house with 3 of his friends. More than anything, he is a LEH Rider and a senior xbhpian from my place Trivandrum. He will be leading me the next day to Ooty.
Passed pollachi city. The last 20-30 kms before Coimbatore I met with slow moving traffic. It was irritable. I just wanted to reach as soon as possible. Finally entered Coimbatore city at 2pm.called Lijo bro, he was in office. He could come out only after 4 pm. So I thought of having lunch somewhere and spending time at any church. Ate puree masala, drank sugarcane juice, roamed around Coimbatore city, searching for a church. Found one and started praying.
At about 4 pm, lijo bro came and we went to his rented house, chatted for some time. Then Sreejith bro came, he is also a senior xbhpian and a LEH Rider. As per Sreejith bro’s opinion we all decided to go for an English film in a multiplex- ‘Jhango Unchained’. We booked tickets through the internet for night show at 10:30 pm. And in the mean time, I decided to go to church today being Good Friday, and they both went for shopping. I returned at 8, me and sreejith bro went out and bought delicious dinner-chappati, chicken curry, paneer butter masala and pepsi.
At 10 pm, we hired a cab and reached on time for the film. I was seeing a film in a multiplex theatre for the first time. It felt good with super sound effects. After the film, lijo bro put forward the opinion of walking all the way back home, around 6-7 kms. First it sound weird, but I said why not? So we walked through the streets of Coimbatore city at 2 am. After almost half distance, we 3 were tired. So hired another cab and reached home. Even at 3 am in the morning, it was steaming hot inside the house. Add to this, power supply went off just when we lied down, started sweating. But I fell asleep soon maybe because of the tiredness.
Day 3 & Day 4 to follow….
Few pics of day 1 & 2;
Day 3 & Day 4 to follow….
. keep it coming, bro!
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