Unplanned journey was a reverie because I felt it will
thrill me and I always felt “Life is nothing but facing expected and unexpected
challenges”.
One fine Saturday evening at 4.30PM, Gathered in Bangalore
railway station with 2 other college friends, with full of energy to do
something new and interesting. Directly we saw the train list and selected a
place “Marikuppam”. We din had any idea about the place; In the present world
it would be very easy to get the sound information about the place because we
had GPRS, GPS etc. But we dint want to know the information. Knowing everything
is unnecessary —
Discovery is a better teacher than a guidebook. Where you
actually end up — and when, and how — is usually irrelevant to the experience
you have on the way. We took the ticket for 3 of us and the cost was Rs 45.
We could envisage that place will be around 3 hrs away. We took a Marikuppam
passenger train which was at 6PM and it took around two and half hours to reach
the destination. Once we reached we realized that it was in Kolar district. We
saw a beautiful line inviting us saying “No Trains available on Sunday “. We
asked the people in Marikuppam station what is places to visit nearby, they
told KGF gold mines and kotilingeshwara temple. Since it was night 8.30PM we
dint take a chance because both the places will be closed. We travelled back on
the same train with ticket price Rs3 per head and reached the place
“Bangarupet”.
 |
| In deep discussion!!! |
Again it’s time to decide our next destination we checked
train list, we were open minded to go any palce and reach by Sunday night 8. We
had option to go to Kanyakumari , Mysore ,Chennai, and the final decision was
to travel chennai and took the tickets for Chennai.
 |
| Tower Clock, Bangarupet |
The train time was 11:45 pm
and we had 2 more hours to be spent in Bangarupet and to have our dinner. Had a
very tasty hot parota roll.
We decided
to go to Marina beach as well once we reach Chennai.
 |
| Party Time |
It is bittersweet experience and we were ready for that
also, Indian Railways arrived Punctually in time but general compartment was so fully
crowded and couldn’t get in, I tried hanging on the door step ,and 2 of my
friends were standing in platform and staring at me, one of my friend shouted at me, because it is not short
distance and risky . Later I was thankful to him for saving my life. Also made
an attempt to get on to sleeper, TT was waiting for us in sleeper within
seconds he kicked us out of train.
But with lots of optimism, that we should go to Chennai we
waited for next train with bashing cold but we had blankets as well as jackets
also cup of Chai Chai. The train was at 1.45AM it was a time for train for our
second attempt, and again general compartment was packed heavily, but this time
were successful in getting into sleeper compartment. Had slight fear about
getting caught by TC for some time.
 |
| Long Nap |
Next to stinking toilet we were on the
dirty floor still kind of god feeling like we have achieved something, as
expected TT came and caught us, as decided we all made innocent face and told
him story about interview(The BluffMasters) , he asked us to get
down of train initially later asked us to
move to next compartment. We moved to other compartments and found there is one
more TT waiting for us, so after some discussion we went back and occupied the
same old place.
 |
| Madras University Senate House |
Couldn’t have a sound sleep but still myself managed to take a
nap. Finally 7:15AM after almost 8 hours of journey we were in chennai !!!
“Not all those who wander are lost” YEAH!!
Booked return tickets to Bangalore, the train was at 1:30PM which gave us
around 6 hours of time in Chennai. Started our safari in Chennai looking for
sastha hotel for bath and etc, we had lip-smacking Kalai(breakfast) Masaladosa,
Pongal, Idlyvada and coffee.
 |
| Marina Beach |
Resuming our journey heading straight away to Marina
beach by auto, beaches reminds me about the homely feeling because I have grown
up and have a bonding towards the sea, spent some time and we started walking
around the streets of Chennai, Looking at the beautiful classical and colonial
European styled buildings, lining the city’s thoroughfares. Madras University,
Anna Square, Victory war Memorial, Senate House etc was in our view.
 |
| Anna Square |
Returned
early to station just to get a seat on return journey. Meantime I realized one
thing from the journeys,
“Language is the powerful tool”. We had railway pantry
food for sapad(Lunch) and everybody fell asleep for quiet a sometime and
finally reached Bangalore cantonment station than headed to respective planned
destination this time
;);).
“A good traveler has
no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”- Lao Tzu
