The AE Offsite
Our “Magma AE” team trip was one jinxed project…. Initial plans were to do it in the month of dec, but dec came & went, jan came & went & yet the trip was nowhere close to happening. Finally crossed fingers & toes did the job. The date was set for the last weekend of feb. The last two weeks of feb flew past with the travel booking, resort reservations. The last minute shopping was a difficult one with both myself & Arpan having no idea how much of snacks & booze a group of 20 could consume. Some estimation & hoping junta would not be too hungry post dinner we loaded our shopping trolleys. After all the planning we finally set out on the nite of 25 Feb, 2005. A busload of 22 all geared for the 12 hour long drive. After lots of dancing & a good amount of sleep we reached dandeli at 11 am on the 26th. We had one pit stop for tea and another for bfast at dharwad. I must accept my first impression of the Jungle lodges & resorts was not too good, it did not look like the pics on their site that I had been drooling over the past few months. Luckily for me “first impressions need not be the best”, the rooms & the tents were really good. I luved the tents. They are erected on these cement platforms and are completely furnished.
After a round of freshening up & a great bfast (Second round for gluts like me) we set out exploring the resort premises. They have about 12 tents & 12 rooms all done up neatly. Then we went coracle (round boats) riding. After a heavy lunch we set out to do what we had gone there for “white water rafting”. Reached the startpoint after a one hour drive. There were about 40 people and we were split into groups of 7-8. then we were given the rafting gear (a helmet, a paddle & the best & most important life jackets). We then got into the boats. Initial instructions involved the basic set of commands the instructor would use & a sample of a rescue event if anyone should fall off. All these preps did scare me a little bit. But trust me the river kali stretch is not too dangerous & there is very little scope of “man/woman overboard”. We were told to look at the photographer & smile at the first rapid if we wanted good pics as mementoes. Then we set out. It was toooooooo good. 14kms & two hours of one of the best times of my life. Along stretches where the current was not too strong we were allowed to jump & paddle in the water (pure luxury). I did not want it to end. It truly was an experience I’ll never ever forget.
Then got back to base camp. After a wash it was time for what any trip is incomplete. A bonfire & daaru & loads of yum snacks. All talli junta started off on major discussions on life & philosophy, which I was too talli to comprehend or participate. Heard from the sober folks that it was interesting matter. Then time to hit the sack. Slept like an angel.
Another new day, woke up at 5am for the jungle safari. Did the mistake of forgetting my jacket & hence had to endure the morning chill. This was not the season so we did not see any interesting wild animals (excluding the ones with whom I had set out from blore jungle). Checked out Kavala caves where a few stalagmite formations have been interpreted as shiv ling. Tiring climb of around 300 steps to get back from there.
Back to base camp & one more session of bfasting. Then we went to shallow waters & splashed around (me tried the little bit of swimming that I know). I just luv those transparent waters. Was the first one in & the last one out. Had a great time at the cost of a lovely tan (consoling myself now that dusky skin is the IN thing). Returned to the resort & pigged out on a sumptuous lunch. The way the magma guys were attacking the watermelons I think they will not let us in on the buffet the next time. After lunch we initially planned on checking out syntheri rocks but majority of junta were too tired so we settled in for a beautiful siesta. Started back for ‘home sweet home’ at around 6 in the evening.
All in all this was a great experience. For more info check out
http://www.junglelodges.com/resort_overview.asp?resort=Kali
In case u r planning also try the waterfall rappelling they have to offer. We could not do it coz the guy who was in charge was on vacation.
Our “Magma AE” team trip was one jinxed project…. Initial plans were to do it in the month of dec, but dec came & went, jan came & went & yet the trip was nowhere close to happening. Finally crossed fingers & toes did the job. The date was set for the last weekend of feb. The last two weeks of feb flew past with the travel booking, resort reservations. The last minute shopping was a difficult one with both myself & Arpan having no idea how much of snacks & booze a group of 20 could consume. Some estimation & hoping junta would not be too hungry post dinner we loaded our shopping trolleys. After all the planning we finally set out on the nite of 25 Feb, 2005. A busload of 22 all geared for the 12 hour long drive. After lots of dancing & a good amount of sleep we reached dandeli at 11 am on the 26th. We had one pit stop for tea and another for bfast at dharwad. I must accept my first impression of the Jungle lodges & resorts was not too good, it did not look like the pics on their site that I had been drooling over the past few months. Luckily for me “first impressions need not be the best”, the rooms & the tents were really good. I luved the tents. They are erected on these cement platforms and are completely furnished.
After a round of freshening up & a great bfast (Second round for gluts like me) we set out exploring the resort premises. They have about 12 tents & 12 rooms all done up neatly. Then we went coracle (round boats) riding. After a heavy lunch we set out to do what we had gone there for “white water rafting”. Reached the startpoint after a one hour drive. There were about 40 people and we were split into groups of 7-8. then we were given the rafting gear (a helmet, a paddle & the best & most important life jackets). We then got into the boats. Initial instructions involved the basic set of commands the instructor would use & a sample of a rescue event if anyone should fall off. All these preps did scare me a little bit. But trust me the river kali stretch is not too dangerous & there is very little scope of “man/woman overboard”. We were told to look at the photographer & smile at the first rapid if we wanted good pics as mementoes. Then we set out. It was toooooooo good. 14kms & two hours of one of the best times of my life. Along stretches where the current was not too strong we were allowed to jump & paddle in the water (pure luxury). I did not want it to end. It truly was an experience I’ll never ever forget.
Then got back to base camp. After a wash it was time for what any trip is incomplete. A bonfire & daaru & loads of yum snacks. All talli junta started off on major discussions on life & philosophy, which I was too talli to comprehend or participate. Heard from the sober folks that it was interesting matter. Then time to hit the sack. Slept like an angel.
Another new day, woke up at 5am for the jungle safari. Did the mistake of forgetting my jacket & hence had to endure the morning chill. This was not the season so we did not see any interesting wild animals (excluding the ones with whom I had set out from blore jungle). Checked out Kavala caves where a few stalagmite formations have been interpreted as shiv ling. Tiring climb of around 300 steps to get back from there.
Back to base camp & one more session of bfasting. Then we went to shallow waters & splashed around (me tried the little bit of swimming that I know). I just luv those transparent waters. Was the first one in & the last one out. Had a great time at the cost of a lovely tan (consoling myself now that dusky skin is the IN thing). Returned to the resort & pigged out on a sumptuous lunch. The way the magma guys were attacking the watermelons I think they will not let us in on the buffet the next time. After lunch we initially planned on checking out syntheri rocks but majority of junta were too tired so we settled in for a beautiful siesta. Started back for ‘home sweet home’ at around 6 in the evening.
All in all this was a great experience. For more info check out
http://www.junglelodges.com/resort_overview.asp?resort=Kali
In case u r planning also try the waterfall rappelling they have to offer. We could not do it coz the guy who was in charge was on vacation.
1 comment:
come on.. you have gone to enough places this year to fill this space!
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