Two boys at the waterfalls
Having done many road trips with classmates, friends, girl friend, wife, colleagues and acquaintances, one wondered if one could still experience the thrill of discovery at places one had already been to. This time the company was a five year old who was going on a road trip for the first time. The only small concern was that in his previous trips he was used to a lot of comfort and stays in luxurious accommodations. One hoped that he could cope this time in a different setting.
By preparing a packing list, the little one (will refer to him as Rock) ensured that I packed every bit of his stuff. Had to use all my negotiations skills to see that his soft toys don’t come with us for a 2-night trip away from home. The night we were to leave, it rained a lot. The train was to arrive at Cinderella’s time and I was wondering how to keep the boy awake till that time. Actually, he was excited like never before, due to the simple fact that he was allowed to be awake at that hour. The thrill for him was that the fact his mother had agreed for him to go without any fuss or detailed instructions. His joy knew no bounds.
Off we went to Malleswaram railway station in the still of the night to board Shimoga express. The train stops for a minute at the station. When it stopped, the door to the compartment was closed and no one opened it. We hopped into the guard’s bogie to the great excitement of Rock, till the next station. It was way past midnight when we finally got to our seat and dozed off even before I could say good night. It was a journey of 280 kms. We had to catch a bus thereafter for another 90 Kms to reach Jog Falls. We reached Shimoga Town at 6.40 am.
It was a lazy morning with post rains hangover and the skies had a dreamy hue. Rock woke up to hear the last blast of the horn and bustle of people rushing to get off the train. We came out of the railway station to catch the bus some ten minutes away. Freshened up on the way and hit a cozy café for breakfast bang in front of the town bus stand. Rock objected to the word “town” because I used the same for Bangalore too. Rock is too young to know why I keep referring to Bangalore as a town (with big city trappings). If he is destined to grow up in this town, he will definitely know.
Post breakfast, we got into a bus to reach our destination. Once we got cozy, seeing the rush of greenery-littered-with-high-tension-wires go past the windows, Rock dozed off burying himself under the windcheater. It was a pleasant ride with just enough sun to remove the gloomy haze surrounding the terrain. The only sound was that of the wind. This idyll got interrupted when the TV was switched on. But this still didn’t wake Rock.
It was half past noon when we got off at the entrance to Jog Falls. Rock was wide-awake, his running nose and lack of sleep forgotten, full of excitement in those mischievous eyes. Once you go past the gate, the wonder appears in full splendour. The majesty of the four waterfalls aptly named Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani commands all your attention. According to Rock, each part of the waterfalls had a distinct character. One went straight down, one made lot of noise, one was wide and uninterrupted and one was beautiful. The rush falling almost 1000 feet made pure symphony. Since we had come just after the monsoon, the falls had reduced in intensity and quantity. But here was Mother Nature’s wonderful creation, which calmed us and made us rejoice.
Rock went gaga over the falls and fired a million questions as to source of the water, height of the falls etc. Having a spent an hour at the head of the falls, we decided to venture to the foot of the falls. Suddenly there was a rush of adrenaline in the two boys who felt that this was their kingdom to explore. We descended about a quarter of the way, when I thought that it would be tough on the way back to manage the backpack and the little one. So we returned to the top. Rock was all pepped up and felt elated at having walked up and down the gorge.
Rock took a quick horseride and we were ready for lunch. Lunch consisted of dosas and maggi noodles. We found a shady place under one of the trees facing the falls, to lie down staring at the once clear blue sky now covered with rain clouds. Reminded me of Under the Greenwood tree….
Then we hired an autorickshaw for the next 90 minutes for a joyride around the falls. This ride took us to some vantage points from which we could see the waterfalls closely. One view that was just above the falls was breathtaking. As advised by his mom, Rock kept cautioning me now and then, “be careful” “don’t bend and see” to which I happily agreed. The trip was good, exploring the waterfalls from a child’s viewpoint. As a learning for Rock that nature’s power can be harnessed, we take a look at the turbines at the nearby power station.
During the entire exploration, we were transported into another world, where there were just the two of us, with no time limits or urgency to go anywhere. As evening fell, we assembled under a bandstand shelter and spread ourselves on a bench oblivious to everything/ everyone around us. We were lying (again) and gazing at the falls. All of a sudden, the weather changed. Gone was the sunlight and the skies opened up, much to our joy. It rained heavily and a misty white blanket engulfed the waterfalls. The next two hours were spent gazing at the pouring rain and singing some nursery rhymes. We ran to the nearest shack to grab a hot cuppa, once the rains slowed down. Then we meandered around the bus stand waiting for the bus to go back home. By this time, the tired little one wanted to be held.
At around 1930 hours, our bus came from the dam nearby. We got into that bus and sped off into the pouring rain down the hills.
This trip was a new experience where a boy discovered lot of things about nature, water and the world around him. And the father learnt about how one can work calmly with his child and get him to do things in an organized manner, while both are enjoying the trip. It was also childhood revisited for me when I saw the rain, hills, and waterfalls through the eyes of a child without a care in the world. Well it is good to grow up but why lose the child in you.
By preparing a packing list, the little one (will refer to him as Rock) ensured that I packed every bit of his stuff. Had to use all my negotiations skills to see that his soft toys don’t come with us for a 2-night trip away from home. The night we were to leave, it rained a lot. The train was to arrive at Cinderella’s time and I was wondering how to keep the boy awake till that time. Actually, he was excited like never before, due to the simple fact that he was allowed to be awake at that hour. The thrill for him was that the fact his mother had agreed for him to go without any fuss or detailed instructions. His joy knew no bounds.
Off we went to Malleswaram railway station in the still of the night to board Shimoga express. The train stops for a minute at the station. When it stopped, the door to the compartment was closed and no one opened it. We hopped into the guard’s bogie to the great excitement of Rock, till the next station. It was way past midnight when we finally got to our seat and dozed off even before I could say good night. It was a journey of 280 kms. We had to catch a bus thereafter for another 90 Kms to reach Jog Falls. We reached Shimoga Town at 6.40 am.
It was a lazy morning with post rains hangover and the skies had a dreamy hue. Rock woke up to hear the last blast of the horn and bustle of people rushing to get off the train. We came out of the railway station to catch the bus some ten minutes away. Freshened up on the way and hit a cozy café for breakfast bang in front of the town bus stand. Rock objected to the word “town” because I used the same for Bangalore too. Rock is too young to know why I keep referring to Bangalore as a town (with big city trappings). If he is destined to grow up in this town, he will definitely know.
Post breakfast, we got into a bus to reach our destination. Once we got cozy, seeing the rush of greenery-littered-with-high-tension-wires go past the windows, Rock dozed off burying himself under the windcheater. It was a pleasant ride with just enough sun to remove the gloomy haze surrounding the terrain. The only sound was that of the wind. This idyll got interrupted when the TV was switched on. But this still didn’t wake Rock.
It was half past noon when we got off at the entrance to Jog Falls. Rock was wide-awake, his running nose and lack of sleep forgotten, full of excitement in those mischievous eyes. Once you go past the gate, the wonder appears in full splendour. The majesty of the four waterfalls aptly named Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani commands all your attention. According to Rock, each part of the waterfalls had a distinct character. One went straight down, one made lot of noise, one was wide and uninterrupted and one was beautiful. The rush falling almost 1000 feet made pure symphony. Since we had come just after the monsoon, the falls had reduced in intensity and quantity. But here was Mother Nature’s wonderful creation, which calmed us and made us rejoice.
Rock went gaga over the falls and fired a million questions as to source of the water, height of the falls etc. Having a spent an hour at the head of the falls, we decided to venture to the foot of the falls. Suddenly there was a rush of adrenaline in the two boys who felt that this was their kingdom to explore. We descended about a quarter of the way, when I thought that it would be tough on the way back to manage the backpack and the little one. So we returned to the top. Rock was all pepped up and felt elated at having walked up and down the gorge.
Rock took a quick horseride and we were ready for lunch. Lunch consisted of dosas and maggi noodles. We found a shady place under one of the trees facing the falls, to lie down staring at the once clear blue sky now covered with rain clouds. Reminded me of Under the Greenwood tree….
Then we hired an autorickshaw for the next 90 minutes for a joyride around the falls. This ride took us to some vantage points from which we could see the waterfalls closely. One view that was just above the falls was breathtaking. As advised by his mom, Rock kept cautioning me now and then, “be careful” “don’t bend and see” to which I happily agreed. The trip was good, exploring the waterfalls from a child’s viewpoint. As a learning for Rock that nature’s power can be harnessed, we take a look at the turbines at the nearby power station.
During the entire exploration, we were transported into another world, where there were just the two of us, with no time limits or urgency to go anywhere. As evening fell, we assembled under a bandstand shelter and spread ourselves on a bench oblivious to everything/ everyone around us. We were lying (again) and gazing at the falls. All of a sudden, the weather changed. Gone was the sunlight and the skies opened up, much to our joy. It rained heavily and a misty white blanket engulfed the waterfalls. The next two hours were spent gazing at the pouring rain and singing some nursery rhymes. We ran to the nearest shack to grab a hot cuppa, once the rains slowed down. Then we meandered around the bus stand waiting for the bus to go back home. By this time, the tired little one wanted to be held.
At around 1930 hours, our bus came from the dam nearby. We got into that bus and sped off into the pouring rain down the hills.
This trip was a new experience where a boy discovered lot of things about nature, water and the world around him. And the father learnt about how one can work calmly with his child and get him to do things in an organized manner, while both are enjoying the trip. It was also childhood revisited for me when I saw the rain, hills, and waterfalls through the eyes of a child without a care in the world. Well it is good to grow up but why lose the child in you.
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