Tattva's Birthday Bash

So it was the end of a really hectic week at school as we had our PTC's and I met 43 parents that week.The Tattva Birthday bash was decided long back and there was no way I was going to miss it ,so though the body was fatigued,the spirit was raring to go.So there I was waiting eagerly for the bus at a quarter to 12 and I hopped in at Mulund and was oh so glad to see so many known faces there.Began right away catching up with old mates and then began the Antakshari round.It was too loud and crazzy as usual and I had a gala time screaming my lungs out.Also had fun doing some taang khinching of the opposite team by shouting out rubbish lyrics or saying  yeh hoga hai,yeh ho gaya hai....when they belted any number.We had a great time with the mash up of songs too.When there were too many old songs coming up we shifted gears and began with Jaal's Make a Wish game.As we played I could not help but notice the wonderful weather outside.it was drizzling and there was fog all around.It looked really beautiful like a fairy tale but it made me wonder how the bus driver was finding his way on the fog covered roads.This game really rocked and we had a superb time listening to all the crazzy wishes and even imagining them at times.What an imaginative wishes...it would be hilarious to see if these really came true.As there was no censor issues the wishes were one worse than the other. After all that masti,it was decided that we all rest awhile till we reached the destination.On the way we also halted at the famous Baba da Dhaba for chai-coffee and some gup-shup.I was fast asleep when I realized that many of the others got down from the bus and danced away in the lights of the bus in a foggy darknes.they had a great time dancing to the loud music enveloped by the mystic fog.Unfortunately, I did not go to enjoy that beautiful moment and to this day I regret it.I was too tired and though I wanted to go,my body was aching for the much-needed rest.That moment was captured beautifully in pictures and it made me feel like a fool for not participating in that dance session in the fog.Anyway,hopefully there will be another such magical moment that I will partake in next time soon. Mein bhi jald hi dikhaoongi mere dance moves ka jalwa!
The first rays of sunshine and we reached the base village.It brought back memories of my earlier visit to Bhandardhara when we had camped in tents near the lake.That was one awesome camp we had!same village house where we had spicy and hot missal pau and chai.Then came the introduction round with a difference as the theme was tell Your Story so each had to introduce themselves and say how they connected to Tattva in the first place and their memories with Tattva group.The leaders- Sai, Jaal,Yashwant, Neha, R.D and Lawrence kept us entertained all through the event and made each one of us feel special.We all were given lovely Tattva badges which I really found very creative,who else but Tattva can come up with such ideas!.It was nice to hear the stories of how Tattva reached this far completing one year.How soon this little baby has grown!!!Everyone blessed the baby with love and warm wishes after which a yummy chocolate cake was cut by the two youngsters from STD three Zoe and Shreya. Wish there were more parents having the sense to introduce their little ones to the joys of trekking and bringing the kids closer to nature.At the introduction round I realised that I knew a majority of those at the event, just a handful were new-comers and got acquainted with them soon.
Soon we left our bags in the house and left for the reverse waterfall.
The way to the waterfall was easy but extremely beautiful.The whole route was engulfed in fog and we could hardly see the people right ahead of us.there was intermittent rain and hence it was not possible to capture the enchanting beauty of the place on camera.,yet we did manage to get a few shots at times when it stopped raining.The weather was cool and it was superb to see the gushing waterfall.there were a few other groups out there too at the spot.I was curious to know ,like everyone else what this reverse waterfall was.It was something to be experienced to be thoroughly enjoyed!Here we could see the waterfall gushing down and from the edge we can actually feel ourselves being sprayed with water, like our very own personalised rain dance sequence from the Hindi movies!The feeling we got as we saw the waterfall gush down and shower us with drops of water was exhilarating.We sat in the flowing streams and enjoyed ourselves in the lap of nature for a while and after that the group played games while I and a few others took in the beauty of the place.Many selfies ,profile pics and cover pics later,we moved back to the village house for lunch.The lunch was simple but tasty.For the non-vegetarians there was chicken curry and bhakari while the vegetarians had sprouts ussal and bhakari along with pickle, papad,rice and daal.Hot and tasty food in the cool weather was something else.We left soon and walked towards the Sandhan valley starting point.Our way to the place was a bit tricky to handle as it was rocky and slippery at places and had a steady flow of water all the way.It was really worth the walk as the place was beautiful.Here too we screamed and sang songs,splashed around in the waters,clicked many photographs and then with a heavy heart left the place.Some had garam corn on the cob there.All changed into dry clothes and boarded the bus.Saw the winding roads,the beautiful village scenery,fog covered mountains and local village children from the bus as we made our way back.The scenes we saw wetre breath-takingly beautiful.The local kids kept running after our bus when they saw it and shouted for khau (food)Some of us started sleeping and were awoken by Sai and Jaal for a game of Housie.They had many prizes for us and everyone eagerly played hoping to win at least something in the game.I too had my hopes high but unfortunately lost by a short margin as the Sindhis beat us all to it.Pankaj had a field day as he got the whole trek amount back as the Full Housie prize!!!Many of them won colourful buffs and I as disheartened as I did not win even that!(I am a lover of those colourful buffs you see)game over,we all had a session of song and dance and some ear-shattering music.I chatted up with Arjun all through the journey and soon we reached another dhaba here we had tea-coffee.After that we bid adieu to all those who alighted when they reached their destinations.All in all a wonderful way to celebrate the first birthday bash of Tattva,the adventure group which is more like a family away from our family.One that we come to to drown away our week long fatigue and keep us rejuvenated for the next week.Wishing Tattva Adventures all the very best for many years to come.Am sure they will only get better with the coming years.

Here are some snapshots of this wonderful and memorable birthday bash.....
Thanks to Rajith Ps ,Jigar Desai and Yashwant Shetty for a few of the pics posted here.

Beautiful view of the Sandhan valley trek start point.....

Vinay making the most of the time with the girls....Kishan among the Gopis.

The two kids who participated in the event,hats off to them!

The whole group had a blast,thanks to Tattva leaders.

yashwant,the Merawala Maggiman!

The woods are lovely ,dark and deep.......still have to go a long way!

This is what I regret missing...the naach-gaana in the fog on the road.

Lush greenery greeted us at Bhandardhara,it never fails to invite and excite us.

First view of the village as we alighted....

The village school.

Little Shreya at her ninth trek event....way to go,girl!

The leaders with a heart-Jaal and Sai....you guyz rock!

With the local villager who was eager to pose with us.

The maruti temple at the village.

Tattva baby is one.....!!!

Unbelievably foggy weather.....hard to locate those walking before us...

Selfie time with Jaalu

Walking towards the waterfall in the fog....near zero visibility...

Breaking all the divide between man and nature...treks bind us together with nature.

Who is this??Living on the edge...at the waterfall,.

What a terrific view!!!

Pretty green cactus....

Making our way towards the waterfall in the fog....

Jaal is all ready for the click with the gurlz!

Merawala Maggi poses with the lovely girls....

Splashing around in the cool water....

The shutter-bugs at work....the rains did not stop them!

The lovely Jeanette poses for me in her cute squirrel poncho.....

Posing away in the foggy location...thanks to Jeanette for this capture.

Sole mates for life...me and nature!

Fun and games-a speciality with the Tattva group

For lawrence it is butta time!!!

Those who eat together,stay together!

Rains are a falling.....view from inside the house.

Non-veg thali....bhakari,chicken curry and onions.

The simple village life.....

Bridge over troubled waters....being one with nature is rejuvenating!

Fog hovering over the mountains....ethereal!

At the highway dhaba where we halted for chai-coffee

Awesome scenery greeted us on our way back to Mumbai

At the reverse waterfall at bhandardhara.