Special Chabees at Sondai

Friendship is a really wide term,it can mean the closest of relationships where inner-most secrets are shared and it can also mean just being with someone who brings a smile on your face.Friendship makes no demands and it only gets better and stronger with time.Friendship for me is sharing fun moments together and loosening up and getting de-stressed.I for one,am a very private person and have just a few very close friends with whom I share personal secrets, but at the same time I know to let my hair down and enjoy to the fullest with a bunch of friends who may not really know me or my secrets and vice-versa but all the same we can gel together and make the most of the times spent together.Trekking since the last three years has given me a new,invigorating group of friends who are like-minded and fun.With them I have learnt to relax,enjoy nature's beauty and have fun together.

I was really excited at the thought of celebrating this years Friendship Day with my trekker pals all thanks to Tattva Adventures.

So here we were,a small group of 26 trekkers ,the Special Chabees,making their way to Karjat on Sunday the 2nd of August.After alighting at Karjat station we took a tum-tum ride to the base village Sondaiwadi and had a hearty breakfast of missal-pav on the way there.Once there,we had the introduction round after which Sithara and Jigar had friendship day bands and rings for all (how sweet!).Most of the special 26 were my old trek pals so I was really thrilled,Many a times, there are trek groups that take such a huge group that there is no scope left for any bonding with each other during the trek.Personally,I prefer smaller,groups for treks.Our trek began from the base village and we had the local village guide, Mr. Sawant to lead us along with out trek leaders Sai and Jaal.The view all along the ride to the base village was beautiful and we also saw the dam on the way,so we were ascertained of having a great view from the top.We had a round of Antakshari on our way to the base village.One look at the sky and we saw clouds hovering all around,even the MET had predicted heavy rains and thunder showers so we were sure we would had rain on our trek,it was a monsoon trek after all.Unfortunately like Bagha (the village simpleton who played the drums on seeing the clouds) and the villagers from the film Lagaan,we were sorely disappointed as there was hardly any rain on our trek.There was, but a slight drizzle on our way to the top.

The trek was very challenging due to the heat and humidity.By the time we reached the top,most of us had finished our quota of water we carried.We had an easy trail through greens most of the route to the top but we had a rocky patch to scale on three occasions and thanks to the helping hands of Sai,Jaal, Yashwant,Soumen,Sithara and Kiran we could just about manage.It was tough to get a foothold on the rocks in some places and the heat did not make things easier.But as usual,once at the top, the view was all worth it.As we neared the top there was a long,bright orange iron ladder we had to climb.The ladder was a great spot for photography and it reminded me of the other treks where we had similar ladders to climb like those at Ratangad,Peb and Kalsubai.Even on the way up we rested at a couple of plateaus as the climb was difficult and  dehydrating due to the scorching and relentless heat. 

The climb up was eventful with a lot of masti and taang-khinchai,singing and of course,lots of selfies and photo-ops.There were a few idols at the top of Goddess Sondaidevi who is said to be revered by the local villagers and every Diwali there is a rush of devotees at the hill-top.There was a saffron flag wildly fluttering in the breeze and many old bells at the top near the idol. From the top the view of the more than fifty shades of green,the serene water of the dam and the villages far below was breath-takingly beautiful.We had our lunch in the pristine atmosphere and in the harsh sunlight and then it was time for a game of Mafia. Jaal was the co-ordinator,aka God and we had a super-duper game with allegations,counter-allegations,voting and friendly banter and arguments along the way. Jaal always makes this game such fun!Some of the trekkers rested while we played and the others took time out to click photographs.After the game all had group pictures and jumping pictures clicked and then it was time for the descend.The descend seemed more difficult than the ascend and I had a few heart in my mouth moments but thanks to the encouraging words and helping hands ,I could make it without any glitches and without any Ganpati Bappa Moryas ( a cry we use when any one has a fall)

With our throats parched due to the intense heat,we reached the base village again and while there we saw many village kids who eagerly surrounded us in the hope that we had some goodies for them.Fortunately ,we had some snacks for them which they hungrily ate and then they posed for us.All of them looked weak and under-nourished.I hope to carry some food packets next time I am on any trek so that the children form the base village can them.Earlier, some of my trek pals had given some clothes to the villagers in the base village.this time around, I had forgotten to get the clothes for them, next time I have to make it a point not to forget about it.Though we were at the end of our trek none of us were completely satisfied as we had not experienced getting wet in the rain,so to compensate ,the leaders decided to halt on our way back at the stream near the village.We got into the tum-tums and stopped at the stream.We spent a great time here and some of them really got wet and wild as they swam in the cool waters.I did not venture far into the stream and satisfied myself taking off my shoes ,relaxing in the cool waters and clicking away.The rocky way inside was too slippery and I did not want to take a risk and have a fall like one of my pals.After that we rode to the station and halted on the way for some tea and snacks.All were very hungry and thirsty after the heat but surprise-surprise-heavy rains greeted us as we made our way to the station.Better late than never!!!Our train to Mumbai was late so we had a singing session at the Karjat platform in the rains.What an enjoyable day it had been!I was happy that my talented photographer pals had clicked some memorable clicks of me and this was the first time I spent friendship day like this,on a trek.The train was too crowded so most of the girls entered the ladies compartment and bid our goodbyes to the guys,.We all went back home with lasting happy memories of a day well spent.It was indeed a memorable and happy friendship day for all of us. 

Thanks to Tattva team for their efforts.

Here are a few snapshots of the wonderful time we all had.Some of the clicks are courtesy my trekker pals who have generously shared their pictures.