Road trips are simply synonymous with exhilaration!
It has become a common fad among us mighty friends to embark on road trips on the spur. The wolf pack. No complaints.
To escape the smoldering heat of a 365 day summer and break away from mundane life, our usual destination is of course the hill tops. The natural beauty of the hills, the forests and the fresh chill air that engulfs, is always and truly invigorating - a perfect getaway from the city madness!
We usually set out on our road trips well before the sun decides to rise – probably the only time we ever get to witness that ‘time of day’. As the sun struggles to peek through the clouds, we bundle up into our car armed with Google maps and potato chips to lead the way to the hills and beyond! We are a pretty sight - all sleepy eyed but with smiles on our faces and contagious yawns doing its rounds!
The journey takes off on a good note with mindless talks, laughter and camera clicks! Soon enough hunger pangs begin to creep and we make our first pit stop for breakfast. We settle for a nice south Indian spread of idilis, pongal, vadais, dosas and piping hot coffee - those rare moments of a veggie delight. We continue on our road trip, whizzing past rows of little shops in little towns. In between towns, wide landscapes of faraway hills, paddy fields and greenery greets us! The pit stops keep stopping at timely intervals – fuel for the car and us!
Eventually, we reach the foothills and begin our enthralling climb uphill along winding roads and shady slopes wooded with dense verdure, and abound with varied fauna and flora! Windows rolled down… fresh air, breathtaking scenery, luscious greenery and wafts of cool breeze lures us into the hills!
Once we are settled and unpacked – the expedition begins. Out we are, reveling on new ground, exploring our surroundings, walk, talk, walk. Our taste buds freak while we have a blast trying out street food - a top priority in our road trip agenda. Like every tourist, we make our way to the recommended sight-seeing places – and sometimes we drift, meander onto offbeat routes. By nightfall it becomes pretty cold, and after our eerie 'unrecommended' drive around shadowy gloomy hills accompanied with spooky story narrations - we finally get back, bunch up in warm clothing and play indoor games and chit-chat our way into the night!
Dawn. Being on a hill top, the new day usually brings with it light showers of rains and a lovely dewy mist – the perfect icy morning! Soon enough, we get rolling as nature beckons us to set out to follow the ‘wind calls’ and to trek a little in the wilderness. Oh yes! Trekking is another activity on our must-do list. We thrive in exploring ‘the woods are lovely dark and deep’ and rocky mountain high. The climb to the misty cliff top is easier said than done – but ever so promising for what awaits us! Nothing ever really completely prepares you for the breathtaking view from the pinnacle of hope, towering above and looking down on all of creation – the length and breadth of all that is around you and not. The expanse is awe-inspiring. One with pure nature; as we stand amidst the mist, breeze, trees, clouds and drizzling rain. Silence completes.
The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” –Don Williams Jr.
