Lohagad Trek

16th July 2011

The Lohagad Trek (Lonavala) was organized by our junior college in the beginning of grade 12. A lovely mini- break from the stress-starters of our board exam preparation process. Junior college for me was the best phase of my life where I had transformed myself from an introvert to a jovial girl who used to enjoy life to the fullest with a perfect blend of fun with responsibility, a beautiful phase to be summed up to call it an optimum life for me!

The trek strengthened the bond of our friendship and was the most memorable first trek of mine.
We started the trip like a typical school picnic with a roll count and getting into the designated buses, singing songs, munching junk food and chocolates in the bus.
The best kiddish part being screaming when the bus enters the tunnel.

Mumbai - Pune Express way

We could also see the naughty side of our stern teachers. It was more of a school to us and it was way too strict. This was the only chance for us to break off all the restrictions and Enjoy!

On reaching the destination and the second roll count, we were free to begin the trek with our own group of friends provided all of us stayed together. Here, the so called rules end. Our group was a mix of boys and girls, where our college was strict with all possible ways to keep boys away from girls. We were not even allowed to have our tiffins together! 

The scene was serene and green, it drizzled, it was all cool- a perfect weather till we reached the top.

                                 

 

Nearing the top, the weather turned extreme chill(for me). It was drizzling and way too foggy. The scene was too beautiful to be captured in my low mega pixel phone of those days. My friend who had carried a camera also forgot to click a snap of it amidst our naughty gang atmosphere. We also spotted monkeys up there, one of which had snatched away the banana chips packet from my friend's hand. I had cleverly hidden the roasted corn inside my windcheater. Up there was so cold, I wore an extra windcheater of my friend over mine. I kind of looked like a lolly-pop- swollen up with thin legs downwards resembling the stick!

Entrance of the main plot up there.

The most amazing thing which made this trek more memorable for me were my shoes. The sole of my shoes began to come off. I had to tie rubber-bands to them to keep the sole and the shoe together. It used to break many times but a friend of mine had a huge bunch of rubber-bands.

you can see the rubber-bands on both the feet at the right.
yes that's me :)

We enjoyed to the core. There was a well near which we clicked some snaps. Some threw coins in it. We clicked loads of memorable photos to be cherished. Despite of my shoe problem we were the second to reach the top; first being our P.T sir with a gang of four students. We met school friends who had joined the same college in the science section. Up there was all the fun what a group of naughty teenagers would do. 

We had taken short cuts while climbing up and hence reached early.

Glimpse of the short cut.

While getting down almost all the group members got divided into two people randomly walking away from us. I made a new friend who stayed with me till the end. All my friends were way ahead of me but this friend of mine stayed with me when my shoes finally gave up. For me it was like walking in socks. He supplied plastics bags to me. I tied them when the path was too muddy. We went slowly but never had a fall :) yay.. :) My other friends on seeing me walk that way had asked me, "How many times did you fall?" for they already had a few of it ;)

It was not at all a troublesome situation for me!

Every moment was amazing. The path was difficult but I was young, had good stamina, used to exercise and dance those days. I was known to walk a lot and walk too fast among my friends. This really helped :)

After reaching down, we again had a roll call, got into the buses and headed towards Hotel Chandralok. I remember this was the same hotel in which girls had stayed during our Scout-Guide camp in standard nine. We had our lunch at around 5pm. Some changed their clothes. I had not carried anything extra for a change nor did my group friends. We were in the same wet clothes till home and didn't fall sick :)

We hogged well enough to fill our hungry tummies. The journey back in the bus was a little calm may be because of the tiredness. All were quiet and in their own world. My friend fell asleep on my shoulder and I was enjoying the road view, listening to music on my phone. 

On getting down at my stop, walking then felt more nice on the concrete clean, non muddy, non poky roads. I felt as if I was walking barefoot at home.

On reaching home, I had an additional surprise on seeing my aunt, uncle, cousin and his spouse who had come over to stay as they were in the city to attend a wedding. I was all energized again. We had a great family meet, talks and the day was too sweet a memory to be ever forgotten.

Happy days those were. :)