Who are we?
I am Murali, living with my wife and son, at Ponmar, Chennai. My friend Suthan(bachelor) lives alone at Madipakkam, Chennai. The 3rd idiot, Vijay is a software engineer in Bangalore. He lives with his wife and son, at JP nagar. We are friends for almost 12 years.
I started my career as a mechanical engineer in Nuvent technologies, on 2007 November. Once, I was asked to test a software and told to contact the developer, if there are any issues in the software. I found not one. but many . So, I called the developer sitting at different floor, to come to my work location. That was the first time, I met Vijay. Then we had to frequently meet and interact because of the bugs in the software . By the time Suthan joined Nuvent technologies on June,2008, I and Vijay had already become friends.
Suthan is so calm,soft, a good swimmer and a responsible guy. Vijay is the master of maps(routes), organising trips, swimming and he is the fittest and oldest among us. I am the laziest, foodie, non-swimmer, but the boldest. Though we 3 are contrast to each other, we got along well, together. The bond within us, grew stronger, every year, that no one could ever imagine. Being nature lovers, we always make sure that, we never disturb the wild life and never litter anywhere and take care of the environment. We didn't get time to feel jealous on others, roaming with their girlfriends. We were so much busy in travelling, partying, talking, exploring everything, together. We 3 started going for trips in the year 2008. When I and Vijay got married, we were not able to go for any trips on 2012 and 2013. Then we started going, again on 2014 .
This year(2019), we decided to go to Agumbe (Western ghats) on August. We have a whatsapp group "3 Idiots", where we counted each and every day, before the trip. News said, "Rains and floods on western ghats". We started receiving advises from friends and family. But we wanted to be together, so much, because its a "once in an year" opportunity for us. So, we ignored everything and decided to go ahead.
Some of the pics from our past trips-
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| Dudhsagar falls, 2009 |
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| Megamalai, 2010 |
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| Mahabalipuram, 2012 |
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| Rafting, in the Cauvery river, 2014 |
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| Mullayangiri, 2014 |
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| Parunthampara, 2015 |
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| On the way to Bandaje falls, 2016 |
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| Bandaje falls, 2016 |
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| Arasinagundi falls,2017 |
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| Himalayas, 2018 |
Day1, August 14, 2019
I woke up happily, at 5 am to pick my mother-in-law from bus stand, who came to take care of my son. At 8 am, my son boarded the school bus and my wife started to her office. Suthan came to my house at 10am.
All set and navigation was set to Vijay's house, in Google maps . Our one year wait was over! We started to Bangalore at 11am, in my Ford Aspire. We played a beautiful song playlist, created by Suthan. First song itself was the "3Idiots" movie's song "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh". We were so excited, as we are going to meet "Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad". But, I am the smartest ;). We took a break in Ambur and had Mutton briyani in Star Briyani restaurant. We were calling Vijay every 30 mins, who was working, that day, to tell him where we are. When we crossed Hosur, our excitement went berserk. Finally, we reached Vijay's apartments at 5pm. When security was asking the door number, suddenly I heard a voice saying "Muttai" (my nick name) . It was Vijay, who just reached the gate, from office. We parked the car and talked for 15 mins in the parking lot. Then went to his home. His wife welcomed us with ginger tea. Then we went to "Brahmas" and had some drinks. Then, came to his home and had dinner and slept.
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| Mutton Briyani @ Ambur Star Briyani |
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| Brahmas, Bangalore |
Day2, August 15, 2019
We woke up at 3.30am and started from Bangalore in Vijay's Duster, at 4.30am, while Vijay's family was asleep. Though we slept for little time, we were so fresh! The route we planned was Bangalore - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Dharmasala - Ujire - Karkala - Agumbe. Our plan was to go to "Koodlu Theertha Falls" and "Jogi Gundi Falls" and then to our homestay "Kavale Retreat" for dinner.
We had tea in the outskirts of Bangalore. We had lemon rice for breakfast at a small shop in Sakleshpur. So many roads closed, so many diversions, floods on either sides of the roads, didn't stop us.
We reached "Koodlu Theertha" falls at 2pm. but unfortunately it was closed for safety reasons(too much water) and had police protection at the entrance. Then we went to "Jogi Gundi Falls", which was closed too. All these years, we have never tasted failure, together . This was the first time, we were not able to do, what we planned! We were so frustrated and hungry. We decided to buy lunch, at Agumbe. Vijay told, he read somewhere, that "Bachalagundi falls" is there near to our homestay. We took the parcel and started to that falls. It was a small stream rather than a falls. But, it was beautiful and had too much of water. We were so happy. We had lunch and stepped into the chill water. We took bath for 2 hours and started to "Kavale retreat". While nearing Kavale, we went to Mani reservoir at 6.50pm. Then we lwent to Kavale retreat. An 86 year old Uncle(Owner) received us. We had dinner and slept well.
Day3, August 16, 2019
We woke up at 8am and had breakfast and got the lunch(bread/Omlette) packed and started to Hidlumane falls. We parked the car, at a Government Higher Primary school, Kumble, Nittur, hosanagar and we three started trekking to Hidlumane falls, without any guide. Our plan was to take bath in Hidlumane falls and then proceed to Kodachadri. Since, we started late at 12pm, we decided to go only to Hidlumane falls and then return to the school. It was raining, all the time. we loved it.
We had masala lemon soda and buttermilk , on the way. Buttermilk was too good. We reached the falls at 2.30pm . We took bath for 2 hours and had lunch in between, and then left. We reached the school at 7pm. Then headed back to the homestay.
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| Starting Point |
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| Hidlumane falls |
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| Myself and Vijay |
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| Itz me |
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| Myself, Vijay & Suthan |
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| P.C : Me |
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| Look at the background |
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| Happy Faces |
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| Our shoes made the trek easier |
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| On the way |
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| They collect water, even though it was raining 24*7(Buttermilk House) | | |
Day4, August 17, 2019
We had breakfast and got the lunch packed and started to Thombattu village. After 2 hours of drive, we reached the village, which is a dead end with cement roads on both sides. We enquired a man in a tea shop nearby about Madinahole falls. He immediatedly took a shirt fro a hanger and said "Lets go". We took the car, to the right (One on the left leads to Thombattu falls) and parked the car and started walking. We reached the falls in 20 mins. It was small, unlike Hildumane. but there are many levels. We took bath, at each and every level. Thats where, the bitter part happened. I lost my diamond ring(7g gold), gifted by my wife, 3 years ago. (If someone find it in the future, please contact me at murali137@gmail.com). We searched inside the water for sometime and again got back to enjoyment mode. Then left the falls after 1.5 hours and then proceeded to his tea shop. He was more worried about my ring. Such a kind man (We forgot to take a pic with him).
Then we had tea, thanked him and we 3 started to Thombattu falls on the left side. we reached the falls after a 40 min walk(in the rain). There were very few people. So we took some pictures and stayed there for 20 mins and came back to the car, near tea shop.
It was almost 3pm. We decided to go to Abbey falls and have lunch there. Then we reached Abbi falls at 4pm and took bath there, till 6.20. Had lunch in between. Abbey falls, really surprised us. We only 3, were there in such a big and beautiful falls. Finally we headed back to Kavale, after a great day.
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| On the way |
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| Trek route, to Madin hole falls |
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| Madin hole falls |
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| Excited! |
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| Find me |
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| We 3 |
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| Find Vijay |
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| Solo pic1 |
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| Solo pic2 |
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| Solo pic3 |
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| We 3 |
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| Thombattu falls |
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| We 3 @ Thombattu falls |
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| Abbey falls - 360Deg Pic |
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| Abbey falls |
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| 3 Idiots |
Day5, August 18, 2019
We had breakfast and started to Mani reservoir(just 5 mins from Kavale retreat). We hired a coracle and went inside. We took bath for 2 hours , in 40 to 60 feet depth water. Being a non swimmer, I enjoyed the most, with my new life jacket (bought in Aliexpress) .
Then took the car and went to Kavale and had lunch. Then we took rest for 30 mins and again started to a place near "Bachalagundi falls". We enquired the people in a big house , about the falls near by. They send their boy with us to take us to the falls. We took bath there for 1 hour and had tea, in their house, while returning. Then went to Mani reservoir and talked for 20 mins and came back to homestay.
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| Before getting into the water, @ Mani reservoir |
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| Suthan |
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| Relaxing |
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| 3 Idiots |
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| Trusting the life jacket |
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| Suthan's matrimony pic |
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| Driving a coracle |
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| Unknown falls |
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| We took bath, here too. |
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| On the way - 360deg pic |
Day6, August 16, 2019
We had breakfast and started from Kavale to Bangalore. We went to Bhadra dam, on the way and inquired about the boating, which was unfortunately not operated, that day. So we took a snap and left. We had lunch at a military hotel. Then headed straight to Bangalore. We reached Vijay's house at 7.30 pm. we spent 30 minutes there and went to the parking lot.
I went and hugged Vijay, for the last time, this year . Then we both (I & SUthan) started to Chennai with heavy heart. We reached my house(Chennai) at 1.30am.
We are awaiting our next trip!
-Murali
murali137@gmail.com
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| With 86 year old uncle, at his Kavale retreat |
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| Bhadra dam |
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| Bhadra dam |
Happy u got such great friends for life da. Enjoy
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