Hi Friends, We are back with a new Story 😃. Hope you will enjoy reading it.

In this Pandemic, we had all been working remotely for the past few years where all the official interactions were happening virtually.  In order to facilitate in person interactions and to take a break from the daily routine, we decided to go on an office trip 🧳.  As a part of our 2022 annual retreat, this time we decided to make a trip to “Yercaud”. “Yercaud” is a hill station located in Salem District of Tamil Nadu which is known for coffee, fruits and spice plantations. It was a 5 day trip.

Fig 1: “Without trees, mountains, fogs or rains, the Sun cannot create its own magic!”
– Mehmet Murat Ildan

DAY 1 – Arrival into “Yercaud”

On Breezy 🌬️ morning, we all started our journey 🚗 to Yercaud. Our Cottage is at the top of the hill. To reach the top of the hill, we need to cross 20 Hairpin bends. As we were up the hair bends, it felt as if we were traveling in a Roller coaster 🎢 covered with fog into a heaven filled with clouds.

Fig 2: “Sometimes when you lose your way in the fog, you end up in a beautiful place! Don’t be afraid of getting lost!”
– Mehmet Murat Ildan

Our destination was located  5,320 feet up from the bottom of the hill. After reaching the cottage, we had one of the Famous chettinad cuisine 🥘 of the south.  After a short break, we visited a small stream  which was running at the backside of our cottage. It was a small beautiful stream that seemed like a melodious song with the sound of water bashing over the rocks giving a soothing and relaxing feel. It triggered a striking thought on the quote – 

“Enjoy the LITTLE THINGS in life. For one Day, you will look back and realize they were THE BIG THINGS”.

Robert Brault
Fig 3: yCrash family in the Adventurous creek which was located at the backside of the cottage where we were staying!

The day ended with indoor games like Carrom board , Chess ♟️, Ludo 🎲, Brainvita marble game which brought back our childhood memories along with a peaceful night stay.

DAY 2 –  A Walk and A Work

Next Day began with a walk outside our rooms  putting one feet after another navigating through the fog accompanied by bird chirping sounds, with the sound of the flowing water and with the beautiful scenery of plantations. It was a nourishment for the mind and the body which stayed with us for a long time even after finishing it.

Fig 4: More espresso, less depresso. – Author Unknown

Fig 5: “In nature, everything has a job. The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties!”
– Mehmet Murat Ildan

And in the morning, we were working for a few hours. Working from a hill station was of a different experience – Staying away from the hassles of the city, sipping a cup of coffee during meetings surrounded by a warm breeze with a view of mountains from your window. 

After a few hours of work, we played Cricket 🏏. The fun thing is, normally for playing cricket, the ground has to be a plain surface, but this time we had to break the laws of the sport and frame our own rules for cricket like if we hit on the tree, it’s out and if it touches the fence, it’s four, so on as we were playing the cricket in the rugged ground which has stones, grass, plants on it.

Fig 6: yCrash team playing cricket 🏏 in top of the hill station ⛰️

DAY 3 – Boating on a ‘Boat House’

For a few hours, we were working in the morning. It was fun working together sitting next to each other after the long pandemic remote working option.

At noon, we decided to go boating. We went to a place called “Boat House”. There were 2 types of boats. One is rowing 🚣 and other is motor boat. We had the opportunity to step aboard on both types. When traveling in a motor boat, the view of green mountains was so quick, but when we rowboated, the view of green mountains was so cool. It was a new experience leisurely rowing a boat on a  still water with uninterrupted stunning views of green mountains.

Fig 7: “The still waters of a lake reflect the beauty around it. When the mind is still, the beauty of the Self is seen reflected in it.” 
– B.K.S Iyengar

Fig 8: Team having fun in Motor boat in ‘Boat House’

Fig 9: Team in Boat house

The day ended with a deck of cards tucked out from a box with endless hours of fun and entertainment every time when they are pulled out.

Fig 10:  Playing cards with the team is a fun

DAY 4 – Sight Seeing

The day got started with the remaining team members joining us in the trip. It was a grand gala. First we visited Nallur falls which is a hidden falls in Yercaud. It was a breathtaking sight of the fall after a long walk to reach the falls.

Fig 11: Team in Nallur falls which is hidden falls

Fig 12: “The idea is that flowing water never goes stale, so just keep on flowing.”- Bruce Lee

Fig 13: Candid pic from hidden falls

Next we visited the Sun view point.  A place to watch the first rays of the sun during sunrise and the last rays of the sun during the sunset. But since we went a little late in the morning, we weren’t able to see it. However, it was breezy.

Fig 14: “Are we in math class? Because We found the slope.”

Fig 15:  From Manjakuttai sun view point. It’s said to be a good place to view sunrise but the days we visited were little cloudy

Fig 16: From Manjakuttai sun view point

Next we visited the peak of the mountain. It was an astonishing view of the other mountains from the peak. And also we visited the temple ‘Servarayan temple’. 

Fig 17: The best VIEW comes after the hardest CLIMB – Author Unknown

Fig 18: View from Shevaroy hills, highest point of the flat-topped Shevaroy hills.

Next we visited the ‘Ladies Seat’ where we got to see a stunning view of the entire Salem district with the lighting. It looked like gold stars glittering✨ on the ground. And we had local street foods which was mouth-wateringly delicious😋  & hot to have for that weather.

Fig 19: City light appears to be like stars. They both twinkle and look beautiful from a distance. This place is from Ladies seat. Ladies Seat is a view point where you get to see Salem & the ghat road.

After that, we did a little Shopping 🛒 . The day ended with ramp walks with traditional attires with memorable funny expressions and with the feel of the essence of the outfit followed by a bang off with bornfire.

Fig 20: Team in Traditional attire. 
Live every day as if it is a festival. Turn your life into a celebration – Shri Radhe Maa

DAY 5 – Departure from Yercaud

As it was our last day of the tour, we didn’t stuff with much schedules. But we had  good time interacting with each other. On day 1, we were calling each other as ‘Colleagues’ but as days passed, we felt like a  family get-together on a festival day slowly leaving the vacation buddies with blended emotions.

We thank Mr.Ram & his family & Mr.Kumar for Organizing this entire trip and making it a memorable one. This trip has created a great bonding between us. Looking forward for another one next year like the same. And, Special Thanks 🙏 to our readers who spent some time for reading 📖 our ‘Trip to Heaven’.

Fig 21: yCrash Family on last day of retreat

Fig 22: If you can laugh together, you can work together – Robert Orben

Fig 23: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Fig 24: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Semisonic

DEDICATING A SMALL POEM:

I narrated my trip experience to my mother, based on which she wrote a beautiful poem in our native language ‘Tamil’ – one of oldest language. Here with I am sharing this poem for you:

வேலை, வேலை என்றிருக்கும் வேளை

‘அக மகிழ்வுறும்’ விதமாய் 

‘ஏற்காடு தன்னிற்கு ‘இதமாய்’ அழைத்து 

‘கண்ணிற்கும்’, ‘மனதிற்கும்’-‘நெகிழ்வளித்த’ வேளை – 

வயிற்றுக்கும் ‘இனிய உபசாரமாய்’ 

‘பற்பல உணவுதனை’ – 

‘ருசி’ , ‘ருசி’யாய் பரிமாறி – 

‘நீங்காத நினைவுகளாய்’

‘நெஞ்சிற் பதிந்த’ பதிவுகளாய் 

‘விழிவிரித்து காத்திருக்கின்றோம்…

இனி வரும் ஆண்டுகட்கும் – 

‘உற்சாக’ உழைப்போடும் – 

‘உன்னத’ உணர்வோடும்!…

– K. Muthu Porkodi

I have attempted to translate this poem in English for you:

The Work, Along With  Work

Of Very ‘Enjoyable Moment’

When We Were Been Asked

For The Trip Of Yercaud – 

The Wonderful Place Of 

‘Beautiful Sceneries’

& Warmth Climate

Of ‘Pleasant Memories!’

Along with the ‘Delicious Food’

Of ‘All Time Favorite’ Delicacy!

Eagerly Waiting

For Another Trip, Then & Then

That Yet To Come!…