Weekend Escape: Mandangadh

Back to my writing desk almost after a year, but this one is worth of it.

Last few weeks or probably couple of months had been pushing my extremes at work. I badly needed a break and almost at the same time this “Team Event” word popped up. Being a relative newer (older) member to the team, I thought it would be a good chance to mingle into the herd (aur paise bhi bach jayenge). So, I was IN.

Date Set (a day but Valentine, for sanskari’s Vasnt Panchmi), Place Set (Mandangadh, Konkan) and we were rolling. Yah Yah, late by just an hour to our schedule (but isn’t that our desi snaskar too). I was probably driving for the first time into Konkan outside Monsoon or post Monsoon season. And that brought up another face of Konkan on me, a dry au naturel barren landscape, unlike the green heaven it becomes in rains.

The name of resort we were supposed to disembark did actually gave me all those wired thoughts. What does this name “Blue Green Exotica” sounds like to you. J

The resort actually proved me wrong, happily though. It was a peacefully situated den, just at the mouth of a steep but not deep valley where river Savitri originates from. We were welcomed by few guest trying their hand on gun (Only a few minutes before was checked out, it broke to me that the gun was from resort only and I too could had tried it. damm..). Few “Bhajiya” and fewer minutes down the line, we all were escorted downhill for a small trek and it ended by a small pond over the stream. It was 5 in the evening already, and the jungle was closing itself for its night. A peaceful and tranquil moment accompanied by returning birds. I’m sure we all enjoyed.

The flowing water (and few cheers by others) became too tempting for me to resist to not to jump into it. Only later did I realized that I did it with my wallet. J

The barbeque and the dinner was simple yet tasteful, special mention to “Lasun Daal”. Soon after the dinner, the idea for watching the sunrise from Mandangadh was tossed and almost everyone nodded is affirmation. It was only at 6 in the AM when almost all but for girls dropped (“Hashtag wala respect you ladies”). And yes, before it slips out, a mention of the night in my tent alone (“mein aur meri tanhai’) with all kind of jungle sounds around. A wee hours drive to Mandangadh Fort, and we were standing on the highest hillock within the eyesight. It was clam, breezy and chilling up there and the forest looked gently smoked with fog. We spend a good hour or so up there.

Next in the itinerary was to trek down to river Savitri and honing your swimming skill. Jumping into river from the bank made me revisit all those childhood memory. After almost a good 2 hours into water, all you can think for a nice lunch, which was already waiting for us up in the resort. Few more minutes there, and we all were back to jungle where we all belong from.

  

The best of the trip came just few min before when our Antakshri which started with “Om Jai Jagdish Hare” ended with “Oh Boy! You My Soft Toy” (“#RIPSanskar”) :D

Weekend Escape: Adlabs Imagica

Finally my travel shoes are out, probably for the first time in this year, and the reason is an all-paid-trip-from-company to Adlabs Imagaica. J

After a long time, my team could finally find sitting in a restaurant or movie hall not worth enough for a team event, so this outing. Surprisingly, it was an “On Time” start for us (a delay of 30 minutes in no delay by Indian standards). In the 3 hour long journey to the destination, I got a chance to unearth a hidden talent in me. I’m a not that bad “damshiras” actor, that I always thought of me being. 

As I first saw the park from a distance, I said “Bass itna sa”. But sooner it got bigger and bigger. By the time we entered had grown big enough to think if we can cover it all in a day. I grabbed a map and followed my toughest-first algorithm (gabru jawan, you see J) and headed towards the pendulum. My turn came, and it started rolling. Initially, things were under control. I could wave to my buddies down and even pose for some clickers. But as soon as it shot above π radian and almost touched 95-100 degrees, I shall confess, I was not enjoying. I was not seeing, but only had my eyes open. Whatever was there in front was only to watch.

Watching the sky almost parallel to it form some 100 feet closer to what it actually is, and suddenly finding that your seat is not there where it should be. And within next 2 seconds watching those moving creeper (human they call on earth), from a 100 feet height and suddenly falling freely on them is an experience hard to pen down.  After two full swings it cooled down and I came out, alive.

The next was roller coaster (Gold Rush) and I was exactly the same as a roller coaster should be. It was then followed by a Dare Drop (free fall shoot), which makes you taste zero gravity. Having done the toughest first, next all were looking far too easy now.

Mr. India, was yet another interesting concept well weaved with 4-D technology. You will be actually flying , going down in the valley, hitting the boulder as they happen in the movie. Salimgarh Fort (haunted House), Warth of God were also entertaining and involving. Dark Space (roller coaster) was the best one among the indoors. You can feel the speed and those full circle whirls made it a compulsory redo (I did that thrice).

If that entire thrill and heart stoppers were what you think was there to offer, wait. I for India gave me the best visual experience ever. Having seen most of my India form a bird eye view is a second-to-none experience to me. I shall now regret a less for not being a pilot, cause what I witnessed there was something best aviators also don’t get to. All that waiting in the queue is worth for the show.

Summing up, I can say, it is worth a visit. It is something one-of -its-kind in India and by all means at par to international standards. It has something to offer to every kind of visitors, even for those who travel for a click for Facebook, and endless likes and comments thereafter. The concepts and idea are super awesome indigenously adapted to iconic Indian form of storytelling. The audio-video effects will surely transform you to their world and make to part of it. Thrill rides will surely give you a free ECG test. J

All you I-can’t-do-it there, you might not like pushing yourselves beyond your thresholds, but when I see 6^th standard students enjoying it, coming out only to say “I’ll do that again.”, I’m sure should also try it once.

I enjoyed it to the most. Fullto Paisa Vasool

 PS:- Special thanks to Sneha Khandwalkar, for composing the music of Womeniya from Gangs of Wasseypur, which we rapped with almost all weird combinations of songs possible.