Matheran and the Monkey Debacle....

Matheran,
8th Feb, 2008

The Direct local from Vidya Vihar to Nerul took around 90 minutes and we had missed the toy train by a whisker. Found ourselves in a dilapidated van which took us from the station to the hilltop ; purchased tickets and were on our trek to the station.

Rusted roller put to use

It took another hour for us to reach Matheran station. It was sunny, dry and chill all around. Had a hot tea before starting off again....

One among the various points

Initial trek along the railway tracks

Walked all the way to the lake, from there onward to the best sights I have ever seen. A sudden drop down and all the hills visible....Ritin the Lion was raring to move towards the edge of the cliff; was fun to watch all emotions pass across his face , though he never agrees to this!

First stop ...along the way

Resting in one of the empty houses

So many cliffs around and so less time, the one near to the lake was the most majestic of all. A sudden drop and you then could see all the surrounding hills. Far down, the river had nearly dried up and all one can see down is a thin silver line of water flowing by.

Majestic hill, narrow and flat till the top

The best drop ever seen

The trail through the forests makes you feel solitary but beware if you are carrying bag, bottles for you never know when you would be attacked by loner monkeys awaiting their prey.

Rohit and the Monkey debacle!!!

Suicide point....Six on the helipad

Everyone were enjoying a snap on the steep edge and just a few minutes back we had seen a monkey scurrying after Rohit. I do remember asking someone to feed a dog nearby, but it turned out that Prabhat convinced Rohit to part with the channa he had. Little did anyone realize what was to happen then. Somehow the simian sensed it and made off towards Rohit who dashed straight for us standing on the edge.

No one knew what was yet to come

There we were , all six of us , the monkey chasing Rohit and a mongrel in between. The fiasco ended only with the channa parting hands from him. Thouroghly shaken , we made back downhill.We were able to cover roughly five to seven points and then decided to return in time to enjoy a toy train ride.

Tensed but in smiles....

Next destination can be seen in the background far away......

Dk and the Cowboy hat...

Gimme back my Hat.

Dk had eyed a cowboy hat and wanted to have a snap but was shooed away by the shopkeeper.Having returned back, he told Payyans to click a snap as soon as he put it on and was bargaining with the shopkeeper. Fun it was to watch , Dk with the cowboy hat , showing weird actions to have a snap clicked and Payyans innocently refusing to click....

Mud slopes.

Dried grass all over the mountains

Reached early at Matheran station and another one hour wait in the queue to get our tickets downhill. We did get the tickets and had more time taking snaps in the train. Its a slow journey downhill and its worth going for it. You get better view all across the mountainsides.

At the station

Me and Dk in front of the toy train , at Matheran station

Garry tastes the horse toe!
Tough time at the station to get the tickets. Limited seats was the problem but luckily we were able to scrape in. Had a chance to watch a horse shoe being fitted. We were examining the horse toe scraps when Garry comes in. Prabhat gives a piece to him and says thats a specialty of the place and instantly it lands in Garrys mouth. Well..........

Winding up the trip....On the way back

The train journey was fun and we got few minutes off at one place for the crossing. One would get a good view of the area if he comes by the toy train. But it would be scary sight to look out of the window and see the narrow tracks close to the edge of the mountains.

Winding along the steep curves....Toy train ride

Payyans was in true form throughout the train journey. Venu anna seemed to have lost a bit of color and was relaxing by the window. Baba, bAbA seemed to rent the air for quite a long time and then everyone started off with songs and college vibes. Reached Nerul station and we were back at the hostel in another hours time...Tired...Sleep now.

Silence.......