C for Coonoor

Do you remember that one moment or one decision or chance encounter that accidentally got you started on something life changing?

Coonoor was one such thing for me. Before Coonoor, Solo Travel wasn’t even in my vocabulary. Forget the firm place that it now has in dreams and the thing that has my heart beating faster.  

I love going back to when-it-all-began moments. Here’s how I ended up falling in love with Solo Travel.

This was way back in 2011. I was back home after doing my MBA. After a short stint at Hyderabad. I was on a break, and happy being home and exploring  the world of sewing. Looking back, I realize that I was going through an identity crisis. Education and the structured life it offered were now over. Corporate life didn’t have an allure yet back then. Who was I? What would I be happy doing if I’m left to myself?

That’s when Coonoor happened. My dad worked for a company which had a plant there and a guest house which allowed family to stay there for a few days. He casually mentioned that I could go there if I wanted to.

I’d heard just enough about coonoor from a friend from there, and my dad – to have my interest piqued- and to think, why not! So, I booked my tickets, and packed my back pack.

Coonoor is a quaint little town. Half way between Coimbatore and Ooty. It’s a hill station known mainly for it’s tea. It’s got less than fifty thousand people, and just enough places to explore.

I remember the small walk upto the guesthouse from the bus station, with the wind blowing over my face.

This was before the days of smart phones, atleast in my life, so I didn’t have gps. Or even internet to aid me in my travel. Remember those days? Good days! Since this was also before I became experienced in Solo Travelling, I had NO PLAN at all! I was at a city, all alone with no plans, no friends and no internet. Felt like the perfect get away !

I was given breakfast at the guest house, and then I set off to find something to do. I went back to the only place I knew around there – the bus stop.

“What’s nice to check out around here?” I asked

“There’s Dolphin Nose” an ancient looking man suggested. “That’s the place where the bus going

there will come. There’s only one bus, it runs every hour. There’s only one way to go up and come down. Go get the tickets there” he said. Like the plan was done and dusted.

I was young, and there didn’t seem to be a great many options to explore. So I followed his advice, got the tickets and waited for the lone bus that went on that route.

The bus came not too long after. I found a good window seat – who am I kiddling, there were only 10 people on that bus, so all of us could get good window seats!

The route from Coonoor to Dolphin Nose is completely unforgettable. I have been on that ride up twice, and both those times, I remember clutching my heart in my hands and praying with all my might hoping we don’t roll off the hill – and loving every minute of it. That road… okay, it’s not a road. That path is EXACTLY as wide as the bus. Ar Rs. 5, that was the cheapest roller coaster I’ve been on! The bus driver, thankfully, knew that route better than the back of his hand. He knew to maneuver every ditch and to look for every curve. The sights are beautiful. You’re surrounded by the aroma of a thousand Eucalyptus trees, who’ve lived longer than our great parents. A slight chill in the humid air and sun light dancing through the cracks it can find.

We reached Lamb’s rock first, then dolphin nose.

Dolphin nose is as simple as it gets.

It’s a tea plantation, which has one rock in a corner, standing over which you can watch the world and it’s tiny people go about their lives.

You don’t have to fight with a hoard of tourists for the view.

You’re probably one of the very few.

There are other people around you

However, they won’t completely ignore you

A nice old woman walked upto me, asked me where I’m from. Said I looked nice. She mentioned it was good that I grew so tall. She was tiny and cute you see. Then she asked me if I liked flowers. When I said I do, she told me that they sell some yellow flowers there, which won’t dry up for a year. I bought them, and they did last more than a year!

A group of school boys came up to me and asked if I was an actress (I was wearing shorts and sunglasses – not that common around there) They asked if they could take a picture with them, and I was happy to pose – having my few minutes of accidental spotlight.

Since I had all the time in the world, (till 6 pm, when the last bus went down) I decided to just walk around the team plantations. I found another road that leads to another tea plantation. A few meters down that way, and that road widened. It was surrounded by lush green tea plants. It was just a little after noon, and the clouds decided to descend. I sat there for a long while in that quiet afternoon. I’d never felt more peaceful in my life. I had a notebook to write in, a book to read, but I did neither. I just sat back almost within the sky and felt the clouds brush against me.

From that day, when I imagine heaven, it’s very close to that image.

I remember wanting to get married there. It was the closest I’ve been to a perfect place. [I’m getting married this December, and no I’m not getting married there L But I am planning to take him there right after J ]

Getting down was another adventure.  Some clever tourist decided they can just drive up that road – against advice of the locals. The bus (with me and those school boys) that was returning and the car met half away. No accidents, but no way for either to turn around. Both drivers had a slow and patient process of moving in inches for about half a km, where the road widened.

The school boys told me that it’s not very difficult to walk back to coonoor, they’ve done it many times.

I jumped off the bus with them, and we walked merrily for the next hour or so. We sang songs, they told me about their college stories about each others’ girlfriends. It was the best time ever.

My next two days at Coonoor were not as adventurous. I spent one day just lying around at Sims Park and reading my book. Another at a local street market, and just walking around the tiny town clicking pictures of the flowers and pathways.

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That day, sitting up there with clouds brushing my face, I’d fallen head over heels in love with travelling solo.

Travelling solo is not about being alone. More often than not, my solo travel stories have plenty of people from varied background in them. Travelling Solo is about being completely in love with yourself. It’s about being somewhere where you can be you or whoever you want to be. A celebrity for example ;) . It’s about leaving mundane things like life behind, and just living for yourself for a change – without having to think of anyone else at all for that time. It’s not selfish. It’s a gift I love giving myself.

Coonoor is where I discovered that first, and for that, it will always be close to my heart J