Weekend trip

Chrys has always been a last minute planner. So mid-week he decided that he wanted to go on a weekend trip somewhere starting Friday. I called up all decent hotels and resorts in Khandala, Lonavla, etc, but couldn't get any bookings. Finally late in the evening I stumbled upon the cell number of the sales person for a resort near Amby Valley called Cloud 9. Since it was late this person did not answer my calls. Next morning (Thursday) I was still trying frantically to get something, when my phone rang. It was the salesgirl from Cloud 9. They had one cottage available! I booked it immediately. Till late Thursday night we weren't decided on whether to take a train to Lonavla or to book a taxi. We even watched a movie on DVD ("Guess who's coming to dinner?"... wonderful movie).

Friday dawned and we were still undecided. After a little tantrum throwing (me) and dilly-dallying (Chrys), we zipped off to CST in a cab... as fast as a cab can zip... which is not much! There we were standing outside the Reservation counter wondering whether to take unreserved tickets instead, when a stranger came up and offered to help get confirmed tickets. This guy was a mallu (inferred from the accent and the chandana quri on his forehead). He gave us some form which we filled and demanded Rs.400 per head for the tickets. We bargained and brought down the rate only to realise later that we could easily have got tickets even without his help... there was no queue and lots of tickets were available.

The train started from CST at 9 AM... Koyna express and we had AC chair car tickets. We decided to exchange the seats half-way thru the journey so the both of us get a chance to sit at the window... we fight like kids over it. After Badlapur, the scenery was beautiful, but when we neared Khandala, we were sure that we were in heaven. The clouds were below eye level and suspended as if posing for a picture. From Lonavla it's a short drive (15 kms) to Cloud9. The resort is beautifully located. All cottages have a view. The drive up to this place is also very beautiful, winding roads and views of the valley interspersed with mist covered mountains... the visibility was low hence we moved almost at snail's pace. We spent two glorious days in the midst of clouds and rain. Chrys' colleague and his wife visited briefly and we drove around the place. This trip was refreshing but then it was back to the grind from Monday morning.