Thadiyendamol - The Highest Peak of Coorg District.

Google Earth Locator. - Thadiyendamol

Elevation - 5025 Ft above MSL

12degree 12' 58.89 N

75degree 36' 34.77 E

This trek was very much rejected by me right from the begining, and I should thank the Aahoyzz team( Balaj, Nirmal, and Karthik), for motivating and haunting me with pictures of Thadiyendamol. Its the pictures that they showed, made me change my mind, and join the Aahoyzz team for the trek.

It was on 20th Dec, I Left late from office and reached the railway station a few minutes before the train departed, to know that Balaj and Nirmal was not joining the trip. So it was Karthik who is known to me at that time, and all others who joined the trek were very new to me.

A jeep that took us to Honey Valley

A Honey Valley hut house

Chingara Falls ( A tiny Falls near Honey Valley )

minutes before sunset

tea estates of Honey Valley covered with Mist

A Honey Valley Cottage where we stayed

Folwers seen in the Honey valley Garden

Karthik and Pravin taking the Lead towards Thadiyendamol

On the Way to Thadiyendamol

After reaching the peak, we realised the luch pack was left behind in the Qualis

The Team that reached the Peak

Found these creatures near the lake where We fixed our tents.

Chandan lighting up the Camp fire.

Dudes enjoying the camp fire

Mist rising up the hills
( Photo taken at 8 pm in the night with 30 sec shuttter speed. You can even see some stars at the top left corner )

Sunrise at 5.15am, as seen from the the camp site.

The Wild Male buffalo that chased me when i went near for taking a photo

Hills surrounding Thadiyendamol covered with mist

Enjoying the warmth of the sun after a chill night

I clicked this one, while climbing down the small hill. The 2 white spots on the left corner of the pic is our 2 tents, and the Hill top on the right corner is the Thadiyendamol peak.

REALITY ALWAYS BITES

That was my first encounter with a wild snake.. fortunately it was just a rat snake..

After watching many programs about handling snakes in Animal planet and Discovery.. My interest branched towards handling snakes.. I was lucky enough, that i dont have to go in search of snakes, but snakes came in search of me.. Residing in a place surrounded by thorny bushes was really very advantageous to spot lot of snakes during the dry seasons..

On an eneving walk back from college, I had my first encounter, and with the knowledge from what i saw from Discovery cannel, i cought hold of the snake's tail, and started to pull it from under the asbestos sheet. I kept on pulling until it came out completely, reached 6 feet to see its head. the length of the snake scared me a lot... I just dragged the snake near to a plant. When it climbed the plant and i left its tail..

That was the first time i handled a snake.. and my mom clicked a snap..
But the rest of the images were taken by me.. I SWARE..

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SPARROW & its spotted eggs

When i was walking after a heavy dinner on sunday (10.45 pm)When i was crossing a tree, i saw a bird flying away, as if it was trying to distract my attention. It didnt fly away, but flew a little distance, and sat on the near by tree. I didnt notice it properly and went back home.

The next day morning , when i was crossing the same place, i saw the same sparrow, flying from that tree. I just saw a nest like structure on that tree, That day night, i took my camera, and went to the tree, and found the sparrow, resting in its fully built new nest.. I just clicked one single shot and the bird flew because of the flash light..

I didnt disturb it for the next 3 days and on the 4th day, i was able to see three little beet-red colour spotted eggs. From that day onwards i started clicking snaps to record its growth cycle........ The rest of the story , my photos will explain you...

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LIGTNIING SERIES

It was a stormy day during the mid of November, I packed my bags with some eatables and juices , to climb the near-by water tank that belongs to the college where i studied. By the time the clock struck 6, was all set and the sky became dark and started to roar.

It was my first expedition for a lightning photo..

Since I was lightly dressed, i started to shiver when it was 7, I was ready with my gear, was all set, but was hardly able to bear the chillness of the breeze, after getting fully wet in the drizzle..

I started to shiver, and rushed back home, with a great disappointment.. - but with a lesson learnt..( next time never concentrate on the snacks and juices, rather concentrate on the outfits.. Coz , its a long dreamt expedition, and not a picnic..)

Fortunately.... I waited for te next 5 months for the next heavy shower. This time, the weather was not chill, rather it was pleasant and dry.

Packed my gear, and reached the same water tank, to find a new obstacle. The security guard was standing exactly right in front of the gate, The good thing was, he didnt recognise me. I waited for the chance to sneak through the gate, when he moves away. Then it started to thunder, thank God, he left that place in a hurry as if he has got a great mission to accomplish. I just laughed at him, and started climbing the 10 storied tall tank.

Once i reached the top, i was in my own little world. Set my gear on time , that it started to tunder with eavy flashes. I just started clicking untill the i reached my last frame. Since the intensity of the lightning was so high, My eyes got flashed off.. and couldnt predict what i have clicked..

The real fun started when i reached down the tank after finishing my expedition, to find the gates locked. It was then i understood the reason why the security guard ran when it was about to rain - to bring the keys to lock the gate.. I just laughed at myself and had to spend the rest of the night on top of the tank , till 8 am, for the guard to come and open the gate..
I had to wait till i got the first set of prints in hand. The prints that i saw made me wonder , whether was it i who clicked those images...