It all began in January, when one of our staff members suggested that we go for an outing. After a quick family council meeting with my parents, the dates were fixed for the end of March—and just like that, planning began for what would become a self-sponsored trip for our entire ministry gang.
The journey kicked off on 26th March at 8:30 pm as we all boarded a bus to Katpadi station, while the senior citizens chose the comfort of a car. Spirits were high, kids were excited and of course—ice cream at the station was mandatory.
We boarded the train around midnight. Between noisy co-passengers and general excitement, sleep was more of a suggestion than a reality.
By morning, we reached Dindigul and hopped into a van towards Kodaikanal. A delicious breakfast and hot coffee revived our souls, and that’s when my in-laws joined us. We then upgraded to their car for the uphill journey—which, for me, turned into a survival challenge.
Lack of sleep had given me a headache that worsened as we drove uphill. I was very close to throwing up, but somehow managed to hold it together like a champion.
Our first stop, Silver Cascade Falls, was absolutely beautiful—perfect for pictures.
After checking into the hotel and doing a quick refresh, we headed out again to cover Pillar Rocks, Pine Forest, Guna Caves, and Moir Point. By the end of it, we were less like tourists and more like survivors of a scenic marathon. My 5 year old who slept at 5 pm that day, woke up only the next morning around 8!
Dinner at a nearby hotel, followed by games, brought everyone back to life, and thankfully, we all slept well that night.
The next morning felt much better. After breakfast, we headed for boating and then to Bryant Park, where the kids had a great time playing frisbee while we took plenty of pictures.
Then came cycling around the lake—which sounded like a great idea… at the time.
Judy and Loreitta confidently rode a double-seater. My husband heroically managed another double-seater with our kids, Amy and Jeremy, Meanwhile, I was pedaling along with my nephew Nemo… until I realized my cycle had no air.
Pedaling suddenly felt like pushing a tractor uphill. I swapped cycles with Anshu for some time and after feeling bad for him, gave him his cycle back and swapped the cycle with my husband, who then went on a mission to find air for the tyre. What should have been a relaxed ride turned into a one-hour endurance test just to circle the lake. By the end, we were completely exhausted!
After a well-deserved lunch at a crowded roadside hotel (Mary Akka's hotel that had plenty of reviews on insta), we began our downhill journey back. We visited a museum on the way and thankfully reached the bottom with no vomiting casualties😂
Despite the sleepless night, the headache, the near-vomit moment, and the tyre episode… it was truly a beautiful trip filled with laughter, chaos, and lots of memories.
10/10 would travel again… but maybe with better sleep and fully inflated tyres next time. 😄
