Singapore to Vallanadu :)

The month of School memories continues…..

The title may sound weird because you might be thinking what would be the connection between Singapore and Vallanadu. 

Singapore as you all knows it is one of the finest nations in the world and an absolute destination of tour. 

Vallanadu, for those who don’t know let me give a brief note about that. It’s a river bank in the out skirts of Tirunelveli. 

This episode goes back to XI grade ! It is a travel between Singapore and Vallanadu. Our school is very famous for taking trips to different destination every year for all our students. The usual spot always used to be Trekking. They also took us to Trivandrum and Kanyakumari once. Since we were in XI grade, we spoke to our Principal madam for a different destinations not the normal ones. Really what made her think she came up with a surprise plan, it was to Singapore. We were like laughing inside but as she explained the trip we all were like mentally excited. As an initiative within few days, a Trip advisor came and gave us a budget of Rs.15,000 – 20,000 I vaguely remember as Student Educational Trip. Few of us including me were game for it. The next day, even the passport agents queued up in Principal’s room. I remember my friends Marium and someone else, spontaneously applied for the same too. I didn’t apply because I had a pinch of doubt that this trip might not work out. The drama of hopes and building of castle went on for a week. 

But, as we all expected it didn’t work out. Our management heads for some reason weren’t in a mood to approve. But our princi madam, didn’t gave up. She and Sunil teamed up and spoke to our School photographer and planned a trip to Kerala & Veegaland. The drama continued again for a week. I was ready for any trip whatever it was planned. But as the drama ended a week’s time, the photographer told its raining heavily in Kerala so will not be the right time to go. We were like completely in a mood to give up. 

But somehow after a week’s time, again teamed up with Sunil and requested Princi madam for a Trekking to a different location. But our class girls were against it and the trip got cancelled. 

We were like completely shattered. 

It was over a week, I entered school that day around 8.30 a.m. Still remember Sunil and Syed were running towards me to the Bike stand. Sunil had a very broad smile in his face. I was thinking that something big trip has been confirmed. But the real comedy was awaiting. Syed came and told we are going to Vallanadu for a one day excursion. Sunil asked me to run to my home back again and come with Instruments of Entertainment and loads to eat. With no choice we were happy with the trip. I rushed home, packed up a trousers and a towel. Quickly grabbed my Walkman and few cassettes along with a Tweeter ( A Small speaker kind of thing). Syed and Abi I guess made sure that bus was loaded with Snacks. 

The bus started at around 9.15 and travelled a very long distance of 5-6 kms which took 900 seconds to reach the destination. You all must be calculating 900 seconds I know, lemme tell its just 15 minutes. 

We had no clue what we are going to do by going there. Our Principal madam and our Favorite Botany Abinayam Sundaram accompanied us. After reaching there, principal madam told common guys go to East direction about 500 meters away and swim there, myself and all girls will have fun over here. We guys, were like had no choice and made sure to make it memorable. We followed the instruction, and went 500m far. After reaching there, we all were seeing each other face like who is going to take the lead to enter the water with their Underwear. Our charismatic leader Sunil took the lead. We all followed our leader. As I always been mentioning 2 usual guys who are always apart continued to sit on the river banks. We all entered one by one. Still remember it was Noorul who kept a watch on the girl from far not to see them but to make sure they doesn’t see his 6 packs. Till end he was hiding behind a bush and enjoyed the entire stay in water. One beauty of our trip, we enjoyed every bit as if we were on a real Singapore beach but not in Thamirabharani. 

After a couple of hours of enjoyment in water, we all changed our dress and went to Bus. We all had our lunch together. Music and snacks were going with some games. We tried our best to drag the day but we returned to school around Lunch time. To our surprise we had even classed after the trip till 4. 

At the end of day, we all sat and discussing the entire moment as if we went on a real Singapore trip. We might not have discussed that much even if we would have gone to Singapore on real terms, but for local Vallanadu we had a great round table conference.

Thus this is how the journey which began in Singapore landed in Vallandu. I became a laughing stock at home, my dad still say that your school trip was one of the best trips. Started in Singapore and ended in Vallanadu, because such was the hype I was giving each time a new trip was planned every week. 

Still I would say, it was one of the best trips to remember and cherish. We were a gang of just 8 guys who always enjoyed each other’s company always and made sure we enjoyed each and every bit of moment and make it memorable. To all your surprise make us reunite even now we will still make a memorable one, such is our friendship. 

p.s.: After we passed out, our Princi madam made sure she made all the trips which we planned with her happened on real terms. Our Juniors were taken to Singapore & Malaysia. Also had trips to Kerala & Veegaland. When we went to school during our College days she gave the credits to us for making the initiative for all the trips which happened. We still had a smile that atleast we were a part of planning process of the trip even though we weren’t in the execution part. So my dear juniors who ever enjoyed the above mentioned destinations thank us, because without us those wouldn’t had been possible. 

This picture was taken way back in 2005 after passing out of School, when we visited our School and met our Principal madam.