The 11th graders of PSBB Nungambakkam departed for their last IAYP (International Award for Young People) trip on the 25th January, participating to win the Gold Award after clearing the Bronze & Silver stages.
This time they had the longest trip they had had together – 4 Days and 5 Nights. The students started at 9:30 pm on Tuesday from the Central Station beaming, and waiting to see what was in store for them this time. After having arrived at Mysore the next morning and having breakfast, they immediately proceeded to Coorg which was almost a 4-hour drive.
Given only 15 minutes to refresh themselves, at a private cottage, Iyne Manes by name, and having a good lunch, they proceeded for a 6-km trek.
Flowers, plants, wild grass, thorns, insects at their sides, they trudged up the hill, panting and sweating profusely. After all, it was afternoon. This was quite exhausting since they were already tired after the long journey up to Coorg.
The students were asked to find their own way back, and a group of about 10-15 even lost their way back in the night! With no lights at their aid, they somehow managed to find their way back, having their iPods switched on to see the rocky path ahead. Obviously, some tripped and fell, but the excitement of getting lost in the woods with the closest of friends took over all their tiredness. Yes, they weren’t upset or even least bit worried!
They finally found their way back, citing the Northern Star and reached safely. Sounds cool eh? It definitely was cold in the night! After a typical Keralite Dinner and fresh fruit cream salad, picked right from the plantations, a bonfire was lit up! Sheila Ki Jawani, Munni Badnam Hui and a host of other hits from all languages echoed through the hills and the students danced to the tunes. Of course, 10.45 was the curfew. Grudgingly, we finally dispersed to our respective dorms at 11.15 pm, and sans hesitation put ourselves in the hands of Mother Sleep, for a long day awaited us.
Again, it was a trek up the hills, only this time longer – 20 km. However, it did not pass without event. This time a bunch of students lost their way again! This time it was because of following the wrong footprints. And yet again, none of them were afraid of encountering the wild animals, but enjoyed the moment and took photographs together calling themselves the “Lost Gang”. This time, they managed to call their coordinator and found the right path.
Re-joining with the group of 80 students, they traced their steps back to the cottages early evening. After tea, we drove back to Mysore and checked into the Vyshak Hotel. Early morning, on Friday, we left for Kuntabetta, where we did the activities – Rappelling, River Crossing and Chimney Climbing. A game of Kho-Kho between the City boys & the Village Boys followed, with the rest of the students cheering on both the teams. The Village boys clearly won by a large margin – they were too fast!
On our way back to Mysore, we visited a Buddhist Monastery, and the peace, the quiet, the serenity, the beauty of the place just overwhelmed us all, satisfying all of us.
The last day, Saturday, was the day of sight-seeing. We started early morning after breakfast and proceeded to Melkote, the town where the famous Vishnu Temple is situated. The Mysore Palace was our last stop before we boarded the Kaveri Express, back home.
Saniya joined the Team YOCee as Student Reporter for the year 2007 – 08. She continues to report for YOCee since then.
Saniya is a student of Padma Seshadri Bal Bhavan, Nungambakkam branch. She has a concern for the world around her. Protection of environment and making young people aware of the benefits of green and pollution-free environment is her mission. She writes on her blog – http://aspireblog.wordpress.com/
nice report! what is International Award for Young People trip? Who conducts them?
Thank you Nandini. You can get all the information about IAYP at this site. – http://www.iayp.in/
My school has this made available to students from Std. 9.
oh ok i’ll see the website..