route Malakkapara - Valpara

The reporting time was at 6.15am at Athani bus stop, woke up at 5am after morning chores moved to Lissie jn for the bus to Aluva as it was only 5.45 metro have not started operation got a Aluva bus but as it was the first trip the they waited on all stops by 6.30 reached make meanwhile Vinod was frantically calling me get  my location but I lied them that I have reached Aluva and moving to Athani waited for some time, didn’t see any bus to Athani side, so plan B  Uber and reached Athani trip vehicle Breeza was waiting there

Moved from Athani to Chalakudy so heard or 5th guy is on the bus and so we had our breakfast and waited for him

Started from Chalakudy as it was Sunday no oncoming vehicle so it was a nice ride upto Vazhachal check post after getting our pass moved thru the forest to our final location, most of the road in some places were severely damaged due to the floods by 10:30 we reached our location

Tapioca from Chalakudy and Chicken & essential items from the shop  and moved down the  steep downhill for about 2 hours taking rest on the way and so many big stories from   our host reached  the home thru winding narrow paths atlast a small stream crossing over rocks and a  wooden bridge, so all were busy helping the host cutting the tapioca, cleaning chicken and a big fish was also brought by a friend of the host, we had a sumptuous lunch with rice, fish fry & salad

A colony where the entire family goes for fishing grows vegetable only things they buy is essential items are  cooking oil rice, few years back they don't have electricity but now they have electricity & dish TV

Fishing is mostly done on late evenings from 6pm upto 12am in catchment areas infested with elephants, bison & wild pigs

By 3.00 pm we moved again down hill for about 3 pm another down hill to the catchment area the banks were covered with white sand upto 20 feet height, roamed around the white sand searching for elephants, the rest of them busy roving the rafts.

A elephant herd was seen on the opposite bank with a baby elephant slowly came down played a while in the water, we were on the other bank I was with a Chetan others were on the changadam (raft) all had a raft and sailing on the catchment area.

The herd slowly started swimming so Chetan advised if the herd was coming to our direction we have to move from here, the others who were on the raft seeing the elephant swimming suddenly took the rafts to the banks and alighted

Luckily the herd crossed just opposite to the bank and vanished into the bamboo reeds and started feeding

Lech attack at its best most of them had the taste of the bite but my potion of salt water which I carry on all treks to forest was handy to remove them

So by 7.30 we were back home, Amma was busy preparing dinner for us

Tapioca, Chicken curry, fish fry & long beans from the backyard so a yummy dinner, early to bed

We had a nice cosy home to stay with 2 bed rooms, with bed & blankets not so cool as we where in a valley , woke up early we have to up early before the sun rises, or else it would be difficult to climb the steep slopes

So packed our bags got long beans seed & green chilly for everyone grown from the backyard , said goodbye to hosts and moved from there reached top by about 10am started or long journey thru the winding roads to Chalakudy

By 2.30pm we reached Vasuvetante kada a famous place for good homely food at Pota Elanjipra road, as it was Sunday & fasting season have started most of the specials are out of stock but we managed to get Chicken, Beef, Sardine fry and free mutton & duck gravy all for about  Rs.500, dropped us at Angamaly bus stand and from there KSRTC – metro reached home

An exciting, adventurous, thrilling hike