Sonu and Shahul visit Munnar!

04-07-2009
Location: Munnar, Kerala State, India


BRROOOOOMMMMM!! ZOOOOOOMMMMM!" I stand on my toes and I can see just over the bushes. The rain pelts my rain jacket, but ha ha, it cannot get me wet! As the motor-cycle rounds the corner, I get a good look at the person driving it. "Could it be? Is is Sonu or Shahul?" The face is of an older man and the make if the motor-cycle is wrong. We anxiously await our Indian friends from Mannarkard for over an hour but the rain is getting heavy now.

"Let's go back to the hotel for a bit. We will come back in twenty minutes." Steve suggests.
I eagerly agree to escape the rain.

Just as we begin to climb the muddy road and disappear into the tea plantations towards our Zina Cottage, the cellphone rings. As Murphey's Law would have it, the moment after we leave our perch, our friends arrive!

We run down the hill and splash right through the puddles to embrace our dear friends. I am so happy to see them and to know that they arrived safely after such a long journey!

"How long did it take you?" I ask Sonu.
He counts on his fingers and then, "Nine hours, but it is worth it! We enjoy the adventure of motor-cycling!" Sonu replies.

----- Our friends Sonu and Shahul, rode their motor-cyles from their small city of Mannarkadd to Munnar to build our friendshp. We invited them to stay with us and REALLY enjoyed their company. Hours of walking, talking over chai, and motor-cycling to the National park where the mountain goat is famous-- Adventures together made our friendship grow. Just before departing, Sonu asked if he could write his account of our time together in my journal so I will allow him to narrarate our tale through his perspective :)

04-July-2009
Saturday

Today I and Shahul started the journey at 3:50 a.m. Yesterday we didn't sleep at all. I was getting ready to come and see my Steve and Teresa. My mom and papa and everybody were happy eventhough they felt little bit scared to send us above to Munnar. Because you are loved not only by me and Shahul but also by my Mom and brother and sister.

Price of petrol is hiked so as a protest against petrol price rising, there is a strike. So, the road was not rush as usual.

We reached Munnar at 2:00. When I saw Steve and Teresa waving their hands towards us, I was filled with some sort of feeling which cannot be expressed in words. We came back to the rooms and had tea.

Today afternoon, we went for walking up to the viewpoint. But Teresa was still interested with walking at a stretch. As far as I am concerned, I don't like walking very much.

As evening onwards,some sort of emotions were trying to conquer me. I asked myself, what it is but little later only I could understand that the emotions was regarding how to leave them and about planning of the coming days.

Today at this night, at right now, I am very very happy (more than you can imagine) because Steve and Teresa confirmed their decision that they will come to Mannarkkad on 24th July. Because if they are coming on 24th, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I can be with them. Yes, I can be with them! I can be with them! I am not capable ever to just imagine of their departure. I may become mad on that day. I love 24. I hate August 3rd very much. Good Night.