Togetherness

Togetherness is the warmth of life……………

                                                    

As the sun of 19^th August was descending down the building clad Garden city, we had set our gaze on our wrist-watches with heart pounding fast in anticipation of the long awaited Team outing. Some of us had planned to start from the Office venue itself, while others opted to be picked up by the shuttle. The entire team was on Cloud nine and started building castles in the air as the time for departure was approaching.

Around 8.15 P.M we had a light meal, as we knew that we will have to cross a Ghats section which was coiled like a snake in motion. With fuel tanks completely filled, we set out for our endeavour around 10.30 at night. As we proceeded further, we picked-up our Team-mates who were waiting for us at the pavement of the pre-agreed location. The scene was worth seeing as it appeared as if tributaries are joining the ultimate river course.

All set to go...

After picking-up everyone the shuttle gradually picked up speed and started racing through the smooth thoroughfare. Then started the fun-time which lasted almost till the morning which included various fun activities such as antakshari, tapping of feet for various tunes, etc…..it was a picture perfect scenario of a party of youngsters.

At the dawn of 20^th August we found ourselves amidst dense foliage with a wide variety of soaring trees with Coffee plants covering a majority area. The coffee plants had very beautiful berries which reminded of cherries. Alas! We realised that we had reached Chikamagalur, which is also well known for coffee plantations apart from Kodagu. With zeal in our hearts and inquisitive expression on our faces we moved forward. Finally we reached the place where arrangement for our accommodation was made. This place was no less than cradle of nature. It was a very beautiful place with the perfect blend of fog clad mountains and lavishing green country – side. We were just dumbfounded by the vision of the scenic beauty surrounding us.

(Left) Scenic Beauty (Right) Dense Foliage

We were accommodated in a tree house which was very well maintained and some of our team mates were put up in tents which were also very good. Now I would like to list out the activities which was conducted there for us by our managers. We were taken by total surprise when we heard that there will be some interesting activities for us. But I got to say, those were the most interesting of all times. They completely helped us to know ourselves and our team. As soon as we reached our accommodation we had our morning tea and after some time we had a breakfast fit for a king.

Accommodation..

Our surprise activities started soon after our stomach filling breakfast. Our first activity was an interesting one in which the team was divided into 2 groups and there was one lead to each team. According to this activity each team had to find maximum number of flags (green, yellow and red ones) with time constraints set up for the search of flag of different colours. It was a total fun-time for all of us as we were running around holus-bolus forming a total juggernaut in the first round. Before the second round started the conditions of the game was changed, so we had to be more cautious in order to sustain the game. This made us more organised. For the third round there were few more changes to be adapted because of which we became organised to the highest level. This activity taught us a lot and we realised this as we retrospect it. The main learning what we got from this is related to trusting your fellow team member, along with planning which is the most crucial part of the team. It was a eye-opener for us as it made us realise as to every single aspect of it was related to our Project work which is our daily routine and our team members with whom we trust our life daily with.

Let me tell about the second activity, this was more interesting than the first one as it required a lot of concentration and team support. This activity was related to passing the marble from one team mate to another via pipe piece without letting it down. Both the teams were constantly striving to achieve the target of placing the marble in the cup and they succeeded also. There was a very big lesson we had to learn from it. Firstly it was as to how important it was to strategize things in life, secondly as to how important was trust in life as we had to trust the ability of our team mates in order to win the game. It was also shown to us how we encounter such instances in our day to day routine.

(Left) Activity 1(Right) Activity 2 (Team building)

After these activities, we decided to take some recreation time; we decided to go to a water fall by name Kalathgiri. It was one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. It depicted chivalrous beauty with elegance with water which appeared like the foam of milk. The waterfall was a feast for eyes. We played in the water for a long time and finally decided to come back. The trust in the Team was projected when the entire Team had to wade through the rocky terrain. The whole Team was very co-operative in helping each other to surpass the difficult terrain. That moment was very redeeming as I was very proud of my Team.

Kalathgiri falls(Left) Veerabhadra Temple at Kalathgiri Falls(Right)

We reached our accommodation somewhere around 6.30 P.M.  We set a campfire in the space available. We had very gala time dancing out there. It was one of the most nostalgic moments of our outing….not to forget the yummy barbeque chicken. After a festive mood and an extremely active day we retreated to our cosy beds with the intention to get prepared to our next day’s advent. 

The dawn of 21^st August spread its scintillating hue with the fragrance of coffee beans all over the place. With the intention to get “picture perfect” shot we started our morning walk through the deserted forest clad thoroughfare and of course we could capture lot of picture close to perfection. We came back from our morning walk and had our breakfast and prepared ourselves for the next challenge. It appeared to be a perfect scene of regiment ready for warfare.

Activity 3(Trust building)

The last activity of our outing was the most challenging of all and very educative in one way. In this activity the entire team had to carry one of its members in a stretcher considering that person to be sick and unable to walk. This enlightened us as to how the person who is helpless in the team completely places his trust on the team as he strongly believes in his team members and the everlasting hope that the Team would never let him fall down. The Team members strongly believed that the person on the stretcher completely trusted them blindly and that they should never let him down. Likewise both the teams performed this activity extremely well. These activities were the stepping stone for Team Bonding and trusting each other for their lives.

Discussion...

After this activity each one in the team briefed about their ultimate goal in their life, which made me think that we are an amalgam of apogees.

With nostalgic memories bundled in our hearts, and sweet stories to tell others, we packed our backpack and started back to the commencing point. On our way back we visited the Belur Temple, which was very enthralling by its mystic beauty. The workmanship of the engravings is worth getting applauded.

Belur Temple

With all these fruitful experiences and sweet memories to cherish, we realised the importance of trust building and bonding with the Team. This is the only way to reach great heights in life.

The Team

----Dechamma B.C