Bulletin 2006 - 03 - 19
OnliNews 19, March 2006
PGP 2: Tour of Kerala
Trichy, 15-03-2006: This year the PGP 2 students of BIM went on a short visit to God’s Own Country. The annual tour this year was from the 1st of March to the 5th. It was a truly exhilarating experience to be part of this amazing group of budding managers on a tour of Kerala.
Watching professionals unwind is not a sight you’re treated to every day. Those four days were a revelation in many ways. On 28th February at around 6.30 pm, a hooting and howling horde of business administrators left the BIM campus in a bus and two vans. Arriving at the Trichy Junction railway station, this multitude of managers flowed into the railway station in a bubbling stream. Their objective of boarding the Tea Garden Express was accomplished with optimal effort. The members of the BIM family were spread out in two coaches and once the journey had started the revelry began. Except for a short break during dinnertime, the incessant activities continued late into the night. Dumb Charades, Antaksharies, Photo Shoots, Chat Sessions and Card Games were some of the activities that kept the BIMites occupied.
The BIMites who made the mistake of going to sleep were woken up at 3.00 am by Manikandan, who was under the mistaken impression that the train would reach Trissur by 3.30 am. The train arrived at the Trissur railway station at around 4.45 am. The BIMites disembarked in their usual casual manner and took a surprisingly short time to assemble on the platform.
The tour organizers had tied up with Panicker’s Travels, a reliable name in tourism, to operate this trip. There were three luxury buses waiting at the Trissur Railway Station. There was a swift rush to get into the buses. The BIMites settled into the buses with their respective gangs and friends. After that the tour organizers made a few preliminary announcements and a check was made to ensure that all the members of the touring party were there. The BIMites, most of whom had been waiting for an opportunity to continue their disturbed slumber, went to sleep and the buses set course for Munnar.
Arriving at the Sree Narayana Tourist Home in Munnar, room allocations were done and the people prepared for the visit to the Dam after a quite hearty breakfast at the S. N. Restaurant. The dam visit was pretty good with many students venturing out into the lake on speedboats. The 40 odd knots the boats did made the most adventurous of them scream with delight and the daredevils were ecstatic when there were heart-stopping turns. Some of the BIMites went for a ride on the more docile and bigger boats.
There were also photo shoots amidst the tea gardens during which some BIMites had the exclusive experience of being driven out by the gardens’ watchmen. After a visit to the Echoing Point, which was cut short by the steadily increasing drizzling, the bunch returned to the restaurant for a very late lunch that was arranged for them by the organizers.
To be specially mentioned during these trips on the mountains in the buses are the human gyroscopes who always remained in horizontal position irrespective of the terrain on which the buses moved. This was an excellent tactic against the new group activity in which a part of the BIM family was engaged in tandem.
That evening there was a campfire organized near the S. N. Tourist Home and all the BIMites participated in the dance party. The highlight of that evening’s dance party was Manikandan’s Magic Moment, which will be long remembered. After a timely dinner, the BIMites went back to sleep. The first day of the tour was cool.
It was during the next day that the BIMites became aware that life in God’s Own Country was not as heavenly as it seemed. The people in Kerala seem to have a very strong belief that if they did not have at least a single bandh or hartal in a week, then it was a week wasted. So the people’s representatives, the people’s leaders and the people treat themselves to regular orgies of general strikes. So in order to make sure that the visiting tourists got a taste of the other face of Kerala, a daylong bandh protesting George Bush’s visit was organized. This resulted in the tour plan being jolted a bit.
Since the BIMites were stuck up in the mountains without anything worthwhile to do, the tour organizers arranged for a trekking expedition to the top of a nearby mountain. Those who were wary of strenuous physical exercise were provided with a jeep to reach the summit. The people who did not go for trekking went for boat rides in the nearby Blossom International Park. The others ventured into Munnar town for some shopping and sightseeing. The entire day was spent in Munnar enjoyably and the organizers ensured that all the people had nothing to complain about. The Cherai Beach Trip was postponed due to the bandh. The buses left Munnar in the evening and moved on to Kochin. The Riyan Hotel was where the students were lodged during their stay in Kochin. The BIMites went to bed after a late dinner. The second day was interesting.
The third day of the tour was in many ways the most eagerly awaited. The visit to Veegaland, one of the anchors of the tour plan, was on the third day. The students started early from the Riyan Hotel. Even before starting, the hero of BIM 21 Manikandan caused enormous consternation to the hotel administration by getting himself locked inside the hotel elevator during a power cut. After the successful rescue operation, the relieved BIMites left for Veegaland. The short ride to the theme park was uneventful. Once the touring party reached the place, tickets were bought for all the people and quite a few people missed the half-ticket mark (in height) very narrowly.
The whole day was one fun filled frolic. All the people enjoyed the dry rides, such as the dashing cars, the double twist, the flying boat and the space gun. Even some who were afraid to try these rides tried them out and came out happy. The water games held more fascination for all the BIMites. After around 12.00 am, almost all the BIMites were in the pools. The rapid river was the favourite ride and many of the people went in them more than thrice. Those who wanted thrills went in for the riskier rides. Even there, the genius of the BIMites was apparent when they did a massive advertising exercise forming a huge human chain in the pool. There was a minor ruckus when Varmakalai Varadarajan, a student council representative, displayed his negotiating prowess using tactics that highlighted his soft skills. On the whole, the day was memorable and elated the spirits of the BIMites.
That evening when the BIMites returned from Veegaland, some of them wanted to do some shopping in Kochin and went to M. G. Road. The roads became deserted after 9.00 pm and there was a short downpour which made thing worse. It proved to be a night of adventure for quite a few people who ventured out into Kochin. All the people made it safely back to Riyan Hotel.
The next morning, the people packed up their things and went out into Kochin for shopping, sightseeing, boating and just loafing around. In the afternoon, the party except for a few explorers went to Chirai Beach. They had fun and played games on the beach. After 7.00 pm, the people came to the Ernakulam Junction railway station. The Tea Garden Express picked up the entire group. The return journey to Trichy was also fun-filled. The BIMites were given interesting tips on social responsibility by a friendly railway guard. The games and music went on for quite some time.
The BIMites reached Trichy at around 6.00 am on the 5th of March. Two vans were arranged to transport the exhausted but ecstatic group back to campus. Thus ended the PGP 2 Tour. It was an immensely enjoyable experience that will be remembered by all the people who went for the tour. The tour organizers deserve thanks and praise for the way in which the entire trip was planned, organized and executed.
Watching professionals unwind is not a sight you’re treated to every day. Those four days were a revelation in many ways. On 28th February at around 6.30 pm, a hooting and howling horde of business administrators left the BIM campus in a bus and two vans. Arriving at the Trichy Junction railway station, this multitude of managers flowed into the railway station in a bubbling stream. Their objective of boarding the Tea Garden Express was accomplished with optimal effort. The members of the BIM family were spread out in two coaches and once the journey had started the revelry began. Except for a short break during dinnertime, the incessant activities continued late into the night. Dumb Charades, Antaksharies, Photo Shoots, Chat Sessions and Card Games were some of the activities that kept the BIMites occupied.
The BIMites who made the mistake of going to sleep were woken up at 3.00 am by Manikandan, who was under the mistaken impression that the train would reach Trissur by 3.30 am. The train arrived at the Trissur railway station at around 4.45 am. The BIMites disembarked in their usual casual manner and took a surprisingly short time to assemble on the platform.
The tour organizers had tied up with Panicker’s Travels, a reliable name in tourism, to operate this trip. There were three luxury buses waiting at the Trissur Railway Station. There was a swift rush to get into the buses. The BIMites settled into the buses with their respective gangs and friends. After that the tour organizers made a few preliminary announcements and a check was made to ensure that all the members of the touring party were there. The BIMites, most of whom had been waiting for an opportunity to continue their disturbed slumber, went to sleep and the buses set course for Munnar.
Arriving at the Sree Narayana Tourist Home in Munnar, room allocations were done and the people prepared for the visit to the Dam after a quite hearty breakfast at the S. N. Restaurant. The dam visit was pretty good with many students venturing out into the lake on speedboats. The 40 odd knots the boats did made the most adventurous of them scream with delight and the daredevils were ecstatic when there were heart-stopping turns. Some of the BIMites went for a ride on the more docile and bigger boats.
There were also photo shoots amidst the tea gardens during which some BIMites had the exclusive experience of being driven out by the gardens’ watchmen. After a visit to the Echoing Point, which was cut short by the steadily increasing drizzling, the bunch returned to the restaurant for a very late lunch that was arranged for them by the organizers.
To be specially mentioned during these trips on the mountains in the buses are the human gyroscopes who always remained in horizontal position irrespective of the terrain on which the buses moved. This was an excellent tactic against the new group activity in which a part of the BIM family was engaged in tandem.
That evening there was a campfire organized near the S. N. Tourist Home and all the BIMites participated in the dance party. The highlight of that evening’s dance party was Manikandan’s Magic Moment, which will be long remembered. After a timely dinner, the BIMites went back to sleep. The first day of the tour was cool.
It was during the next day that the BIMites became aware that life in God’s Own Country was not as heavenly as it seemed. The people in Kerala seem to have a very strong belief that if they did not have at least a single bandh or hartal in a week, then it was a week wasted. So the people’s representatives, the people’s leaders and the people treat themselves to regular orgies of general strikes. So in order to make sure that the visiting tourists got a taste of the other face of Kerala, a daylong bandh protesting George Bush’s visit was organized. This resulted in the tour plan being jolted a bit.
Since the BIMites were stuck up in the mountains without anything worthwhile to do, the tour organizers arranged for a trekking expedition to the top of a nearby mountain. Those who were wary of strenuous physical exercise were provided with a jeep to reach the summit. The people who did not go for trekking went for boat rides in the nearby Blossom International Park. The others ventured into Munnar town for some shopping and sightseeing. The entire day was spent in Munnar enjoyably and the organizers ensured that all the people had nothing to complain about. The Cherai Beach Trip was postponed due to the bandh. The buses left Munnar in the evening and moved on to Kochin. The Riyan Hotel was where the students were lodged during their stay in Kochin. The BIMites went to bed after a late dinner. The second day was interesting.
The third day of the tour was in many ways the most eagerly awaited. The visit to Veegaland, one of the anchors of the tour plan, was on the third day. The students started early from the Riyan Hotel. Even before starting, the hero of BIM 21 Manikandan caused enormous consternation to the hotel administration by getting himself locked inside the hotel elevator during a power cut. After the successful rescue operation, the relieved BIMites left for Veegaland. The short ride to the theme park was uneventful. Once the touring party reached the place, tickets were bought for all the people and quite a few people missed the half-ticket mark (in height) very narrowly.
The whole day was one fun filled frolic. All the people enjoyed the dry rides, such as the dashing cars, the double twist, the flying boat and the space gun. Even some who were afraid to try these rides tried them out and came out happy. The water games held more fascination for all the BIMites. After around 12.00 am, almost all the BIMites were in the pools. The rapid river was the favourite ride and many of the people went in them more than thrice. Those who wanted thrills went in for the riskier rides. Even there, the genius of the BIMites was apparent when they did a massive advertising exercise forming a huge human chain in the pool. There was a minor ruckus when Varmakalai Varadarajan, a student council representative, displayed his negotiating prowess using tactics that highlighted his soft skills. On the whole, the day was memorable and elated the spirits of the BIMites.
That evening when the BIMites returned from Veegaland, some of them wanted to do some shopping in Kochin and went to M. G. Road. The roads became deserted after 9.00 pm and there was a short downpour which made thing worse. It proved to be a night of adventure for quite a few people who ventured out into Kochin. All the people made it safely back to Riyan Hotel.
The next morning, the people packed up their things and went out into Kochin for shopping, sightseeing, boating and just loafing around. In the afternoon, the party except for a few explorers went to Chirai Beach. They had fun and played games on the beach. After 7.00 pm, the people came to the Ernakulam Junction railway station. The Tea Garden Express picked up the entire group. The return journey to Trichy was also fun-filled. The BIMites were given interesting tips on social responsibility by a friendly railway guard. The games and music went on for quite some time.
The BIMites reached Trichy at around 6.00 am on the 5th of March. Two vans were arranged to transport the exhausted but ecstatic group back to campus. Thus ended the PGP 2 Tour. It was an immensely enjoyable experience that will be remembered by all the people who went for the tour. The tour organizers deserve thanks and praise for the way in which the entire trip was planned, organized and executed.
posted by BIM News Agency @ 12:14 am
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