Oh, the trip was wonderful. Unforgettable. Memorable. One of the best! Even the seasoned members among us, including me, had a blast. We all have a childlike spirit hidden inside—an adventurer, a fun lover, an experimenter, and an explorer. On this trip, that child came out to play. Old or not, we love group activities, and this trip reminded us how young we still feel. There was no shortage of joy.

Believe it or not, it took us 12 hours to reach Swamimalai. But first, let me tell you about breakfast. A new upscale restaurant had recently opened near our house, and my wife and I had visited it a few times. The manager (or owner, not sure) took a special interest in us, likely because of our age and my eyesight. He even told me that if we ever needed food delivered, I could just call him directly. A few days before the trip, I asked him to prepare 20 neatly packed breakfast parcels. 

He was excited and promised top-notch packaging—leak-proof plates with compartments for each item. He included idli, dosa, poori, vadai, pongal, and sides like chutneys, sambhar, molaga podi, and even a dessert. He also provided small water bottles. Considering it was an upscale restaurant; the cost was surprisingly reasonable. On the day of travel, he delivered the packages promptly, taking payment only after delivery. The entire group was thrilled with the beautifully packed breakfast. 

After leaving the city limits, we took a break to eat. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and soon, we were back on the road. A couple of hours later, we stopped for coffee at a well-regarded restaurant I had already scouted in Madurantakam. With kids in tow, though, coffee wasn’t the only thing on the menu—ice cream and snacks also made an appearance, costing us another hour. 

Along the way, someone chatted with the driver about alternative routes. To our surprise, we found ourselves heading toward the Chola monument at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This site is said to have been intended as the Chola capital and is home to a temple resembling the iconic Big Temple of Thanjavur, renowned for its architecture. Gangaikonda Cholapuram has evolved into more of a picnic spot, with pleasant surroundings around the temple. Although our stop was brief, it ate up more time. 

Our next stop was for lunch at a well-known restaurant in Chidambaram. While the food was good, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. Nonetheless, we continued in good spirits, despite being tired. We finally arrived at the resort around 6:30 p.m. 

After a quick wash, each family set out to explore the resort. Known for its museum, the resort houses artifacts and has rooms where notable figures like Kanchi Sankaracharya (Periyaval) and revolutionary poet Bharathiar had once stayed. There was also a pool and a “pump set” bath—a large pipe gushing water, which the kids loved. Even my son couldn’t resist taking a dip under the simulated pump set! 

With the day slipping away, we had to abandon our plan to visit nearby temples. While my schedule was slightly disrupted, I had accounted for these possibilities. So, we headed straight to the dining hall for dinner. 

The next morning, we had to leave by 6:30 a.m. I made arrangements for an early breakfast since the regular service only began at 7:30 a.m. After that, we all crashed for the night, exhausted but content.

Contd. 329. Energy, Synergy and Company - Part 5