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Sep 21, 2010

Sowmyatta is a bona fide city girl

This was my status message on facebook. If any one wonders why I said that - out of plain realization. This is regarding my hiking/camping trip this past Saturday. I will be honest when I say that I am not an outdoorsy person who enjoys such trips every weekend. I like to keep it once in a blue moon event. Cz when it happens, I want to feel good about it. I was very excited about this trip cz it had been an awfully long time that I had a chance to get out of the town, closer to the nature. The hills, the greens and the waters. Refreshing!

So we start the day with a quick breakfast and drive to the destination. The drive was great cz we ditched the highway and took the country roads, some through typical southern small town downtowns. The tallest building in this downtown was three floors I think. Old architecture, people sweeping the floor outside their stores and getting ready for the day, one lane roads - pretty country I must say. Very neat!

Another highlight of the drive was an interesting conversation - about travels and cultures and foods and people and all the things I like :)

So after we reached, had a snack and set up the tents, we were ready to get started with the almost all day long hike, which by the way was pretty vertical. And good thing was that I didn't know that before I started. We took frequent breaks at spring waters on the way, and the castle for more super interesting conversations.

The only bad part about the day was the heat. It was 95F and I had forgotten my sunscreen. And as y'all know brown people tan easier and faster, I was burnt by the end of the day. Few of us wanted to stay back and camp for the night (me too). But after the tiresome hike, and sun burns, and more heat I decided to ditch the plan and drive back. This was the moment when I realized that all these unnecessary hardships are not my cup of tea.

The first thing I did after I got back home was to take a shower and do my hair and nails. And then went to bed. Had a very good night's sleep that night after sweating the toxins out. All in all I had a wonderful time. But I also realized that there are some things I definitely want to stay away -
1. Too much heat
2. Dust
3. Public bathrooms

TIP: When going for a hike, NEVER forget this stuff. It might just save your life.
Sun screen, water, more water, some Gatorade and a back pack. Bonus if you carry a camera with you :)

By the way, a question - When the human race has advanced enough to come up with life saving technology like Air conditioning, mattresses and lights, why would you want to put a stuffy tent in the middle of no where in scorching heat and sleep on the hard surface. If you know the answer please let me know :)