During my BTech days — 3rd year exam study holidays — I was stuck in that frustrating gap between exams and badly needed a break. So I decided to visit a small hill nearby that had a small church on top. The plan was simple: trek up for an hour, pray, light a few candles, and hopefully get some good grades. 😅
When I reached the top, I noticed a lush green jungle behind the church. My explorer instincts immediately kicked in, but I was too scared to go alone. I waited there wondering what to do… and luckily, a few local kids suddenly appeared from the jungle like they had just finished a trek.
The adventurer inside me woke up. I asked if they could guide me through the forest. They hesitated at first… but when they saw the packet of potato chips in my hand, a deal was quickly made. Probably one of the most questionable negotiations of my life.
From the kids I came to know that the trail was a loop covering two hills and should take about an hour. My engineering instincts kicked in, so I quickly made a route plan and backup. The kids were impressed, and I must admit I felt quite proud of myself. 😎
The first half of the trail was amazing — big boulders, thick lemon grass, a few sandalwood trees, parrots, and other beautiful birds. It felt like a perfect little adventure.
Then came the final uphill section… and the real surprise. The forest department had planted thick bamboo and eeta along the climb, making the trail height barely 3–4 feet. The kids could easily run through it, but for me it felt like entering a natural obstacle course. Bamboo thorns and splinters everywhere.
I moved slowly, trying not to get stabbed by the plants. The kids eventually got bored waiting and said, “We’ll meet you at the church,” and disappeared. Unfortunately, I had no more chips left to renegotiate with those forest ninjas. 🥷
After struggling for a couple of hours, I finally made it back to the church — shirt torn, arms scratched, looking like I had just lost a fight with nature.
I never saw those kids again. And when I reached home, I quickly wore a full-sleeve shirt to hide the evidence… because explaining this adventure to my mom felt more dangerous than the jungle itself. 😅
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