25th Dec’09 was an enthralling experience. It was Christmas day – A holiday observed all over to celebrate birth day of Jesus Christ. For me, being a non-Christian (in this birth), it’s all about a days off coupled with rich plum cakes and strengthening secular belief. It being on Friday, was going to be an long weekend. Mind was already on work to plan out a good outing. After getting rejection from couple of nature and wild-life trips on account of heavy rush and unavailability of tickets, I thought of going to ‘Wonderla’. It’s an amusement park 45 kilometers away from my residence. My good old friend Shyma joined in this adventure. We planned to start at 10am and be there by 11.30am to experience all fun and get maximum value for our money. Stuffed ourselves with good breakfast and started at 12noon. It’s said ‘It is a bad plan that admits no modification’. Though keen to make it early, Out lazy weekend life style modified this and we reached wonderla at 1.30pm. The drive was so-so until we hit outskirts of blore. The road was full of traffic both ways. Reliance on google map further added to delay. That’s weakness of modern age – depending on technology for each and every thing. Google map threw up a map and I followed this to end up in a more longer and confusing route. No blame to google, it is only lack of sense called common.
The drive on Mysore road was a breeze. We zoomed through in no time. The parking lot seemed full and I was directed to park at extreme end of a line. We walked into ticket counter and got into the exciting play ground called wonderla. Setup in around 100 acres of land, It is one of the largest in India with more then 50 themes.
As we got in, there was no leaflet explaining various rides available and their direction. We just followed our instinct. We were hungry and decided to have food first followed by dry rides and water rides. Climate was mix of sunny and cloudy. We got into cloak/changing room. Took a big locker to store all our stuff. Changed to shorts and got ready for the o-lala experience. The restaurant was average. The sandwiches we ordered had hardly anything inside it. Gobi Manchurian was good though.
The park has wide range of attractions including gut stirring crazy rides, high thrill rides, water slides, cine magic, cars, free falls, swings and two large pools with waves to name few. The first ride we took was interesting. Its swings, rotates clockwise and reverse. When you challenge the fear, its fun. We screamed, shouted and laughed to show that we are no scared and enjoying it. Then we got into a ride that has a cart shape and rotates clock wise. It has more height, but lacks thrill.
The queues were long. waiting time was varying from 30minutes to 1 hr. It sucks, but no other option. After couple of other rides and cine magic, we jumped into pools. These were plain pools with sliders. It was fun. Jumping into water after long time. Management is sensible; they had created a separate pool dedicated to ladies and kids. Then we got into big water rides and made to wait 1 hr. It was so-so. Before you think whats happening, where is the fun –you will be on the other side.
Then the most nicest thing came. Swimming in a pool that generates sea like wave. They release waves every 1 hr for around 20 minutes. That’s more than enough. The waves go up to 2 meters at origin and matches sea sans sand. We spent almost 45 minutes – trying to reach each corner, taking wife and piggyback, giving a shot to swim type that we hardly do now. It was a blast. The water was rich in chlorine which was little repulsive. Everyone was enjoying the water and waves. Guards were alert and monitoring keenly to avoid any mishap. IT was 5 pm by then. Sun was setting and climate was getting chiller. We ran to cloak room and got back in dry clothes. The process of changing and keeping at cloak room takes lots of time. And people keep the word ‘shame’, ‘shy’ in their locker. Most men are either bare bodied with small short. Girls little conservative. That’s good. We are Indians.
After having almost 15-20 rides and play in pool, we lost all the energy and needed food. Had dosas and tea. They were good. We din’t had any more interest or energy to get engaged in any more happenings. Rain disco was on. Crackers were bursted for long 15 minutes, making a sort of diwali celebration. Area was nicely lit. We bid farewell. Walking up to car was a tough task. Muscles and joints were not supportive. Journey back home was nice. I followed commonsense and reached home early without being misguided on road. At home, we had simple and yummy Bengali food. Very poor in remembering those delicacies, so won’t disclose the distorted names.
And at the end, we had plum cakes to celebrate the Christmas in true spirit ( or as I believe. Being a foodie, I attach a dish to an occasion. Can’t help it).
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