St. Stanislaus Villa, Khandala - A camp of sorts!

Fr. Robin and I enjoyed a scenic ride along the Old Bombay Pune Highway in our Maxx Pickup truck. Reached Bandra Villa as St. Stanislaus Villa is better known in these parts and met 'Farmer' Gyles (who figured his son, at 28 was bigger than me!)our host and caretaker of the Villa & his overfriendly Guard Dog (part Hound) named Ginger before cooking up our Breakfast of eggs and other stuff.

We said Mass once we learned one of our members and her offspring were still to make their way out of Mumbai.The day was peppered with rain and after we picked up our trio from Lonavala station we settled down to Lunch from El Taj- Tandoori Chicken and 'Paneer' Sagwala as misinformed to our neo-vegetarian friend who was relishing the Spinach gravy until she realized the white chunks encased in green was Chicken and not Cottage Cheese!

The next to arrive were 2 lovely ladies I first met at a camp in 1996, they strolled in around tea time and then we all went in search of the Monsoon Lake... this lake so called because it springs to life only in the monsoons! along the way I spotted an absurd sign along a treacherous 'S' bend I presume posted by a Bawa. However, I also saw signs of creativity from the Traffic Police Department.

Further down I was a bit flabbergasted to see the new developments along what once was a lonely winding road (Please Note: I'd never been down this stretch of road and was to see the Lake for the first time in my life!)... There was a plush Mall like structure advertising family entertainment, fine dining and Levis Jeans, followed by a Cafe Coffee Day outlet and a Hooka Bar! HOLY SHIT!!!

The Monsoon lake was an enchanting sight as twilight set in and the buzz of people was overcome by the serenity of the lake. We stayed for about an hour before heading back to the Villa for Feast Mass (Corpus Christi) followed by a sumptuous spread of Cutlets, Potato Chops and assorted Roast Meats (Courtesy Arlene) and regular Dinner with a bunch of bananas, Jackfruit and some lovely Chicken curry (Courtesy a bunch of house guests not showing up at the last minute and the benevolence of Farmer Gyles!) We then took a long walk through the front gate of Snehasadan, past Romeo & Juliet Swimming Pool, the Dogs (luckily tied up) and then encircled camp coming in through the rear gate. The walk was beautiful, moonlight adequate except for when we crossed the jungle and checked for 'Slithers'.

Ed trudged in around midnight along with his fishing rod built for River Fishing intent on angling at the Monsoon Lake. The next morning after Breakfast we all drove along the rear of Monsoon lake to a point in nowhere to trek up to the Saddle. Today proved to be a Rainy Day all through making our Rain Walk more complete! Atop the Saddle we spotted some adventurous trekkers blundering along the Sausages in search of the Dukes Nose and tried pointing them in the right direction. On our way back we had a Bull almost Charge at us but luckily it slipped in the muck & then changed its mind, further down in the village we came across a Wild Boar, spiky mane and all. Ed & I split from the group and walked to Lonavala station to stock up and get some Rum for Punch. Back at camp Lunch was a heap of Fried Chicken, Pulao, Salad, Vegetable, Chicken Curry & French Fries that tried hard to overshadow the previous days feast.

After walking in the rain all morning I was in for a chill so i brewed a potent concoction of Rum, Hot Water and sugar that was liked by all who tasted it! We then lazed around, chatted, tried out Eds Fishing Line (Quite a fancy rig) basically knowing deep down that the trip was coming to an end and yet trying to prolong the moment. Arlene & Maggs had tickets for the 5:05 Train and were withing for their ride, I scouted the road outside to see bumper to bumper traffic in both directions and so I chose to foot it to the highway and chart my way home. I was keen to avoid a jam and also get home soon (have now been on the road for 4 days) so I angled into Khandala Station to board the Deccan Express. I've been yearning for a train ride to Khandala in the monsoon and I got it on the rebound at just Rs. 38!

This trip was CAMP! We had it all, a Ball game, The Saddle, A lot of walking , Camp People, Mass, Fr. Robin.

Bro. Leonard Zimmer: 17.04.1971 - 15.01.1933

Brother Zimmer as was explained to me seemed like a good soul who believed the Katkharis could redeem themselves and their lives if given a chance... a chance which no one else seemed too keen to provide.

He was to have spent his life administering to the tribals who lived about 3 kilometres away from Kune Mission in a settlement now known as Kune Village. When I spent my days at Camp I often wondered why each room and wall was peppered with black boards built in and learnt that he ran training schools for the Kathkaris teaching them home and life skills, basic english, sewing, etc to make them employable while fighting the eveils of alcohol,unemployment and poverty.

The nuns from the convent looked after the medical needs of these people and helped them with food and medical supplies.

The Kune Chapel has 2 tombstones up front just before the Altar... Brother Zimmer and Fr. Idelfonso Cotta. It was obvious that both of them may have contributed much to the development of Kune but the most fascinating thing I found was that Bro. Zimmer died on the 15th January and Fr. Cotta was born on the 15th January... a date also shared by Fr. Robin and I. Fr. Robin dedicated his life to providing an exercise in good christian living to catholic families where children got a dose of adventure, music, prayer and sports. I for some inane reason chose to assist fr. Robin at the camps, developed a deep love for the place and head there even now at a drop of a hat.

This set me thinking that anyone deeply connected to Khandala and Kune was either born or died on the 15th January. Since I was born on 15th January theres a fair chance I wont die on that day!!!

Heres a link to an article I came across that mentions both Bro. Zimmer and Fr. Robin:

http://narbiindia.com/Br%20Leonard%20Zimmer.php

May Camp - 2011

Camp was at St.Stanislaus Villa this time for a duration of 8 days(Monday to Monday ending on 30th May 2011) Not too many of the old timers, and the helpers shuttled up and down juggling camp duties along with work schedules and other engagements. The helpers this time were Ryan, Neil, Edgar & Nishtha... all part of the K.B.A. that bagged second place at the Doolally Beer Olympics this year.

I've not terribly fancied Stanislaus as a campsite because it feels too civilized within its homegrown wilderness and secondly it lacks any sort of view which people could enjoy (All other camp venues offered a view of the hills and valleys, even the Nuns Hill had a view of vehicles heading back to Bombay through the Stone Arches of Khandala. Although I didn't plan to visit camp I kept getting this strong urge to go up simply to drink a couple of beers with the K.B.A.

Saturday, after celebrating my Nieces Birthday and pretty close to midnight I found myself in a Qualis bound for Khandala. I'd earlier planned to camp out in the open but it was too warm to build a fire and besides Ryan offered to pick me up from Kamats. We rode back to camp on his hunk around 3 AM, sat up with the helpers for a while and then had to go insearch of other compan as they crashed out for the night. I later crawled intp Fr. Robins Jeep to escape the Mosquitoes.

Before Long I hear Fr. Robin Pottering about and surprised him by emerging from his Jeep. (I was only in touch with Nishtha about my Plan to run uo for the weekend and later Ryan so he wast expecting to see me there. We drank Coffee and spoke about the camp, the people and my plan to head to Pune for a bit. Later on we had a game of Throwball cum Volleyball with the campers mos t of whom were still recovering from the ravages of the Garden of Eden trek the previous day.

We had Sunday Mass at 11AM and then we all took a beer break. I was to go & drop Nishtha and Caroline to the Station as they were heading back to Mumbai and intended to use that as an opportunity to head to Pune to return the Trophy mount to Doolally & have a new trophy mounted in its place. (the trophy broke in transit)

I didn't spend much time in camp but it felt good to be back among the people and the place I love so much. Here too our K.B.A. and Doolally Tshirts drew a lot of attention...!!

Once upon a time in the same old place we call Home.

For many of the Helpers I've grown up with Khandala is and always will be Home. The address may vary but a bit depending on whether we were helpers at St. Marys, Kune Mission, St. Stanislaus or Nuns Hill... those territorial lines are hazy however as the atmosphere created is what we really cherish and that will forever be the same.

Camp was a Greenhouse created by Fr. Robin, away from the hustle & bustle of the city where he took upon himself the vocation to provide catholic families a budget holiday that imbibed Christian values, sportsmanship, teamwork, sensitivity and a love for the outdoors. I recently received an sms from a fellow helper now also a Priest and it read; "If heaven is even just as good as Khandala I want to go there..." Fr. Robins now 77 (we turned 108 on 15th January 2001) and still going strong. He may no longer go to Kune or go all the way down to Eden but he does rendezvous to Khandala whenever possible with his now disbanded tribe.

Too bad theres no more camp to pass on to the youth or the little ones that may come along. Too bad fr. Robin doesn't chronicle his memoirs (that man could write a book of all his experiences)a book we all could pass down & endeavour to live by. Way back in 1996 as a new helper at Kune I stepped in the midsts of "Helper wars" (ego clashes between the junior & senior helpers) I dodged and parried my way thru both camps and struck a chord with the Big Man himself. We were synced into an uncanny wavelength where our thought wawes matched and we often spent a couple of hours together in absolute silence and still call it  a conversation!

I remember camp at a time without cell phones and email, no cars and little money. One of my regular errands during camp was to run down to the STD/ISD booth (then just 2 in the entire Khandala Village) to make calls to Bombay/leave messages at homes or offices and receive important bits of news and information and relay it back to the campers or Fr. Robin. I would also go into the village to get medicines, supplies and stop at the local cycle repair shop to pump up the balls for our games. Returning from one such occasion in a ragged Tshirt and an old canvas military bag filled with serviced camp equipment I was invited by a villager to catch a snake that entered her house!

Mohan used to own a small shop called "The Coffee House" at the Junction of the road connecting Khandala Station to the Old Bombay Pune Highway. It served up Espresso Coffee at Rupees 7/- per cup and it took 20 minutes to startup the steam machine for the espresso. So as soon as I reached the village I would ask him to start up the machine complete all my errands, pick up supplies and then return to "The best Coffee in Khandala" before heading back to camp.The Coffee House was the first to succumb to the road widening and drop in business due to the new Mumbai Pune Expressway. Mohan drove a Rickshaw for a while before dissappearing without a trace.

Another fond memory is the hill we used to walk up to the rise with our eyes closed just to experience the "dazzling lights of Khopoli!" now rendered inaccessible due to the Expressway. My frequent trips through the village made me familiar with the old village folk (maybe the ragged clothes, knives and rope that made up my attire and the troupe of campers following me along treks stuck in their minds) and they still nod in recognition whenever I stop by to pick up supplies.

Life I've realized is nothing but a culmination of our experiences at a point in time and when those memories come alive they are often larger than life itself.

The Twelfth day of Christmas

Yesterday was the Twelfth day of Christmas better known as the feast of Epiphany or Feast of the 3 Kings/wise men who according to Christian theology came from the East to pay homage to the newborn Christ-child bearing royal gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

A pals craving for fish took us along a wild goose chase to the Highway Gomantak (which is closed every Thursday) and from there on to Singhs Fish & Kabab corner in Andheri East just off the highway where we snacked on some Fried Rawas and Prawns. After that I headed off to catch up with Another friend near Chakala and we both caught up at the den of a dear old friend of ours who lives up a mount beyond a serene circular Graveyard.(Theres a thick blanket of silence that falls on the stretch thru the Graveyard and when you're dead center the circular shape makes it seem like the crosses & tombstones around are engulfing you)

We relived old times, recalled old memories and chatted with the old boy over some leftover wedding cake & freshly brewed Coffee before leaving for home. On our way we called upon another pal to join us at a Bhurji cart where we feasted on scrambled eggs, boiled eggs and Sunny side ups!

A day truly fit for Kings!!!