We started our base camp in a forest rest house next to Berijam lake.
Quoting from "The Art of Getting Lost",
"In the morning we went to the lake, and 'went around' the forest. The lake was peaceful and serene with a large herd of blossomed water lilies on one side. Mani had mentioned there would be an old boat tied somewhere and that we can try it but to be very careful. Nothing on the lakeshore looked like a boat landing. We walked along the shore a bit. Only me, roop, jomy and shanti were there when we found the boat. It looked pretty shaken down, with no oars visible anywhere! But we figured the couple of wooden planks lying inside the boat were supposed to be serving the purpose. I don't think any of us were on anything like this on our own and we were skeptical about whether we should try it or not. We were no rowing experts! But there we were eventually, untying the boat, stepping in hesitantly and pushing ourselves off the shore! roop and jomy were the rowers or oarers, I was the control and shanti was the observer - she was to keep observing if the water level inside the boat was rising enough to cause alarm!"
The important aspect he missed to mention is that none of us can swim in such deep waters and we had no life jackets and no one else other than us knew that we were rowing the boat. Now I think, it was a rouge choice that we made! Nevertheless, the experience out of it was truly unique.
Roop, another dear friend of mine has jotted down his trip thoughts too - http://blog.knurd.in/2008/01/ex-road-trip.html#more
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