KL Fiat Meet - Thekkady - 2021

Fiat Club Kerala had their 4th annual meet on 20,21 November, 2021 at Thekkady, Idukki, KL.

It was their 4th meet and 1.75 years after the previous meet, corona playing the villain.
There were un-seasonal torrential rains around 1st and 2nd week of November and were casting doubts on the meet itself. However, the rains subsided just a few days before the meet much to the relief to the people expecting the fun times and also to the organizers.

Thekkady is an important tourism destination. Its a hill station (~2900 ft above sea) and has a tiger reserve/forest with a lake, just a stone's throw away from town.

There were 18 cars this time, 1 Abarth, 1 Tjet, 2 Lineas, 2 Avvy/UCs and rest 12 Puntos, from all parts of KL. These cars brought in about 42 people to the meet. The cars grouped from different locations like Calicut,Thrissur, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, Kottayam etc and planned en-route get-togethers, again through Whatsapp.
This was similar to having small poorams culminating to the famous Thrissur Pooram.

The excitement was so high, people got their beautified cars started very early in the day, even before sunrise and assembled at designated spots waiting for others to join.

<Thrissur group. Grouped at Hyson FCA>


<Ernakulam group>

A "breakfast meet" by the teams from Ernakulam and north was conducted at Ripples Drive-In Restaurant, Thodupuzha.

<Thodupuzha, mini pooram>

They proceeded to Erattupetta and Mundakkayam, where the teams from southern parts of KL joined and then headed to Ranger Wood Nature Castle resort, Thekkady, proceeding via Vandiperiyar as convoys much to the amusement of onlookers.

<route. Ernakulam and Trivandrum routes shown>


At the resort, ice-breaking was completed over tea.
And then some went to the pool and some continued with their car/fiat discussions.
<pool>

There was a formal cake-cutting ceremony in the evening. Each family introduced themselves and revealing their enthusiastic side towards Fiats or their spouse's craziness for Fiats. Their gifts were then shared. An elderly gentleman, parent of a Fiatian, spoke high about the Fiat fanatics including his son.

<cake>


<Polishing spouse's madness for Fiat>

<gentleman>

This was followed by a rooftop barbecue/camp fire, fun games and partying. One room remained awake till 3AM.

<sleep>


The resort had balconies opening to the forest and some had spotted boars and bisons right there. Some got up early and walked towards the Periyar tiger reserve, spotting Sambar deers, boars, Malabar giant squirrels, Nilgiri langurs, etc. The weather was cold, going 18C or so in the morning.
<morning walk>


Motul lubricant's joined this time too and had a marketing/sales session after the breakfast. They conducted a lucky draw and gave away a 5L can of 5w40 Motul 8100 X-cess. Engine oils were available at discounted rates. Motul also distributed T-shirts for free.
<motul lucky draw>



Everyone assembled together at the entrance of the resort for a family picture before heading as convoy to Jeni's Grapes, Cumbum (wineyard). Wine yard visit was a surprise one from the organizers. Some members were seen doing acrobatics or dancing with their Fiats on the flat, well laid straight roads. There was another group photo session at the wine yard.

<family pic, in front of the resort>


<All cars at wineyard>

<wine yard>

And then the teams dispersed. Some continued to other tourist places nearby like Meghamalai, Parunthumpara, etc.

<Parunthumpara>


As usual, the meet was well organized and there were some people who owned Fiats in the past and attended the meets before, joining with their friends' fiats this time. Those who experienced the meet for the first time wondered if it was one of the best meets they ever had. Some wowed to get their own fiats for the next meet. And some, like me, who had to pull out at the last minute due to un-expected turn of events on the personal front, had to imagine the fun from pics and videos and remembering the previous meet(s).

Fiat may have stopped selling cars here. But, the enthusiasm grows well and is still spreading.
Long live the Fiat community.

 

You guys are lucky. Is there any forum for Fiat Club Kerala too.

 

good to see you all.

 

Great! Thanks for sharing the experience... Wishing more and more such get-togethers !

 

WhatsApp, FB and insta. No dedicated forum like TFI. The meet was arranged over WA mostly.

 

Thanks limraj for sharing it here...

 

Welcome @KING CHACKS, organizer