Kerala - Sept 2011

It was one of the trips that will remain with me for a long time to come. The beauty of the place simply took my heart away. I had the same feeling once again after my South East trip 3 years back. So here is the dairy:-

Day 1: August 30, 2011

Sun was out today in Mumbai, after a long 7-8 days of heavy rain. A ominous sign i guess. All of us were visibly enthusiastic for the trip to start. Its usually the best feeling - starting of a long journey :) We boarded the rickety AI flight and were soon air bound. While we arrived on time, it was a slight set back to see the rainy weather yet again on reaching Cochin which we thought we had left back in Mumbai.

Nevertheless, we soon found a cab waiting for us to take us to our first hotel in Cochin (Hotel Surya) which was only a stop over for the night. I have always felt a strange feeling on entering a new city. Its both of triumph and mild eeriness.

As expected, horde of coconut trees all around greeted us into the city. We reached our first hotel and were glad to find it above our expectations. The trip had finally begin it seemed. :)

Day 2: August 31, 2011

We began early morning at around 5 am for Munnar. Our joy was multiplied looking at our brand new Innova cab. It felt so fresh sitting in that car. We drove through the picturesque hills of Munnar which included a couple of grand waterfalls and upon checking on a few hotels settled for Silver tips right in the heart of the city. Soon we left for sightseeing which included some national park but we could only spot a couple of lousy goats. But in any case it was probably the most enjoyable sight scene of Munnar. We binged on fresh fruits and tea. Rest of the day was more or less un-eventfull. SB and myself, desperate for some Kerala massage, went to a Ayurvedic center late evening. After an hour, SB came out all smiling as if she has achieved nirvana (I had my own doubts looking at her:) )

Day 3: Sept 01, 2011

We left Munnar at around 8 am and said goodbye to the tea gardens. I am sure JB must have felt most happy :) . The next destination was Alleypey - easily my most awaited destination having seeing the amazing pictures of backwaters since childhood, it was time to have a first hand experience. Like always, we took out time to choose the best available houseboat and bargain hard. But once we sailed, we were lost in the amazing beauty of the place. It was too difficult for me to describe it and i was struggling to absorb it. We did nothing but adore the place for hours. We sang and danced and ate. At around 6 the boat finally came to its resting place for the night. It banked at a village and i thank the person who gave the idea of de-boarding and going for a walk. The ensued ride in a fishing boat and visit to the Kali temple were the highlights of the trip.

Day 4: Sept 02, 2011

Around afternoon we were already on our way to Kovalam in our new cab. Allepey trip probably relaxed and enthused us. Everything was great till now.

We took our lunch break at the Varkala cliffs which were on route the long ride to Kovalam. Yet again I was at a unique place with a view i could have only previously imagined. I was on top of a cliff with sea/beach some 100 feet below our feet. I have never seen such violent sea in the past. The waves went as high as 2-3 meters and crashed with a loud roar which echoed for long distances...and again and again...

The place was beautiful and presence of foreign tourists added a smile to guy's faces. We ate and ate and clicked numerous pics (of ourselves and 'others :) ). As evening came closer, we witnessed yet another wonder of nature - view of approaching rains over the horizon on the sea. It was lovely looking at the dark clouds at a distance, approaching us second by second, engulfing the fishing boats below in the sea - one by one till everything around us turned white in a blizzard of rain....

We reached Kovalam and took the 3 star 'Sagara Beach Resort'. I am a beach maniac (yes, not just a fan) and my joy knew no bounds upon reaching the sea. We had a good time at dinner and planned for our penultimate day in Kerala.

Day 5: Sept 03, 2011

By the way, SB was by now a celebrity in Kovalam. Her antics and talks of her beauty had spread far and wide - only in one night. Probably the reason lot of locals had gathered there. I am sure she must have felt like a film star with dozens of mallu eyes gazing her at all times - all waiting to catch a glimpse of this star.

We had a really good time in the violent sea. Someone among us got the idea of covering me with beach sand neck to toe and i agreed to volunteer for the fun. Only later did i realize i too was a celebrity. Soon, dozens of people gathered around me - i don't know thinking what. (may be someone was thinking i was being buried alive??). Soon I was fully covered with sand and JB, SB and IM were posing for pictures with my buried body. But sooner did i realize that there were more cameras pointed at me..one of the guys actually requested me not to get up so that he can take my picture!!! We did not check next mornings papers, I am sure there would be a picture of mine in some 'believe it or not' section or something :)

Early morning walk on the sea beach is one of my favorite activity. Thanks to IM who accompanied me for it. We walked across the entire beach clicking pictures. Post breakfast we all left for the beach. It was decently crowded by now and sun was fully out too making it perfect for getting wet in the sea water.

We had some more splash in the swimming pool of our hotel and thoroughly enjoyed that as well (more enjoyed by SB.. don't know Y bec she too don't know much of swimming). Post lunch we left for local sightseeing which included visit to the light house on the beach. It offered amazing views of the landscape around. Later, we also went to the richest temple in the world - Padmanabhanswamy in Trivendrum. Dressed in a dhoti - again a new experience for me.

Day 6: Sept 04, 2011

Last day of the tour and we are yet again eager for Kerala Massage (esp SB who wants it for the second time, I really doubt her now:) ). Post that we check out, shop a little and head for departure. I am sure most of us were wishing the flight gets delayed, no one wanted to leave yet. It was a remarkable trip, from take off to touch down!! :)

Ganesh Utsav!!

Its the 11th and final day of Ganesh Utsav, the day when devotees finally bid audieu to Ganeshji. Its the third time I am witnessing this festival here but somehow it did not touch me in the past two times the way it did today.
We went to Dadar chawpatty (one of my fav hangouts with CJ) in the afternoon and bid farewell to our Ganeshji. I could observe the grand arrangements done for this festival on route. and I could anticipate what would follow in sometime when the big ones follow us later in the day. In my heart, i promised myself to be witness to the fun and flair this 3rd time.
Sadly, it started raining and din look like stopping. I was still at home waiting for the weather to clear and find a way to go out and join the celebrations but fearfull of the crowd, the jam etc etc. Finally when i couldnt hold myself any more i stepped out and reached Matunga circle (Kings circle) and i saw something i could only imagine but never thought could be true. The festival is so close to the heart of Mumbai, it is celebrate right on the main roads. All prime roads are blocked, with only queues of Ganeshji's idols thronging the roadways in trucks. The streets are all decorated with lights, people are out on the road in the rain, drenched, climbed onto the trucks yet to cover kms to reach the immersion spot. There is mella, right on the roads and you cant escape it.
The arrangements are good. There is a policeman at literally every 50 m today, guiding the traffic, keeping an eye. A thought for them too, no time with family for them, seems entire force is on duty today, on a sunday. The traffic is controlled very well and I couldnt take my car beyond a point (on the main road i.e.). I park it, open my umbrella and join the crowd. I have never seen such bunch of people, all immersed in celebrations, from head to toe.
Remember, all this in face of the contantly lingering fear of the terrorists, the blasts. No doubt, no one celebrates the way Mumbaikars do.
Its almost 11:30 pm now and i can still hear the constant beat of the drums in the distant, the crackers bursting now and then, the music still on at full volume and I can imagine the sight too I saw some hrs back - crowd of people on the streets - all just Happy!! and It will go on till the wee hours of the morning. Looking at them it seems that thats what a human actually want to do - and my heart right now too longs to join them.

Conversation with a taxi driver...

While going from my home to Santa Cruz airport few weeks back I happen to board a cab where I got an opportunity to converse with the driver at length. The driver initiated the discussion by asking how much was my flight from Mumbai to Delhi costing me. He told me he was a frequent flyer (8-10 times a year) on Mumbai Lucknow route and wanted to check the direction in which the prices were moving.

I asked him why does he travel to his home town (Allahabad) so much? He informed me that last year he had his BA exams for which he needed to travel so frequently. Also he was happy to inform that he has cleared his exams successfully and thus is travelling lesser now a days. His brother is studying law in Lucknow. Further in course of discussion he told me he left home because he wanted to do something on his own. He got admission in UP police force but left it after training, borrowed money from his Dad and came to Mumbai to start taxi business. He owns 3 taxi out of which he self drives one. The remaining two runs 2 shifts a day and earns him good 18 k per month per cab. His own self driven taxi earns him higher and helps him to furnish installments for his 3 cabs plus he manages to fulfill his monthy expenditure through the earnings of his one cab only. He has recently bought a plot of land in Kalyan for Rs 4000 per sq feet and is sure it will appreciate in value and give him good returns. His main problem in Mumbai is his small house which too comes for a killing. This he compares to his big home in Allahabad. He saves decently and regularly sends money home and also invests in bank FDs and Saving accounts etc.

His aim is to make it big. It was not easy to leave home and come to Mumbai alone leaving behind everyone but the desire to be his own master was even stronger and it encouraged him to take more risks.